The Degnish peninsula overlooks the wide mouth of Loch Melfort in Argyll, and it’s well worth the long and rambling drive to get to the end. In spring, the hedgerows around there are studded with wild flowers – primroses, violets and the beautiful grass of Parnassus.
Degnish also has some pretty amazing rocks, which have been crushed and folded into wonderful shapes. I am not a geologist but I would imagine from the layers that these were originally sedimentary, possibly lying on an ocean floor, and they have been transformed by heat and pressure. And here’s an interesting thing: in south-west Scotland there’s a whole cluster of metamorphic rocks called the ‘Dalradian series’, after the ancient kingdom of Dalriada. Their name was given to them by Archibald Geikie, one of Scotland’s early geologists, and I’ve ‘met’ him through my research at the RSGS.
Meanwhile, if you’re a geologist and you can tell me more about the rocks shown here, please let me know!
Photos copyright © Jo Woolf
0 Comments
winderjssc
Fantastic rock structures. I would love to see them for myself.
Jo Woolf
Aren’t they amazing? I hope you get a chance to visit Degnish sometime, Jessica! It’s well worth the trip.
david
Can’t help you with the geology Jo but they are fascinating pictures. I’m sure Lorna would liken the first one to a Cadbury’s Twirl.
Jo Woolf
Haha, I’m sure she would, David! 🙂 I can see exactly what you mean. I will await Lorna’s verdict! That has given me a great idea: a road trip around Scotland, locating rock formations and finding their corresponding chocolate bars. What’s not to like??!! 😀
david
I’ve come across a lot of geologists in Raasay. Also Torridon and parts of Skye.
Jo Woolf
That’s interesting – I was watching a programme recently (on YouTube) presented by Iain Stewart, and he was exploring Torridon, Skye and Raasay as the rocks there are exceptional.
Pat
That is some of the most beautiful folded rock I’ve ever seen. Incredible the forces that are constantly in motion, but of which we are mostly unaware. (Except for earth quakes.) I’ve watched some of Iain Stewart’s programmes, they are quite interesting.
Jo Woolf
Some of the best I’ve seen, too, Pat! They are amazing. Yes, we can scarcely imagine the forces going on to create them. Iain Stewart is a good presenter, and I’ve got some of his books, too.
Jane
Very interesting rock formations. I would have liked to examine these. I find geological structures and erosion fascinating.
Jo Woolf
Me too, Jane! These are some of the best I’ve seen. It makes me want to learn more about Scotland’s geology!