Attadale
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Moine | Favourable | — | 2007-02-13 |
Geology & landscape
Rock Type: Conglomerate, Gneiss
Description
ATTADALE Attadale SSSI is situated alongside the A890 on the east shore of Loch Carron, opposite Lochcarron village. The site is a supreme locality for exhibiting the development of the basal conglomerate within the Moine Series – a phenomenon known from only a very few sites in Scotland. The abundance and variety of deformed pebbles in the conglomerate and the clearly defined relationships between the Moine and underlying Lewisian gneiss render this site irreplaceable for teaching and research. The Lewisian gneiss was incorporated into the Moine sequence during the period of crustal instability and mountain building known as the Caledonian Orogeny. Historically, the proven existence of this basal Moine conglomerate was fundamental to the controversy concerning the interpretation of such occurrences of Lewisian gneiss within the Moine.