Suilven

The popular peak of Suilven from Strone

Suilven may be a relatively small peak but its distictive outline makes it one of Scotland’s best known mountains. Suilven‘s bulk is comprised of highly eroded Torridonian sandstone sitting on a bedrock of much older Lewisian gneiss. The mountain appears much higher than its actual height would indicate due to its steep sides and the vast surrounding “cnoc and lochan” moorland scenery from which it rises in magnificent isolation.

On this early spring day I had set out to capture a sunset shot of Suilven from this location near to Lochan Sgeireach on the road to Stoer and Clachtoll. However, as the afternoon shadows lengthened, brooding shower clouds gathered inland indicating a change in the weather. But whilst the colourful sunset did not materialise I was, nevertheless, provided with an interesting spectacle of contrasting sunlight, shadow and cloud over Suilven and the intervening moorland above Lochinver.