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  1. Home
  2. Places to go
  3. Scotland's UNESCO Trail
  4. Scotland's UNESCO Global Geoparks

The Rock Route in the North West Highlands Geopark

Scotland's UNESCO Global Geoparks

Wild and positively unexpected, explore Scotland's three UNESCO Global Geoparks where the landscapes feel like you've reached the edge of the world.

What is a UNESCO Global Geopark?

A UNESCO Global Geopark is a special area recognised by UNESCO for its outstanding geological heritage. It celebrates and protects the natural history of the landscape while helping people discover and understand it. 

It's not just about rocks. Geoparks reveal how the landscapes were shaped by volcanic eruptions, glaciers, and shifting continents, connecting geology with wildlife, culture and local communities that call these remarkable places home. 

Explore Scotland’s UNESCO Trail

Isle of Arran Geopark

Scotland's newest UNESCO Global Geopark, the Isle of Arran feels like a whole world in miniature. From the moment you arrive, you will be left feeling in awe by the rugged mountains rising above sea lochs, windswept beaches, dramatic cliffs, and green glens.

Follow a trail through Glen Rosa beneath Arran's rugged peaks and admire landscapes sculpted by ice. At Machrie Moor, discover the island's most important archaeological site, packed with prehistoric standing stones and towering sandstone pillars – the peace that this open moorland site evokes is indescribable. For a bigger challenge, climb Arran's highest mountain, Goatfell, for sweeping views across the island and surrounding waters.

Find the best local attractions and experiences:

  • Machrie Moor Standing Stones
  • Glen Rosa
  • Goatfell
  • Arran Coastal Way
  • Brodick Castle, Garden & Country Park

Discover the Isle of Arran UNESCO Global Geopark

Explore Ayrshire & Arran

Goat Fell, Isle of Arran

North West Highlands Geopark

The North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark stretches across 2,000 sq. km of Sutherland and Wester Ross in the North Highlands. Home to some of the oldest rocks in Europe, including Lewisian Gneiss formed more than three billion years ago, here the landscape feels vast, wild, and so remote that it's almost otherworldly.

Drive along the Rock Route down winding roads and past turquoise lochs and soaring mountains. Balnakeil is a secluded beach, perfect for strolling, or wander the dunes and machair of Faraid Head with no other soul in sight. In Durness, venture underground into the spectacular Smoo Cave carved into the limestone coastline, or, around Assynt and Coigach, hike through craggy glens and amongst dramatic Torridonian pinnacles like Stac Pollaidh for huge views – this is a place where the silence is interrupted only by rushing water and bird calls.

Find the best local attractions and experiences:

  • Smoo Cave
  • Stac Pollaidh
  • The Rock Route
  • Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve

Discover the North West Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark

Explore the Highlands

Loch Laxford, a sea loch in the North West Highlands Geopark

Shetland Geopark

Where else can you walk across an ancient ocean floor, explore the remains of a volcano, and wander across shifting sands – all in one day? Spanning the entire archipelago, Shetland UNESCO Global Geopark offers dramatic cliffs, stunning beaches, and more islands than you can count.

Feel the full force of the Atlantic at the cliffs of Eshaness, one of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines with sea stacks, caves, and arches, or cross the natural sand tombolo at St Ninian's Isle, one of the finest in Europe. You can take a boat trip to Noss National Nature Reserve where the massive red sandstone cliffs are alive with nesting seabirds, or head to Unst where the untamed landscape is home to one of Europe's richest Viking heritage sites.

  • Eshaness Coast
  • St Ninian's Isle
  • Unst
  • Shetland's Volcano Trail
  • Noss National Nature Reserve

Discover Shetland UNESCO Global Geopark

Explore Shetland

Eshaness, Shetland

© Promote Shetland / Euan Myles

FAQs

What makes Scotland's geology special?

Scotland's geology is extraordinary for the range and age of its rocks and landscapes – some of which were shaped almost three billion years ago. Across the country, you'll find evidence of ancient oceans, volcanic eruptions, glaciers, and shifting continents. All three UNESCO Global Geoparks showcase this extraordinary story.

When is the best time to visit Scotland's Geoparks?

You can visit each of the geoparks throughout the year, with every season bringing a different way to experience the landscapes. In spring, spot emerging wildlife and seabirds, and explore walking trails as days grow longer. During long summer days, you can hike mountains without worrying about being caught on trails at night. Autumn brings changing colours – ideal for scenic drives and photography, while winter offers snow-dusted mountains and dramatic skies.

How long should I stay?

It really depends on how much you want to explore. For Arran, allow at least three to five days to take it all in, while the vast North West Highlands and the far-reaching Shetland geoparks need longer if you want to explore at a slower pace and go beyond the highlights. Leave room for scenic detours, boat trips, wildlife encounters, and leisurely walks – you'll want to slow down and soak up the scenery.

Do I need a car?

A car is useful, but it's not essential. Arran can be explored using public transport, cycling, walking, or taking a local tour, while Shetland offers great network of buses and ferries connecting many parts of the islands. The North West Highlands Geopark, however, is far more remote so having a car can make it much easier to explore.

Can I see fossils?

Yes, fossils can be found in some areas of the geoparks. On Arran, there are 240-million-year-old fossilised reptile trackways along the shore at Kildonan and between Drumadoon Point and King's Cave. In North West Highlands, you can find evidence of prehistoric wildlife at the Bone Caves of Inchnadamph, while Shetland has several sites associated with Devonian-era fossilised fish beds including The Cletts, Melby and Shingly Geo.

Remember that collecting geological materials including rocks and fossils is not permitted within any of the geoparks.

Can I camp within a UNESCO Global Geopark?

Yes, there are campsites across all three geopark areas, making camping a great way to experience the wild landscapes. Always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when camping anywhere in Scotland.

Will I have mobile phone signal?

Coverage varies between networks, particularly in remote areas, so signal can sometimes be limited in rural locations, including glens, mountains, and coastal areas.

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