Barron, H F, Gillespie, M R and Merritt, J W 2011. Geodiversity of the Cairngorms National Park. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/10/019
A PDF of this report is available from the NORA, the NERC archive
Site no.: B1
Site name: Ailnack Gorge
Grid reference:
Locality: Section of the Water of Ailnack (south of Tomintoul) stretching from The Castle to Delnabo.
GCR Status: N/A
GCR No.: N/A
Type: Natural section and Natural landform
Description: The gorge cut along this part of the Water of Ailnack is a notable geomorphological feature formed by channeling of glacial meltwater. The gorge provides a geological section through top- Grampian and Appin Group stratigraphy, and non-metamorphosed Devonian sedimentary rocks which unconformably overlie the Dalradian strata.
Justification: The site presents an excellent geological section through a substantial part of the Dalradian stratigraphy in the CNP, and part of the Tomintoul outlier of overlying Devonian sedimentary rocks.