Day 6: Parallel Roads and Schnitzel

On March 22nd, we left the picturesque town of Tobermory on the island of Mull and headed for mainland Scotland. We caught a quick 10 minute ferry from Fishnish (yes we laughed at the name too) to Lochaline before driving toward Fort William northwest from Mull. After crossing Loch Linhe we finally arrived in Fort William, and after a much needed McDonalds break (we are students after all), we quickly picked up groceries and headed for the little houses our adorable accommodation for the next few days.

Our next stop was Glen Roy an amazing example of the effects of Quaternary glaciation in Scotland. The most prominent feature the Parallel Roads mark the location of the shorelines of a periglacial ice dammed lake, appearing parallel as the result of the preservation of multiple shorelines due to fluctuating water levels. The periglacial lake was created as glacial ice moved down Ben Nevis (the highest peak in the UK) and upwards into the valley. The majority of glaciation occurred during the younger dryas period, with the last glacial advance during the Loch Lommond stadial. The fluctuating water levels created lochterraces that look similar to roadways cut into the sides of the valley.

Glen Roy Parallel Roads, image taken from across the valley facing north. 


The U-shaped glacial valley of Glen Roy was made V-shaped by the incising of the valley by the Burne (river) Aggie, which now runs down the center. Lower down in the valley, we observed a series of fluvial terraces. One in particular a former alluvial fan was created by the dissection of the river, which separated the alluvial fan deposit into two parallel terraces and consisting of moderately sorted fluvial sediments and glacial till.

The V-shaped valley of Glen Roy. Image taken facing north observing the movement of the Burne Aggie through the valley. 
Dissected alluvial fan, showing the sediment composition and location of the river. 
We then returned to the little houses, where we helped Vasa prepare an amazingly delicious schnitzel for the whole team. Finally, after a discussion summarizing the Quaternary glaciation in the British Isles we turned in for the night. Ready for the next day of visiting a shear zone of the Great Glen fault.

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