All change on the weather front
Posted: Friday, 07 November 2008 |
Ah well, good while it lasted! Looks like the weekend forecast isnt great. Anyway, I had a nice trip to Iona the other day, and coming up the side of Loch Scridain and Glen More on the way back, the scenery was really rather nice! Heres just a few pics - hopefully we'll get more of this sort of weather again soon.
Ben More and A'Chioch from near Pennyghael
And a closer in view
These hills are Cruachan Dearg and Corra Bheinn - fine peaks with lots of nice geology up there. Maybe see it here some day. Both peaks are the same height, according to the map (and if you were looking at this blog at the weekend you would have noticed a deliberate error... Cruach Chorradail is a bit fuerther up the glen!)
This little peak is called Cruach Doire nan Cuilean - great views from up there - havent been up for ages, Time, time, time....... where does it go?
Right then, geology class - we'll be looking at this sort of stuff in a few weeks time. The hard dark rock is a gabbro (the Ben Buie Gabbro) and it is absolutely shot through with thin veins. The rock is seriously rough - you get a great grip on it!
The gabbro is really obvious from the roadside - it is very dark and knobbly looking. The Cuillin of Skye are made of gabbro of course, but they are seriously pointy hills in comparison to the Mull ones. Both areas are actually quite similar geologically - but still very different in many ways. That's what makes this whole west coast area (and I say that as a dyed in the wool Cairngormer.....) so interesting.
More fun soon!
Cheers!
James
Ben More and A'Chioch from near Pennyghael
And a closer in view
These hills are Cruachan Dearg and Corra Bheinn - fine peaks with lots of nice geology up there. Maybe see it here some day. Both peaks are the same height, according to the map (and if you were looking at this blog at the weekend you would have noticed a deliberate error... Cruach Chorradail is a bit fuerther up the glen!)
This little peak is called Cruach Doire nan Cuilean - great views from up there - havent been up for ages, Time, time, time....... where does it go?
Right then, geology class - we'll be looking at this sort of stuff in a few weeks time. The hard dark rock is a gabbro (the Ben Buie Gabbro) and it is absolutely shot through with thin veins. The rock is seriously rough - you get a great grip on it!
The gabbro is really obvious from the roadside - it is very dark and knobbly looking. The Cuillin of Skye are made of gabbro of course, but they are seriously pointy hills in comparison to the Mull ones. Both areas are actually quite similar geologically - but still very different in many ways. That's what makes this whole west coast area (and I say that as a dyed in the wool Cairngormer.....) so interesting.
More fun soon!
Cheers!
James
Comments
In the 5 yrs we have been coming to Mull, only once has Ben More not had a hat of cloud on it!! Great photos again.
Sharon from Down South
my mum always used to tell me when I was a very little girl, that as you get older, the person who winds the clock of Time does it imperceptibly but ever faster ... I am now starting to understand that she was correct ... :-)
soaplady from gottagetgoing ...
That last one looks very like a large fat posterior in an elephant-ish sort of way. I've never seen anything like it!
Flying Cat from lying in my teeth
Hi MM - I cant believe that was only last week - look at the weather now - hatches battened down and everything soggy - waterfalls at the roadside - the gabbro looks fascinating stuff - very tactile
Wild Freckle from Wet Mull
Flying Cat - a new rock type eh? Lets call it "bumite"!!!! Or maybe "whoateallthepiesite" Good stuff gabbro - theres all sorts of varieties to be seen, all sorts of structures - and as WF states, very tactile - it is supremely rough and coarse. Which is why it is good for climbing on. Not so good for falling on though.... :-))))))))) James
MM from Mull
I really must try very hard not to go down the tactile bumite route...in the interests of keeping a roof over my head!
Flying Cat from patting a plump rump
EffCee, what admirable (and, may I add lest you should become giddy with so much praise, unusual) blogrestraint. The bottom has not yet been reached.
Barney from Swithiod full of praise
Why thank you Barney...
Flying Cat from feeling a tad worried
Exploring the hills and coasts of Mull and Iona and occasionally elsewhere, with a close eye on the geology
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