4th March 2014
Sgurr na Bairnich and Sgurr an Fheadain tower over the head of Glen Brittle (Gleann Bhreatail). This is part of the Black Cuillin and represents part of the northern section of the roots of a massive volcano which erupted on the Isle of Skye during the Palaeogene period, 23-65 million years ago. The original volcano was hugely bigger but has mostly disappeared through millions of years of erosion.
Glen Brittle runs westward to meet Loch Brittle.
Glen Brittle is a glacial valley, scoured out over the course of cold periods during the last Ice Age which began around 750,000 years ago. The last cold period occurred 11,500-116,000 years B.C.
Masters of t'Yooniverse.
And it came to pass that by Friday evening the job was finished and they decided to have a party. Jesus had been busy making the beer, hinting at a future preoccupation with free alcohol that culminated in his famous party trick during the wedding feast at Cana.
On the path to Coire Lagan, in the looming presence of Sgurr Sgumain.
Sgurr MhicCoinnich in the middle, just to the left of the Great Stone Shute, and Sgurr Thearlaich on the right. Well, maybe, I'm not sure, but this is part of the western ramparts of the ancient super-volcano.
Great masses of rock (much of the Black Cuillin comprises gabbro) scoured by a glacier as it flowed west towards the sea.
We were looking for a whale-shaped natural edifice etched with striations by small pieces of rock in the glacier and thought this was it, but in retrospect I'm not sure it was.
These looked more like cracks caused by cooling and warming, involving frost, than glacial "scratchings".
The parallel lines just left of centre seem more promising, but if you look carefully you can see some very worn grooves running left-to-right which I think are even more likely candidates.
The grooves are even more obvious here.
