Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
Contents
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the Black Isle
- Site 1377 Roskill
- Images
- Site 1531 The Dens
- Images
- Site 540 Drummondreach Wood
- Images
- Site 494 Dam Wood
- Images
- Site 253 Braelangwell Wood
- Images
- Site 1179 Monadh Mòr
- Images
- Site 1214 Munlochy Bay
- Images
- Site 1376 Rosemarkie to Shandwick Coast
- Images
- Site 159 Beauly Firth
- Images
- Site 467 Cromarty Firth
- Images
- Final words
Site 1531 The Dens
Link to Nature Scot website Link
Map of the SSSI Link
GRID REFERENCE: NH 730578
AREA: 8.88 hectares
NATURAL FEATURES
Geological: Geomorphology: Mass Movement
DESCRIPTION
The Dens is located close to the village of Rosemarkie.
This site displays spectacular examples of gullying and earth pillar formation in Quaternary deposits that were deposited as the ice retreated from this part of Scotland some 10 – 14,000 years ago. A series of deeply incised gullies have been excavated in gravels and glacial lake deposits which are capped by till (glacial deposits). The intensity of the gullying has created steep sided ridges, parts of which have been further eroded into rudimentary earth pillars where locally more resistant parts of the till have protected the underlying deposits. Much of the Quaternary deposits have now become stabilised but the site is still a very good example of intense, but now largely relict, gullying in Quaternary deposits. This type of formation has a limited occurrence in Britain.
VISITING THE DENS SSSI
The Dens are steep sided valleys with friable rock and evidence of glacial action from the last Ice Age. They form the western side of Fairy Glen at Rosemarkie. They present mountain forms on a small scale - side walls that are too steep to scale, and above a short plateau region of natural woodland from which you can examine the Dens beneath. The woodland is the beautiful Arabella Croft Woodlands, where easy tracks and paths take you to the very edge. The Dens can be approached on foot from below after parking in the Fairy Glen car park and immediately heading upslope at the woodland edge beside the fields above Rosemarkie to the road that leads to Fortrose. A circular walk taking in the Dens and Fairy Glen involves a lot of road walking so it is best to focus on either Fairy Glen or the Dens. There is an information board above Swallow Den and there is usually a space for a car by the turn-off to Viewpoint.
Images
GEOMORPHOLOGY
Another view of the Dens - strange geological formations caused by wind and rain erosion over the years.
by Nick Forwood
A quite unnatural place. A set-piece for geomorphologists studying glacial and fluvial erosion. Also A Site of Special Scientific Interest all hidden away and seen from footpaths kindly created by the landowner.
by Julian Paren
The Dens are a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the glacial landforms. The map of the SSSI shows it to be comprised of Swallow Den only.
by Julian Paren
The ground drops away very sharply beyond the sign. A better view of The Dens is obtained by taking a minor path along the edge northwards.
by Julian Paren
The clearest view of the structure of Swallow Den.
by Julian Paren
WOODLAND ABOVE THE QUATERNARY DEPOSITS
Such a pleasant walk for April 1. A loop of footpath taking in the Display Board explaining the origin of the Dens.
by Julian Paren
The perimeter path of Arabella Croft Woodlands. This private woodland is promoted by The Woodland Trust.
by Julian Paren
The trees lie between the path and the vertical drop of the west wall of Swallow Den.
by Julian Paren
The path on the right follows the woodland edge to start with and descends to the Fairy Glen car park.
The path that diverges on the left, according to maps, also descends to Fairy Glen emerging by the house in the valley. However I was unable to find the direction of the path once I had the house in view below me, and instead followed a route which eventually connected with the path I had left, making an exhilarating but energetic trip back up into the woodland by Swallow Den. So the choice of paths to be made at this point will depend on how much exploration you want to do!
The path that diverges on the left, according to maps, also descends to Fairy Glen emerging by the house in the valley. However I was unable to find the direction of the path once I had the house in view below me, and instead followed a route which eventually connected with the path I had left, making an exhilarating but energetic trip back up into the woodland by Swallow Den. So the choice of paths to be made at this point will depend on how much exploration you want to do!
by Julian Paren
A view from one side to the other of a steep valley close to Swallow Den. A variety of autumn colours and green too. In some sense this is an aerial view of the valley below.
by Julian Paren
![Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]](https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/somerights20.gif)
Images used on this page, © Copyright Julian Paren and Nick Forwood;
licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/( Page < < prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... next >> )
