Set in Stone: The Geology and Landscapes of Scotland

by Alan McKirdy

The land that was to become Scotland has travelled across the globe over the last 3,000 million years - from close to the South Pole to its current position. During these travels, there were many continental collisions, creating mountain belts as high as the present-day Himalayas. The Highlands of Scotland were formed in this way. Our climate too has changed dramatically over the last 3 billion years from the deep freeze of the Ice Age to scorching heat of the desert. And within a relatively short time - geologically speaking, we will plunge back into another ice age.

In Set in Stone, Alan McKirdy traces Scotland's amazing geological journey, explaining for the non - specialist reader why the landscape looks the way it does todays. He also explores Scots and those working in Scotland have played a seminal role in the development of the science of geology, understanding Earth processes at a local and global scale.

Genres: Scotland, Nonfiction, Nature

96 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2015

Reviews

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold, wet and windy day in September 2016, my partner and I climbed the nature trail on Knockan Crag in NW Scotland to see the Moine Thrust. I was blown away by this amazing geological feature. Actually we were nearly blown off the side of the hill! Since then I have looked for a book on Scotland's geology that wasn't dry or boring. One that I could understand. I'd almost given up when I found this book in the John Muir Trust shop in Pitlochry. I had always had a vague understanding about the effects of glaciation, rivers, etc. on the landscape but I had no idea that Scotland started off in the Southern Hemisphere, working its way over 4.54 billion years to take its current place at the top of the British Isles, journeying through every climate possible - tropical rainforest, deserts, etc. Alan McKirdy writes with enthusiasm and I learned with enthusiasm. My high school teachers would never have believed it could happen!

[Tom Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read very much indeed - an exciting ride through the 100s and indeed 1000s of millennia, packed with "wow"s. When Alan moved from geology to the biological record, things felt just a bit less expert, and worse was to come with some of the detailing of commentaries on anthropogenic influences on climate. When the reason for our seasons was given wrongly, I thought "ugh - it's a 4*" but luckily, I didn't review right away. After a couple of days away, I realise that this was - BY FAR - the most enjoyable, readable, engaging book on Scotland's geology that I've read. Proof? Not only is it the first that I've actually finished, it's the only one that I feel that I've retained some knowledge and started to actually see stuff / pick out stuff when out walking. So 5* it is, and "thank you, Alan, for your knowledge, enthusiasm, and the time spent together!"

[Chrissy Sneddon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up in the book shop in Lochgilphead while on a drive north, and wanted something non-fiction.
I love the writing style, so easy to read.
I did know some of the content, but had never fully internalised the idea that 'Scotland' had moved up the globe so far in its long history - thus explaining the varying climates visible in the rocks and fossil records.
I now want to go north again to see some of the bands and rocks myself, and to read more to extend my knowledge. Luckily the book gives a list of suggested further reading.

[Xabier Cid · Rating 3 out of 5]

My knowledge on geology is very, very basic. I know the dinosaurs and the human beings never lived together, that the continents were together at some remote point in History, and very little else. So from my starting point, a basic book in the geology of the land that we call Scotland was good. It is a beautiful book, with some amazing pictures, well printed, and overall very nice.

However, the explanations offered for some of the phenomena are very limited and lack concretion. It is hard to understand some of the movements of the land without good graphics, and it is even more harder if the explanation is just a depiction. I know quite well the isles of Skye and Mull, and despite being profusely commented in the book, I can't still figure out where volcanoes' crater were, why they did create the landscape in that shape, or how dinosaurs left tracks in that terrain and were preserved until today.

Now I have a feeling of knowing something, but not well enough to understand it. And the worst part is that I don't know where to go now, what's the good book in geology that I need to read, within reach of my scarce knowledge and still clear and final.

[Kevin Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not normally a big reader of non-fiction but this was leant to me by a dear friend after our jaunt to the highlands and Skye in early summer 2021.

Since then I have been dipping in and out of this book which is a fantastic combination of history, science and a genuine respect and fascination with the landscape of Scotland.

In terms of the writing, the best compliment I can pay is that it was detailed whilst also being very readable, easy to pick up and put down.

An interesting change and it has definitely lit the fire in terms of wanting to return north of the border and to explore more of Scotland’s terrain.

[Sarah Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite how much detailed information is packed into this book it is a rather easy read (now how much I remember in 5 years is another story!) Really interesting information and having been to several locations discussed in the book I feel more connected to the landscape. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Scotland’s natural history.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, wee, readable batter around the geological history and landscape of Scotland, which is just what I was looking for.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in a most excellent bookshop in Dunoon this was the winner after a tough decision over which guide to the geology of Scotland I bought. I was hoping for a guide similar to the Exmoor one, but nothing like that existed unfortunately. This however ticked most boxes: there was a simple geological map; a quick geological history lesson; some of the impact the rocks have made on the landscapes; some of the impacts humans have made in the landscape. What I would have wanted was more cross sections: and the story of how these came to be. I felt the book was more a series of snapshots rather than a video, and this led the story to be somewhat stop start. So whilst I am mostly happy with the content, I feel I wanted a little bit extra, a bit more 'see this? Well it came about thus...'