Glacial Geomorphology of the Dulnain Valley, Inverness-shire

Abstract

Synopsis Moulding of bedrock, excavation of glacial breaches and carry of erratics indicate that a major ice sheet overran the Dulnain valley from the S and W. The ice sheet later wasted away, releasing meltwaters that cut glacial drainage channels and deposited eskers, kames and kame terraces whose distribution enables reconstruction of the deglaciation. Glacial drainage was concentrated on the northern side of the valley and was augmented by exotic meltwaters that flowed into the Dulnain valley at numerous locations across its northern watershed. As the ice sheet downwasted, the regional SW–NE flow of ice-directed meltwaters was disrupted by the underlying topography which increasingly influenced the courses followed by the glacial rivers. Meltwaters progressively sought out more direct downhill routes, but were unable to penetrate the ice mass completely until the later stages of deglaciation.