Glaciated Landscapes

The Cairngorms and Loch Lomond National Parks

Aims

• For a named upland glaciated landscape.– Describe and explain the formation of the main

features found in the area with reference to specific named examples.

– Describe the Economic and Social opportunities created by this landscape.

– Describe how opportunities maybe limited in a landscape like this.

Ice age in Scotland

• Glaciation has had a huge impact on the scenery of Scotland.

• The West of Scotland consists of a rough ice-scoured landscape where the mountains have been heavily dissected by glacial troughs and valleys.

• The East shows much less evidence of glacial erosion.

Why is there more evidence of Glaciation in the West?

• Glaciers built up faster here because of the maritime climate and remained for longer.

• Glaciers only existed in the West during the Loch Lomond re-advance 11 000 years ago.

• During the ice ages the western part of Scotland was wetter and the underlying slopes steeper than in the East.

The Glaciated Landscape of the Cairngorms

• The plateau of the Cairngorm mountains forms the largest area of land over 1000m in the UK.

• Four summits – Ben Mac Dhui and Cairngorm being two of the four.

• Glacial features include deep U shaped valleys and corries.

• The adjacent glens support a diverse assemblage of glacial meltwater features and glacial deposits, eskers, kames, kettle holes, and moraines.

Stag Rocks, looking down from the trough head towards Loch Avon

Glen Einich

www.fettes.com/Cairngorms/glacial%20landscapes.htm - 6k

Page 51 fieldsketch of Loch Einich

Glaciated Feature Named Example

Glaciated Features in the Cairngorms National Park

Glaciated Feature Named Example

Glaciated Features in Loch Lomond National Park

Opportunities for Social and Economic Land use in the Cairngorms/Loch Lomond National Park

• Tourism / sightseeing - Glaciation produces high relief (deep valleys and high rugged mountains) which results in dramatic views. e.g. Cairngorms, Ben Lomond. Deep U shaped valleys and ribbon lakes attract water based tourism e.g Loch Lomond.

• Hill walking / mountaineering / rock climbing - Corrie sides and headwalls provide stiff climbing on their steep and frost shattered slopes. Arêtes and broader ridges allow walkers access to the more rounded summits. The variety of landscape provides a test for every level of mountaineer, especially in winter. e.g. Cairngorms, Ben Nevis Massif, The West Highland Way.

• Winter sports - Alpine skiing / snow boarding- corries gather and hold snow and provide a variety of slopes from the steep sides to the flatter floor. Cold climate. Cross country skiing may be available on the lower slopes and valley floor depending on the snowfall. E.g Aviemore.

• Hunting - Especially in Scotland many of the glaciated uplands are covered in moor partly because the thin acidic soils do not support many types of plant and partly because of past deforestation and sheep grazing. This land is used for rearing grouse and deer to shoot.

• Forestry - Many of the lower slopes were once forested and forestry remains an economic possibility where the soils are thicker and better drained and temperatures are not too extreme.Hydro - Electric Power (HEP) - High rainfall over the mountains. Corrie lochs and hanging valleys can be used or dammed to hold more water. Hard crystalline rocks provide firm foundations and prevent leakage. Steep drop from corrie e.g. Loch Sloy at Loch Lomond hanging valley provides a good head of water to power turbines.Farming - Extensive hill sheep on lower slopes. Poor soils and grazing require very low numbers of sheep per acre. Broader valley bottoms may have post-glacial alluvial soils allowing some crops to be grown.Fiords or sea lochs - Fishing. Deep U shaped valleys have been flooded by the sea when the ice age finished. Deep water terminals for oil tankers eg Finnart on Loch Long, small fishing industries around Arrochar..Settlement - Usually limited to the heads of sea lochs or broader parts of lower valleys. Often to the south-facing side of the valley for warmth.Communications - Difficult. Roads and railways often limited to valley sides and stop at the head of the valley

Economic and Social Opportunities in Upland Glaciated Landscapes.

Opportunity Advantages of the landscape

Named ExampleLoch Lomond

Named ExamplesCairngorms

Social/ Economic opportunity

TourismWinter Sports – Created by climate and steep sides mountains. Resorts developed on flat valley floors.

Loch Lomond, Lake of Menteith

Aviemore and Cairngorms.

Gnerating income during winter season when tourism is low. Generating employment in cafes, bars, ski hire, accommodation etc.Preventing rural depopulation esp. of younger people.

Restrictions on Opportunities

• Communications• Population• Climate• Accessibility