Geodiversity of Applecross : statement of significance and identification of opportunities

This report has been prepared for the Applecross Estate Trust, in order to provide a summary of the geological history of Applecross, to identify the key geodiversity features, and to suggest opportunities for geological interpretation. The geology of Applecross can be divided into four main elements. These are: the Lewisian gneisses, the oldest rocks in Britain, which are exposed on the peninsula’s north coast; the Torridon Group sandstones, which make up the hills that form the main part of the Applecross peninsula; the younger sedimentary rocks around Applecross village itself; and the glacial features formed during the last Ice Age. Each of these four elements represents a different part of the Earth’s history, and they provide a fascinating record of the changing environment and land surface of western Scotland. The first section of this report describes the geological history of Applecross in more detail, and emphasises some of the important events. The second section discusses the relationship between geology and the landscape of Applecross, and focuses on some areas and localities that are of particular importance in terms of their geological interest. Possible interpretation opportunities and suggestions for geotourism facilities are given in the third section.