On passage from Tanera Mor (Summer Isles) to Lochan Saile (Badcall) we took Arctica close inshore for this photo of the Old Man of Stoer. It being Saturday we hoped to see climbers, but were disappointed. However, a fixed traverse rope from the shore side remains in place. There is always an extra frisson of excitement on entering an anchorage for the first time, and so it was with Lochan Saile. The approach from Eddrachillis Bay is through a scattering of islands and islets, past narrows with a central reef, then a final turn in to a sheltered pool, well protected by reefs. Here we are enjoying the proximity of red throated divers and greylag geese.
The Old Man of Stoer looks very exciting — I envy you being there! Do you know what sort of geological formation it is? Hard to tell from the wee photo onscreen.
Oh, wait a minute — I’ve just discovered I can make the photo a bit bigger by clicking on it. Hm. Looks like a volcanic plug or something of that nature. Is that indeed what it is?
It’s a detached pillar of sandstone – still standing although the rest of the one-time cliff has fallen away. Very similar to Am Buachaille (the shepherd) at Sandwood Bay and the Old Man of Hoy, both of which we have also sailed past since then.
Sandstone? You sure? Sandstone doesn’t last long in moving sea water.
The base may be something else, but basically it is sandstone. I have tried to climb it but we were beaten back by the raw cold of an early Easter – many years ago!