NWHG Ref. 061 — Ledmore Esker

Location, grid reference

The site is located at the north-west corner of the junction between the A 835 and A 837 at Ledmore, Grid Ref. 246126.

GCR site reference, block, volume and notified feature of SSSI?

The site is not GCR-listed and does not fall within a SSSI.

Description and geological significance

The site contains a particularly good example of an esker — a ribbon-like elongated low ridge of sand and gravel deposited within a melting ice-sheet by fluvioglacial processes during the Quaternary. The Ledmore esker is testament to the glacial and late-glacial history of this area and its influence on the final evolution of the landscape we see today. The Ledmore esker is the only well-developed and easily accessible esker in the NW Highlands Geopark.

Accessibility

The site can be viewed from a layby on the west side of the A 837, about 500 m to the north of its junction with the A 835 at Ledmore. The site is thus accessible to all abilities.

Conservation

Low conservation requirement due to the scale and nature of the feature, although its potential commercial value as a source of aggregate for construction should be borne in mind.

Visibility and “clarity”

The esker is easily seen from the roadside and forms a dramatic feature on the grassy land surface.

Interpretation and interpretation potential

There is currently no interpretation panel and it is considered unlikely that the site is visited by students or researchers. There is considerable potential, therefore, for developing this site as an appropriate place at which to see an important aspect of the legacy of the wider area’s glacial history. An interpretation panel should be erected and the site should be included in a future Geopark guide.

Key references

None.