Muckle Head and Selwick
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2005-03-31 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Raised Beach · Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Coastal, Glacial
Description
Muckle Head and Selwick Muckle Head and Selwick SSSI, situated on the north coast of Hoy, comprises two areas of raised beach deposits, both of which are overlain by head (debris formed by frost action on slopes) and till (glacial deposit). They represent a relatively rare record in Scotland of a period (or periods) of sea-level slightly above that of the present day but prior at least to the last glaciation. The deposits are an important element not only in the Quaternary history of Orkney, but also as part of the wider pattern of inter-related sea level changes and glacial events in those areas of Scotland that were peripheral to the areas of build-up of the Scottish ice-sheets.