Double Craigs

Also within

Stirling and Falkirk County

Condition (NatureScot)

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Carboniferous · Rock Type: Basalt

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

DOUBLE CRAIGS Double Craigs Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a long series of dry, mainly south-facing cliffs, located on the south west side of the Fintry Hills, two kilometres from the village of Fintry. The geology of the site is important in itself as well as being a key determinant of the species-rich grassland vegetation. The Clyde Plateau Lava exposures which front the scarps of the Central Valley hill massif are the most extensive exposures of their type in great Britain. These exposures show an exceptionally large number of different early Carboniferous volcanic rocks dating back some 340 million years. Double Craigs is an integral part of this formation and provides important exposure of lavas and interbedded sedimentary rocks characteristic of this province. The underlying calcareous basalt rock of the cliffs supports relatively undisturbed, upland grassland vegetation communities which are restricted in their distribution in the Stirling Council area. These are characterised by species such as sheep’s-fescue Festuca ovina, common bent Agrostis capillaris and wild thyme Thymus polytrichus as well as kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria, burnet-saxifrage Pimpinella saxifraga, fairy flax Linum catharticum and spring cinquefoil Potentilla tabernaemontani, which are restricted to dry nutrient-rich soils such as are found at Double Craigs.

Species mentioned