The Isle of Skye, Scotland

Geology of Skye in Scotland

The geology of Skye is some of the UK's most fascinating for both experts and amateurs. The oldest rocks, more than 450 million years old, are found in the Sleat peninsula - The Cuillin, with its famous ridge, is the most exciting mountain range in the British Isles a result of the volcanic activity of the Tertiary Period.

Dramatic land slips formed the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing and where the landslip is still slowly moving into the sea fossils can be found, including the 170 million year old footprints of the Hadrosaur dinosaur.

Almost entirely of Torridonian rocks, red & grey sandstones, stiltstones & shales deposited about 800m years ago Granite on the west coast and to the South fertile lias.

Scalpay, a microcosm of Skye, has gentler peaks with as much variation. Fossils are to be found in abundance, ammonites, belemnites and crinoids.