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.: Q21

Site name: Glen Shirra eskers

Grid reference: [NN 53483 93175]

Locality: WNW of Loch Crunachdan to the park boundary at Dirc an Uillt Fhearna

GCR Status: N/A

GCR No.: N/A

Type: Natural landforms

Description: A discontinuous ribbon esker extends ENE along the northern side of the divide between Coire Ardair and the Spey. It traverses high above Coire a' Chaorainn and Coire an t-Slugain, linking with a minor channel cut across the col south of Meall a' Chaorain Mór and passing into Dirc an Uillt Fhearna. The meltwaters that passed through this channel laid down several flat-topped mounds, terraces and an esker between it and Loch Crunachan, to the ESE.

Justification: An excellent example of a linked esker and subglacial drainage channel system that links with Dirc an Uillt Fhearna [NN 520 932], a deep glacial meltwater channel that forms a remarkable cleft in the mountain panorama.

References