Hebridean landscape in top 100 geological sites 13/10/14
The top 100 geological sites in the UK and Ireland have been revealed – and include a number of places in the Outer Hebrides.
The list by the Geological Society of London has been compiled from over 400 public nominations which were voted for by more than 1,200 people.
The St Kilda archipelago 41 miles west of Benbecula hit the mark in the ‘Adventurous’ category revealing the Top 10 sites which present a particularly adventurous challenge.
The Cullin Hills in Skye also features in the same category.
Lewis’ famous Callanish Stones are listed in the Top 10 ‘Human Habitation’ category – sites that provide the opportunity to see evidence of history as well as revealing fascinating geology.
And in the ‘Folding and Faulting’ category, the Outer Isles Fault and Pseudotachylytes (cohesive glassy or very fine grained fault rocks) made the Top 10 as some of the ‘most spectacular’ geological examples.
Expanding on the Hebridean entry, the Society list says: “The peudotachylytes just outside Lochmaddy are among the most spectacular anywhere – presumed formed by ancient earthquakes on the Outer Isles Fault.”