Scotland: the Isle of Skye
Geology and a moist atmosphere have conspired to make the Misty Isle the most spectacular of all the Scottish islands. Sixty million years ago it was formed from lava that welled up from the widening Atlantic as Europe and America started to drift apart. Everywhere on Skye hikers can marvel at the legacy of this dramatic past: in the imposing Cuillin Mountains, on black basaltic shores and between the bizarre pinnacles of the Trotternish Peninsula.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27751] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27833] Skye's Cuillins are considered the most impressive mountain range in the British Isles and a mecca for hikers and climbers. They are the remnants of large volcanoes which erupted when the Atlantic Ocean opened up and the American continent started to drift away from Europe, 60 million years ago. The foreground of the picture shows the Sligachan River. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27748] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27752] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27755] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27759] The Storr (left, seen from the south) is the the highest point of the Trotternish Ridge, a steep escarpment that forms the backbone of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula. The Ridge consists of lava sheets that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. Parts of the escarpment have tumbled down in massive landslides, leaving jumble of rocks and peaks at the foot of the Storr, the highest of which is called the "Old Man".
The Cathedral and The Old Man.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27767] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the basalt pinnacles at the foot of the Storr give a dramatic touch to the landscape. To the left is a rock formation called "The Cathedral" for obvious reasons. The peak to the right which seems to be standing on a socle is called "The Old Man". In the distance the Sound of Raasay can be seen. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Cottage and barn in Bornesketaig.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27771] In the northwest of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula, Beaton's Crofthouse in Bornesketaig has the straw of its roofs protected from wind damage by netting that is held in place by anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27775] In the northwest of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the barn of Beaton's Crofthouse in Bornesketaig has the straw of its roofs protected from wind damage by netting that is held in place by anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
Anker stones at Beaton's Crofthouse.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27777] In the northwest of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula, Beaton's Crofthouse in Bornesketaig has the straw of its roofs protected from wind damage by netting that is held in place by anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27780] Along the coastline of northern and western Skye wave-cut platforms can be found at several places, as here near Bornesketaig. They were created during glacial periods when the earth's crust beneath Skye sagged under the enormous weight of ice sheets, as a result of which the sea could effect its erosive force at a higher level than today. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27783] A tidal pool on the Skye coast near Bornesketaig lights up with fluorescent green seaweed. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27787] White lichens cover the rugged Skye coastline on the headland of Rubha Hunish, situated at the northern tip of the Trotternish Peninsula. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27798] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the steep escarpment of the Quiraing offers some of the island's most dramatic landscapes. The hillocks and pinnacles at the foot of the ridge are the result of massive landslides in which layers of basalt lava's slumped down from the top of the escarpment over older relatively weak sedimentary rocks. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27855] Anyone who drives to the Scottish west coast in the direction of Skye won't miss Eilean Castle at Dornie. Dramatically perched on an island in Loch Alsh the medieval castle is only 15 km from the Skye Bridge. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27746] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27757] The Storr (left, seen from the south) is the the highest point of the Trotternish Ridge, a steep escarpment that forms the backbone of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula. The Ridge consists of lava sheets that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. Parts of the escarpment have tumbled down in massive landslides, leaving jumble of rocks and peaks at the foot of the Storr, the highest of which is called the "Old Man". Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27761] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr (here seen from the north) gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27764] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr (here seen from the north) gives a dramatic touch to the landscape. Its geological history is no less dramatic. As most of northern Skye, the Old Man consists of lava that welled up from the earth as The Atlantic Ocean opened up and Western Europe and America started to drift apart 60 millions years ago. On the eastern edge of the Trotternish peninsula parts of the formed lava sheet tumbled down in massive landslides, creating jagged peaks such as the Old Man. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
"The Cathedral", Trotternish Peninsula
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27769] On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the basalt pinnacles at the foot of the Storr give a dramatic touch to the landscape. This rock formation is called "The Cathedral" for obvious reasons. In the distance the Sound of Raasay can be seen. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27773] In the northwest of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula, Beaton's Crofthouse in Bornesketaig has the straw of its roofs protected from wind damage by netting that is held in place by anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27776] In the northwest of Skye's Trotternish Peninsula the barn of Beaton's Crofthouse in Bornesketaig has the straw of its roofs protected from wind damage by netting that is held in place by anker stones. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27778] The interior of a crofthouse at the Skye Museum of Island Life near Kilmuir (on the Trotternish Peninsula) shows how islanders lived a hundred years ago. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27782] Along the coastline of northern and western Skye wave-cut platforms can be found at several places, as here near Bornesketaig. They were created during glacial periods when the earth's crust beneath Skye sagged under the enormous weight of ice sheets, as a result of which the sea could effect its erosive force at a higher level than today. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
[BRITAIN.HEBRIDES 27785] Fluorescent green seaweed in tidal pools on the Skye coast near Bornesketaig forms a stark contrast to the surrounding black basalt. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
