Photos of Mangersta Sea Stacks
About Mangersta Sea Stacks
The Mangersta Sea Stacks are an amazing hidden gem tucked away just to the west of Mangersta Beach. Here the cliffs break up into a line of sea stacks standing out in the Atlantic. The rock is Lewisian gneiss, among the oldest anywhere in Europe. Waves worked into cracks in the cliff, opened caves, then arches, and left these pillars behind when the arches fell. The clifftop overlook lets you pair the stacks against open water with nothing else in the frame, making it the ideal spot to go with a wide lens. Late afternoon and evening light works beautifully, since the whole coast faces west. Big swell breaking round the bases is also an incredible option if rough weather moves in while you are here. Seabirds nest on the cliffs through spring and summer. On a clear day St Kilda and the Flannan Isles will appear on the horizon. A stone bothy sits built into the cliffs on the same headland. It is privately owned and cared for, so treat it accordingly. Parking is informal, in a layby or by the cattle grid on the road out to Mangersta. A small sign marks the track across the headland, and it is easy to drive straight past. The walk takes ten to fifteen minutes over rough pasture. Nothing is charged. The clifftop is exposed and unfenced so be careful where you set up and keep an eye on weather moving in. (Mangersta, Isle of Lewis, Scotland)
