Geological input to a Landscape Character Assessment of the Cairngorms National Park Geology and Landscape Scotland Programme Open Report OR/10/003 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGY AND LANDSCAPE SCOTLAND PROGRAMME OPEN REPORT OR/10/003 Geological input to a Landscape The National Grid and other Character Assessment of the Ordnance Survey data are used with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Cairngorms National Park Stationery Office. Licence No: 100017897/ 2011. Keywords H F Barron, J W Merritt, and M R Gillespie Cairngorms National Park, Landscape Character, Geology, Geomorphology Front cover Oblique aerial view of Lairig Ghru, Creag an Leth-choin (the prominent crag in the left foreground) and Cairn Gorm, Cairngorms National Park. P002986. Bibliographical reference BARRON, H F, MERRITT, J W & GILLESPIE M R 2011. Geological input to a Landscape Character Assessment of the Cairngorms National Park. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/10/003. 22pp. Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the source of the extract. Maps and diagrams in this book use topography based on Ordnance Survey mapping. © NERC 2011. 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The geological input was jointly funded by BGS and the CNPA. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the following for their enthusiasm, insights and constructive debate during steering group meetings and field visits: Carol Anderson, landscape consultant Laura Campbell, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Mike Daniels, John Muir Trust Peter Fraser, Aberdeenshire Council Alison Grant, landscape consultant Adrian Hall, Fettes College Jill Harden, consultant archaeologist Matthew Hawkins, CNPA Allan Kilpatrick, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) Stewart Roberts, Angus Council Nicholas Shepherd, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) Frances Thin, CNPA i OR/10/003; Final 1.1 Last modified: 2011/12/05 17:16 Contents Foreword ....................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... i Contents ....................................................................................................................................... ii Summary .................................................................................................................................... iii 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 2 Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 1 3 Bedrock controls on the development and character of gross landscape features......... 2 3.1 Simplification of geological linework .......................................................................... 2 3.2 Western sector .............................................................................................................. 2 3.3 Eastern sector ................................................................................................................ 2 3.4 The Cairngorm massif .................................................................................................. 3 4 Superficial deposits and geomorphology ........................................................................... 4 4.1 Simplification of geological linework .......................................................................... 4 4.2 Background ................................................................................................................... 4 4.3 Clayey, poorly-drained glacigenic deposits (till) .......................................................... 4 4.4 Moundy, well-drained, gravelly glacigenic deposits .................................................... 5 4.5 Terraced, well-drained, gravelly fluvial deposits ......................................................... 6 4.6 River floodplains .......................................................................................................... 6 4.7 Alluvial fans .................................................................................................................. 7 4.8 Blanket peat .................................................................................................................. 7 4.9 Periglacial deposits ....................................................................................................... 7 4.10 Loose slope deposits and scree ..................................................................................... 8 4.11 Loose mountaintop debris ............................................................................................. 8 4.12 Blockfields .................................................................................................................... 9 4.13 Landslide deposits ........................................................................................................ 9 TABLE Table 1 Simplification of BGS DiGMapGB map categories…………………………………...10 FIGURES Figure 1 Simplified bedrock geology of the Cairngorms National Park ..................................... 12 Figure 2 The three bedrocks sectors of the Cairngorms National Park ...................................... 13 Figure 3 Superficial deposits character of the Cairngorms National Park ................................. 14 ii OR/10/003; Final 1.1 Last modified: 2011/12/05 17:16 Summary This report describes the geological and geomorphological contribution by BGS to a landscape character assessment of the Cairngorms National Park commissioned by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA). To underpin assessment and description of landscape character areas, BGS provided bespoke bedrock and superficial deposits/geomorphological ‘character’ maps of the CNP with accompanying descriptive text. The resulting Landscape Character Assessment will be used to inform landscape and land management policy to assist the CNPA and its partners in delivering the four aims of the National Park. It will also help the CNPA ensure that plans and policies conform to the European Landscape Convention. iii OR/10/003; Final 1.1 Last modified: 2011/12/05 17:16 1 Introduction Although there is an existing Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) of the Cairngorms area (Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership, 1996), the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) required a more detailed assessment of the Park that paid closer attention to the role of geology and the historic environment in shaping the landscape. To this end, the CNP commissioned a new LCA in 2009,