Book Review

“Scotland’s Mountain Landscapes – A Geomorphological Perspective” written by Colin Ballantyne

Reviewed by Liz Murdich

“Nothing is static, nothing endures and nothing is eternal” (page 138)

I can’t claim to be an impartial reviewer of this book, having been so keen to get it that I bypassed protocol and wrote irectly to the publisher for a draft copy.

An explanatory book on the landscape we share, this hardcover book is aimed at those who have a passion for the Scottish hills but no grounding in physical geography. Many trained geologists are mountain-lovers, but for a mountain-lover who is a novice in geology, most texts are too technical and advanced to be readable.

Ballantyne, an Emeritus Professor and geomorphologist of 40 years, takes the reader on a journey through time starting with the continental plates in diverse positions around the globe when Scotland was scattered in fragments. This voyage passes through huge shifts, uplifts, consolidations; creation of seas and oceans when many rocks were starting to form; through volcanic activities, metamorphosis and glaciation. The evidence of wind and weather that we see today on the landscape, as well as river drainage, is examined in later chapters. Ballantyne concludes with the effect that human activities have had, from new vehicle tracks across ancient beds of deep peat, to the effects of climate instability on fragile soils and exposed rock. Nor does he shy away from mentioning the walker’s responsibility for damage caused by footpath erosion to sensitive mountain habitats.

The geological timescales involved are bafflingly enormous. Is it not fitting, that those who enjoy being in the hills of Torridon and Assynt should know about their origins?

Ballantyne effectively teaches the reader to interpret the landscape for glacial, fluvial and geomorphological activity. There is an abundance of familiar photoscapes to accompany the text; however this book does not pretend to be a collection of beautiful glossy photographs. These images have been chosen for their specific lighting or angle, to illustrate particular shapes, colours and textures of landscape features. This offers new discoveries to the walker who may have visited during flat grey light, and missed the tell-tale forms and signs of geological activities that were concealed in the shadows. Diagrams are also there to provide effective explanations.

One of my favourite features of the book is the chapter “Key Sites” where renowned areas for hill-walking, such as Glen Coe, Cairngorms and the Cuillin, are matched with the geomorphological processes and features explained in greater detail in earlier stages of the book. This provides the walker with a great read before a visit to these areas, pointing out things to look out for during your day in the hills. Of course, not every hill or mountain in Scotland deserves a mention, but there is an index of all those that do, as well as an index of the other locations referenced in the book, so that these can be accessed easily.

A useful addition to the Appendices would have been a Glossary to refer to – if one were dipping into the book rather than reading from cover to cover. The General Index does not provide an easy access to quick definitions.

Apart from this one disappointment, I have found this publication a very worthwhile read, enhancing my understanding and enjoyment of the Scottish uplands.

ISBN 9781780460796, hardback, 183 pages, published 7.11.2019 by Dunedin Academic Press: £28

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