Shochie Burn
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Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Quaternary of Scotland | Favourable | — | 2024-08-15 |
Geology & landscape
Landscape processes: Fluvial, Glacial
Description
Shochie Burn Situated 4 kilometres north of Perth, between the villages of Moneydie and Luncarty, Shochie Burn was selected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its series of glacial sediments which demonstrate that a glacier advanced twice down the Shochie valley during the last glaciation, 13000 -14000 years ago. The site is important in the context of the so-called “Perth Readvance”, formerly believed to have interrupted the final wastage of the last (Late Devensian) ice sheet to cover Scotland. The exposure shows two tills separated by fluvial deposits, a sequence frequently held to be typical of ice readvance. However, this is the only locality in the Perth area where such a sequence of deposits is known to occur. It probably represents a minor oscillation or surge of a former glacier that occupied the Shochie Burn valley. This site provides a valuable record of localised glacier behaviour during the final decay of the last ice sheet.