Random rocks: Skipness

February 22, 2015 824 Views 0 Comment

The second in my new photo-series on rocks…

At Skipness on Kintyre, if you can bring yourself to stop before you get to the castle, you’ll find a coastline that’s quite extraordinary. The rocks are sculpted and folded like miniature mountain ranges, and here and there they are striped with bands of glistening white quartz.

By: Jo Woolf

Tags:

geology

Kintyre

photography

rocks

Scotland

Skipness

travel

Jo Woolf

Writer and editor of The Hazel Tree. I live by the sea in Argyll, Scotland, and I write about the landscape, its wildlife and wonderful history. I'm also Writer in Residence at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.

0 Comments

Mintu Ghoshal

February 22, 2015 at 10:58 am Reply

Unbelievable, spectacular!
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 22, 2015 at 1:06 pm
  
  Yes, I think so too! 🙂
winderjssc

February 22, 2015 at 11:46 am Reply

Lovely rocks. I do so enjoy all the patterns and textures – such a variety.
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 22, 2015 at 1:06 pm
  
  Yes, so do I! Endlessly beautiful.
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com

February 22, 2015 at 3:08 pm Reply

Marvellous. That second picture looks like a design for quilting!
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 22, 2015 at 6:38 pm
  
  Looks a bit complicated to me, Viv, but I do not doubt your abilities! 🙂
dave

February 22, 2015 at 6:04 pm Reply

Do they appear to be shale?
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 22, 2015 at 6:39 pm
  
  I think they are more likely to be slate – most of the rocks there are metamorphic (that’s what I’ve read – not that I am an expert!)
  - dave
    
    February 22, 2015 at 10:53 pm
    
    Geology has always been my favorite science, maybe because it involves more interpretation than the hard sciences.
Packy

February 22, 2015 at 7:21 pm Reply

That second picture is really great. Looks like you were shooting into a lot of light. I think this rock is old sediment that’s been tipped sideways. I’ve seen a lot of that in our western deserts.
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 22, 2015 at 8:09 pm
  
  Thank you, Packy! That sounds right, about the rocks. Yes, I was shooting into the light there – with my old compact camera, so I was just hoping it would cope with it! I love the flowing patterns.
blosslyn

February 22, 2015 at 8:52 pm Reply

Such a wonderful coastline, it looks almost fluid 🙂
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 23, 2015 at 7:20 am
  
  I know, I just love the whole of the west coast! So beautiful and so varied! 🙂
FROM SOUNDS OF HOLLOW ROCKS

February 28, 2015 at 4:59 pm Reply

Lovely photographs! I have passed these rocks many times, they are quite remarkable. I have never actually stopped before the Sea Food Cabin in the castle grounds – highly recommended – and have never noticed the bands of quartz. Will make sure I get out of the car next time I pass by.
- Jo Woolf
  
  February 28, 2015 at 5:32 pm
  
  Thank you! I haven’t been to the Sea Food Cabin, but it looked good. Yes, there are some lovely rocks around there – once you’ve stopped once, you’ll be wanting to stop and look at them all! 🙂