QRA Field Meeting: The Quaternary of the far NW Scottish Highlands

Organisers : Sven Lukas (Queen Mary, London), Tom Bradwell (BGS, Edinburgh)

Background

The western part of this remote area of Britain was last visited by the QRA in 1995; the area inland of Assynt (i.e. the interior of Sutherland) has received little research attention until recently. Since the last meeting, a large amount of recent research has led to considerable advances in our understanding of the chronology and dynamics of Late Quaternary ice masses and palaeoecology (see below) that have implications for other areas of the British mainland and offshore. It is thus timely to revisit this spectacular area.

Preliminary programme

The meeting will focus on the late Quaternary of the far NW Highlands and adjacent (offshore) areas. Three and a half field days are planned, and the provisional programme will contain:

Day 1: The influence of bedrock lithology and structure on Quaternary landform formation; subglacial sediments related to ice-streaming (Allt an Strathan); P-forms, outwash terraces and sea-level evidence (Keanchulish, Strathkanaird); megagrooves (Rhidorroch, Elphin); ice-sheet thickness (Quinag).

Day 2: Cosmogenic isotope dating of Late Devensian deglaciation (Loanan Valley); speleothems, 14C and U-Th dates from the Assynt Bone Caves (Allt nan Uamh); karst and post-glacial weathering (Inchandamph); Holocene peat profiles and environmental change (Inchnadamph).

Day 3: Rogen moraines and pre-Younger Dryas readvance limits (Loch Shin); Geomorphological evidence of extensive Younger Dryas glaciation, glacier reconstruction and palaeoclimatic significance (Loch Shin, Loch a'Ghriama, Loch More); Younger Dryas "hummocky" moraine sedimentology and glaciodynamic significance (Bealach nam Meirleach).

Day 4: Large-scale rock-slope failure (Bealach nam Meirleach, Ben Hee); 14C-chronology (Loch Stack).

Accommodation

The meeting will be based at the Inchnadamph Hotel and Inchnadamph Lodge, Inchnadamph. The venues are both well equipped to cater for the group in all aspects (food, well-stocked bar); a large meeting room for evening presentations and a range of accommodation are also available.

Indicative costs per night per person are c. £17 for bunkhouse accommodation, £25-35 per single or shared twin/triple room, bed and breakfast included and c. £45-50 for a single room including dinner, bed and breakfast. Both en-suites and shared facilities are available.

Registration costs will be around £80 (standard) and £40 (students/unwaged members).

Access

It should be noted that, due to the widespread absence of roads and usable tracks, all days of this field meeting will involve long walks across mountainous, partly difficult and possibly water-logged ground. Inchnadamph does not have any alternative facilities, and although we will pass local shops on some days, we would encourage participants planning not to have dinner at the hotel to bring provisions for the whole meeting based on previous experience.

Travel

Transport during the meeting will be in University minibuses, BGS and private vehicles, and we will aim at keeping the number of vehicles to a necessary minimum due to available parking space. The majority of roads in this area of the Highlands are single-track, so that larger buses for group transport are not a feasible option due to road widths.

The closest railway station to the area is Lairg, about an hour's drive south of the proposed meeting place, and pick-up from the station can be arranged if required. For everyone's convenience, we would offer to organise lifts for participants who do not travel to the venue as part of a group.

further information:
Sven Lukas (QMUL), Tom Bradwell (BGS) (S.Lukas@qmul.ac.uk)
020 7882 8417

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