Glen Roy and Glen Spean

Abstract

The landscape around Glen Roy and Glen Spean is dominated by the effects of glacial processes that operated during the Quaternary. The area has been widely studied over the last two hundred years. It was one of the first locations in Britain where the role of glaciation was recognised and remains an important focus of research today. Glen Roy and Glen Spean lie adjacent to the main ice accumulation areas in the Western Grampian Highlands, and geomorphic evidence for processes that operated during the Loch Lomond Stade (~12.9–11.7 ka) is especially well preserved. Particular highlights are the shorelines (‘Parallel Roads’) and associated landforms of the famous glacilacustrine systems that existed for 518 years between 12,135 and 11,618 cal a BP. The remarkable assemblage of geomorphic features includes terminal and lateral moraine complexes, kames, eskers, kame terraces, kettle holes, shorelines of glacial lakes, subaerial and subaqueous fans, deltas and a cluster of rock-slope failures that were activated before, during and after the glacilacustrine systems. After the demise of the ice-dammed lakes there is evidence for the evolution to fluvial drainage systems of the present day. The geomorphological importance of the area is highlighted by its recognition as a flagship locality within Lochaber Geopark.