Red Craig

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 56.8690, -3.1614

Open in the interactive map →

Also within

Angus County Cairngorms National Park Deeside and Lochnagar Scenic Area

Condition (NatureScot)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
F1 Caledonian Igneous Favourable — 2005-03-31

Geology & landscape

Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous

Description

Red Craig Red Craig SSSI lies at the head of Glen Clova, northwest of Kirriemuir. The steep south-western slopes of Red Craig rise to 655m on the north-east side of the glen. Its cliffs and crags contain excellent exposures of a large body of different types of igneous rock, known as the Glen Doll Complex. The Glen Doll Complex shows a wide range of rock-types extending from peridotites to granodiorite with a predominance of dioritic rocks. The diorites of Red Craig are unusual in containing disrupted trails of banded hornfels, up to several metres in length, and composed of pyroxene and spinel. Enclaves of this nature are uncommon in the Scottish Newer Granites and may represent a restitic assemblage (ie. a residue composition left after extraction of a melt from a pre-existing rock). This is an excellent site at which to study and decipher the origin of these bodies.