The Outer Hebrides: Landscapes in Stone

Landscapes in Stone

by Alan McKirdy

The archipelago which lies off the north-west coast of Scotland boasts a huge range of contrasting and spectacular land- and seascapes. Lewis is austere, with a featureless peatland core, bounded by dramatic sea cliffs, whilst neighbouring Harris is extraordinarily rugged but fringed with stunning unspoilt beaches. The Uists are characterised by gentle fertile machair lands, and Barra has a more brutal landscape carved from ancient gnarled rock. But these islands have one thing in common: they were all built from the most ancient rocks in Britain - Lewisian gneiss, which reaches back almost to the beginning of geological time.

In this book Alan McKirdy explores these islands, together with the volcanic rocks that build the outposts of Rockall, St Kilda and the Shiants, tracing their extraordinary journey through time and across the globe.

Genres: Scotland

48 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2018

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first venture into reading geology. I am making a trip via a small ship (88 passengers) through Scottish islands, and the Faroes.

The first half of the book describes the geological origins of the islands. There are reasons why there are so many islands off the west coast of Scotland. There are numerous charts, maps, and beautiful photographs of some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Outer Hebrides.