On the south coast of the Moray Firth in northeast Scotland there is a remarkable stretch of sandstone coastline between the village of Cummingston and the town of Lossiemouth. Characterised by steep cliffs, seastacks and caves, and with the sandstone bedrock sculpted into beautiful organic shapes by the waves, this coastline is a narrow strip of spectacular wildness between the land and the sea.
Sandy beaches alternate with rock pools that teem with life at low tide, while brightly-coloured lichens cover the rocks in the splash zone above the high tide line. In spring and early summer a variety of seabirds nest on the sheer cliffs, while otters can be seen scampering amongst the rocks and bottlenose dolphins pass by close to shore, en route to their feeding grounds in the inner Moray Firth.
Illustrated with stunning photographs, this presentation provides a comprehensive overview of this coastline and the life it supports. It also covers some of the human history of the coast, including the Sculptor’s Cave, with its Pictish carvings dating back to about 1,400 years ago.
As sandstone is a very soft rock type, the coastline is highly dynamic, with erosion of the cliffs, bedrock and seastacks constantly taking place. Like the sand castles made by children, these beautiful sandstone formations that we see today are ephemeral in nature, changing even within a human lifetime due to the power of the waves and tides. This presentation offers a unique visual celebration of this very special coastline in the early 21st century.
If you would like me to give this talk to a group or at an event, please contact me.