Whitbread, K., Ellen, R., Callaghan, E., Gordon, J. E. and Arkley, S. 2015. East Lothian Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/14/063. 192pp.
ELC_2: Burn Hope (‘Fairy Glen’)
Site information
Location and Summary Description: The site is situated 9 km south-east of Dunbar, within an upland area comprising the north-eastern margin of the Lammermuir Hills, 4 km west of the small hamlet of Oldhamstocks. Burn Hope lies immediately to the west of the Aikengall Windfarm. The site itself is a ~450 m long section along a narrow stream gorge, centred around ‘Fairy Castle’ and is known locally as ‘Fairy Glen’. Low cliffs along this scenic gorge expose conglomerates and sandstones of the Lower Devonian Great Conglomerate Formation.
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Site type: Natural Section; Natural Exposure; Natural Landform
Site ownership: Not known
Current use: Open Country
Field surveyors: Hugh Barron and Rachael Ellen
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 25th September 2014
Other designations: Lammermuir Deans Biological SSSI; part of East Lammermuir Deans Nature Reserve, within Lammerlaw AGLV, Innerwick Ancient Woodland Site
Site map
Site description
Background and site area
The site borders that of the Aikengall Community Windfarm, which lies immediately to the west. An extension to this wind farm was granted in 2013, and at the time of site visit, construction warnings were in place along the access road, which may affect access to the site in the short term. The site comprises a naturally formed glacial meltwater channel.
Sedimentary rocks
A 20 m section through the Great Conglomerate Formation (Lower Devonian in age) is excellently exposed at the site, particularly on the south-facing cliffs. The cliffs are composed mostly of loosely bedded red-brown conglomerates and subordinate sandstones formed from sediment deposited by high energy streams in a series of alluvial fans at the margin of a mountain range
Volcanic rocks
A 50 cm wide basalt dyke (the so-called ‘Fairy Castle’) with sparse vesicles is exposed at the site
Quaternary deposits and landforms
There are good examples of small talus fans forming from natural erosion of the conglomerate cliffs
Access and additional information
The site is accessed by a minor road and a short stretch of rough gravelled track. Car parking (is available off-road adjacent to the Aikengall Windfarm substation. Burn Hope is accessed south of the car park, via a small bridge, leading onto a path over open moorland. The descent into the valley of Burn Hope is steep and may be difficult when wet; care should be taken when accessing the site. Although the cliffs are not high, active erosion is ongoing with small clasts falling out of the conglomerate on a regular basis, forming small talus cones at the base of the cliffs. The basalt dyke is accessed by crossing a fence with wooden slats at the confluence of Bladdering Cleugh with Burn Hope.
Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Early Devonian
Group: Reston Group
Formation: Great Conglomerate Formation
Rock type: Conglomerate and subordinate sandstone, interbedded
Age: Carboniferous to Early Permian
Rock type: Basalt
Suite: Midland Valley Carboniferous to Early Permian Alkaline Basic Dyke Suite
Assessment of site: access and safety
Road access and parking Road access past Thurston Mains to Wester Aikengall, then along to the Aikengall Windfarm substation. Cars can be parked off-road here, leaving access to the substation clear.
Safety of access A small path leads from the parking area across a small bridge, through moorland to a laddered stile crossing a fence. This leads to a view point over Burn Hope, the base of which can be accessed with care down some steep but naturally stepped ground. Care should be taken on surfaces with loose material. Stout footwear is recommended. The site can get very windy and therefore care should be taken whilst walking along the top of the cliffs to access the floor of the gorge.
Safety of exposure The low cliffs are continually eroding, particularly in high winds and rain, and so care should be exercised at the base of the cliffs.
Access Access by footpath and open country. The extension of the Aikengall Windfarm may impose temporary restrictions on road and pedestrian access.
Current condition The rocks are well exposed.
Current conflicting activities Extension of Aikengall Windfarm may impose on road access in the short term.
Restricting conditions Activities related to Aikengall Windfarm may impose restrictions on access.
Nature of exposure Gorge cut by fluvial and glaciofluvial processes, with natural cliff exposures.
Assessment of site: culture, heritage & economic value
Historic, archaeological & literary associations No known association
Aesthetic landscape Picturesque, peaceful stream gorge in upland region of Lammermuir Hills.
History of earth sciences No known association
Economic geology No known association
Assessment of site: geoscientific merit
| Rarity | Quality | Literature/collections | Primary interest | |
| Lithostratigraphy | Regional | Good | Browne et al., 2002; Davies et al., 1986; Stone et al., 2012 | X |
| Sedimentology | Local | Good | Browne et al., 2002; Davies et al., 1986; Stone et al., 2012 | |
| Igneous/mineral/metamorphic geology | Local | Moderately good | ||
| Structural geology | ||||
| Palaeontology | ||||
| Geomorphology | National | Excellent | X |
Site geoscientific value
The site comprises a sequence of conglomerates and subordinate sandstones, allowing interpretation of the depositional environment during the Lower Devonian. Whilst numerous outcrops of Lower Devonian conglomerates exist across Scotland, few belong to the Great Conglomerate Formation. The rocks are also unusually weathered to a ‘badlands’ topography, a weathering phenomenon relatively rare in the UK.
Burn Hope provides an excellent example of ‘badlands’ geomorphology with national significance. It also provides a good example of Lower Devonian fluvial sedimentology with regional stratigraphic significance.
Assessment of site: current site usage
Community Due to its relative remoteness and hidden nature, the site is likely rarely visited by the public, although it forms part of the East Lammermuir Deans Nature Reserve.
Education The site presents the best natural exposure of the Great Conglomerate Formation in East Lothian. This site may be a good locality for educational fieldwork relating to the Lower Devonian in Scotland. A leaflet with a map of a geo-trail detailing the geology and geomorphology would complement the Nature Reserve well. An on-site interpretation board overlooking the site from the viewpoint beyond the stile may also be appropriate.
Assessment of site: fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility Geohazard, weathering/erosion, natural overgrowth.
Potential use Research, higher/further education, school education, on-site interpretation
Geodiversity summary
The site comprises good exposures of Devonian sedimentary rocks in a unique geomorphological setting. The site area is accessible, but its rural location means that it is likely to appeal to local interest and educational groups. The geodiversity value of the site may be enhanced by the provision of additional information on the geology on site or on-line that is suitable for teaching purposes.