Shoulder o' Craig
Also within
Condition (NatureScot)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 | Caledonian Igneous | 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 Period: Devonian
Landscape processes: Coastal, Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Shoulder o' Craig Shoulder o’ Craig is a coastal site on the western shore of Kirkcudbright Bay, located 2.5km southwest of Kirkcudbright. The site contains the best exposed sub-volcanic vent of Siluro-Devonian age in southern Scotland. The vent is characterised by a variety of rock-types including vent agglomerate, basaltic intrusions, a kersantite dyke and explosion breccias. It is an expression of explosive deep-seated potassium-rich magmatism which shows striking similarities with vents in the Appin (Argyll) area and has implications for plate-tectonic interpretations of Late Caledonian igneous activity.