Assynt and NW Scotland

This is the classic exposure of the Pipe Rock Member of the Eriboll Formation (early Cambrian) at Skiag Bridge, Loch Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland. Cross-bedded pale grey quartzitic/feldspathic marine sandstones deposited as sand bars in a near-shoreline environment are stained purplish-red and penetrated by Skolithos burrows infilled with creamy grey sandstone. This indicates that there was periodic halting of sedimentation and near, or actual emergence, so that oxidation of the iron and manganese minerals in the sediments could occur and the top part of the sediments colonised by burrowing organisms, probably worm-like animals.

A day on Quinag - photo 14 . This is the final south-west ridge leading to Sàil Gharbh (808m), the highest summit of Quinag in the NW Highlands of Sutherland. The pink rock is Torridonian Sandstone (Applecross Formation, Precambrian), overlain unconformably by the light grey Basal Cambrian quartzite of the Eriboll Formation.

Spectacular cirrus clouds over Scourie Bay, Sutherland, Scotland.