North-East Scotland

Landscapes in Stone

Alan McKirdy

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Birlinn Ltd
01 August 2025

British & Irish history; Geology & the lithosphere; Historical geology

Series: Landscapes in Stone

Today the Northeast of Scotland is the picture of peace and tranquillity. Some of the highest quality agricultural land is to be found here. But it was not always like this.

Although the area lacks the scenic grandeur and dramatic mountains found elsewhere in Scotland, the record of the rocks here bear witness to countless apocalyptic geological events that helped to shape the landscape we see today.

The area is bounded to the south by The Highland Line, which played a key role in the assembly of Scotland from a collection of previously unrelated continental fragments 420 million years ago. In more recent times, the land that became Northeast Scotland was covered by desert sands. Primitive lizard-like reptiles roamed the parched plains, leaving their footprints in the sand and impressions of their bones as trace fossils embedded in the rock. The landscape was shaped into its current distinctive form in more recent geological times by the passage of ice.

Written for the non-expert and including stunning photographs and diagrams, this is the essential introduction to the geology and landforms of this fascinating part of Scotland.

By: Alan McKirdy
Imprint: Birlinn Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 230mm, Width: 165mm, Spine: 6mm
Weight: 182g
ISBN: 9781780279510
ISBN 10: 1780279515
Series: Landscapes in Stone
Pages: 48
Publication Date: 01 August 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Alan McKirdy has written many popular books and book chapters on geology and related topics and has helped to promote the study of environmental geology in Scotland. He is the author of Set in Stone: The Geology and Landscapes of Scotland and before his retirement he was Head of Knowledge and Information Management at Scottish Natural Heritage. He is now a freelance writer and has given many talks on Scottish geology and landscapes at book festivals and other events across the country.