Argyll & the Islands: Landscapes in Stone

Description

Argyll and the islands that lie off from the west coast of the Kintyre are some of the most historically resonant places in Scotland. But the rocks beneath tell a story of an even more ancient world that stretches back billions of years. In this book Alan McKirdy explains how much of the ancient bedrock of the area was created from a once-towering mountain; how granites were formed deep in the Earth's crust as a result of the white heat of collision; how volcanoes left an indelible print on the landscape; how coal swamps briefly covered the land, only to be succeeded by desert sands; and how glaciers shaped the landscape into the familiar mountains and glens we see today. Islands included are: Islay, Colonsay, Oronsay, Lismore, Jura, Scarba, Kerrera, Lunga, Garvellachs.

Alan McKirdy has written many popular books and book chapters on geology and related topics and has helped to promote the study of environmental geology in Scotland. Before his recent retirement he was Head of Information Management at Scottish Natural Heritage. He is also the author of Set In Stone (Birlinn, 2015).

'Alan McKirdy's insights are valuable because he is the author of a string of accessible and informative short illustrated books on the geological history of Scotland' * West Highland Free Press * 'Not only are they a wealth of information on Scotland's past, they offer valuable insight as Scotland's future becomes increasingly uncertain due to climate change' * Dundee Courier *