Lammermuir Hills: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Range of hills in southern Scotland}} |
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The '''Lammermuir Hills''' or '''Lammermuirs''', in southern [[Scotland]], span the [[unitary authority | unitary authorities]] of [[East Lothian]] and [[Scottish Borders]]. They offer a traditional site for [[sheep]] grazing. |
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{{For|the New Zealand range of hills|Lammermoor Range}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} |
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[[Image:Lammermuirs.jpg|thumb|The Lammermuirs in the winter of 2009]] |
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[[Image:Lammermuir Hills2.jpg|thumb]] |
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The '''Lammermuirs''' are a range of hills in southern [[Scotland]], forming a natural boundary between [[East Lothian]] and the [[Scottish Borders|Borders]]. The name ''Lammermuir'' comes from the [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|lambra mōr}}, meaning 'moorland of the lambs'.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Williamson |first=May |date=1942 |title=The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border Counties |publisher=Edinburgh University |url=https://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/MayWilliamsonComplete.pdf |access-date=27 October 2022 |page=66}}</ref> |
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== Geology == |
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The Lammermuir Hills are formed from a succession of [[Silurian]] and [[Ordovician]] age marine sediments known as [[greywacke]]s together with [[siltstone]]s, [[shale]]s and [[mudstone]]s. They are assigned to the [[Gala Group (geology)|Gala Group]]. [[Unconformity (geology)|Unconformably]] overlying these highly [[fault (geology)|faulted]] and [[fold (geology)|folded]] strata are outcrops of the early [[Devonian]] age Great Conglomerate Formation which forms a part of the [[Reston Group]] of [[Old Red Sandstone]] rocks. These coarse red-purple [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerates]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Conglomerate Formation |url=https://www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=GCGL |website=Lexicon of Named Rock Units |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref> underlie a band of country in the east between [[Longformacus]] and [[Oldhamstocks]] and also occur in an isolated outcrop east of Soutra Hill and beneath the Dun Law Wind Farm on the western margin of the hills. The same strata extend down Lauderdale on the western margin of the hills. |
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Numerous [[dike (geology)|dykes]] of different [[lithology|lithologies]] largely of Devonian age but some of [[Carboniferous]] age and with a generally NE-SW alignment occur throughout the area. The Priestlaw Intrusion is a mass of late Silurian/early Devonian [[granite]] which occurs in the area of Whiteadder Reservoir. |
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Glacial meltwater channels are common along the northern and eastern margins of the hills, with a notable group beneath Newlands Hill and Dod Law to the southeast of [[Gifford, East Lothian|Gifford]] and north of Deuchrie Edge and Lothian Edge, largely directed towards the northeast in these areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geoindex Onshore |url=https://mapapps2.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/home.html |publisher=British Geological Survey |access-date=19 June 2020}}</ref> |
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==Geography== |
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Spanning the counties of [[Selkirkshire|Selkirk]], [[East Lothian]], and [[Berwickshire|Berwick]], the Lammermuirs extend from the [[Gala Water]] to [[St Abb's Head]], and offer a traditional site for [[sheep]] grazing. The hills are nowhere especially high, the highest points being [[Meikle Says Law]] at {{convert|535|m|ft|abbr=on}} and the [[Lammer Law]] at {{convert|528|m|ft|abbr=on}}; but steep gradients, exposure to the elements, and a lack of natural passes combine to form a formidable barrier to communications between [[Edinburgh]] and the Borders. |
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The hills are crossed by only one major road (the [[A68 road|A68]]), which crosses the shoulder of [[Soutra Hill]] between [[Lauder]] and [[Pathhead, Midlothian|Pathhead]], and is frequently closed by snow in winter. The main road linking Edinburgh to [[England]] (the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]]) avoids the hills by following a circuitous route around the coast. |
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==Features== |
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[[White Castle, East Lothian|White Castle]] was an [[Iron Age]] [[hill fort]], settled by the ancestors of the [[Votadini]] tribe. |
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[[Crystal Rig Wind Farm]] is located on the hills. |
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==Historical and literary significance== |
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The [[Kingdom of Northumbria|Northumbria]]n missionary bishop [[Cuthbert]] spent his early years as a shepherd on the Lammermuir Hills.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/churchinanglosax0000godf |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/churchinanglosax0000godf/page/125 125] |title=The Church in Anglo-Saxon England |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521050890 |last1=Godfrey |first1=John |year=2009}}</ref> |
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[[Sir Walter Scott]]'s novel ''[[The Bride of Lammermoor]]'' and [[Gaetano Donizetti]]'s derivative opera ''[[Lucia di Lammermoor]]'' is set here. Scott lived at [[Abbotsford House]], near [[Galashiels]]. |
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Two ranges of hills in [[New Zealand]], the [[Lammermoor Range|Lammermoors]] and [[Lammerlaw Range|Lammerlaws]], are named after the Scottish hills. |
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==See also== |
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* [[List of places in East Lothian]] |
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* [[List of places in the Scottish Borders]] |
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* [[List of Marilyns in Scotland#Firth of Forth to the English Border|Marilyns in the area]] |
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* [[List of places in Scotland]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060206233707/http://www.scotways.com/downloads/vault/lammermuirs_map.pdf Guide to walking in the Lammermuir Hills] |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050112041045/http://www.lammermuirhills.com/ Anti-windfarm Group] |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{Coord|55|50|N|2|44|W|display=title|region:GB_type:mountain_source:GNS-enwiki}} |
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[[Category:Mountains and hills of East Lothian]] |
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[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Scottish Borders]] |
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[[Category:Hills of the Scottish Midland Valley]] |
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[[Category:Mountain ranges of Scotland]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:29, 25 November 2024
The Lammermuirs are a range of hills in southern Scotland, forming a natural boundary between East Lothian and the Borders. The name Lammermuir comes from the Old English lambra mōr, meaning 'moorland of the lambs'.[1]
Geology
[edit]The Lammermuir Hills are formed from a succession of Silurian and Ordovician age marine sediments known as greywackes together with siltstones, shales and mudstones. They are assigned to the Gala Group. Unconformably overlying these highly faulted and folded strata are outcrops of the early Devonian age Great Conglomerate Formation which forms a part of the Reston Group of Old Red Sandstone rocks. These coarse red-purple conglomerates[2] underlie a band of country in the east between Longformacus and Oldhamstocks and also occur in an isolated outcrop east of Soutra Hill and beneath the Dun Law Wind Farm on the western margin of the hills. The same strata extend down Lauderdale on the western margin of the hills.
Numerous dykes of different lithologies largely of Devonian age but some of Carboniferous age and with a generally NE-SW alignment occur throughout the area. The Priestlaw Intrusion is a mass of late Silurian/early Devonian granite which occurs in the area of Whiteadder Reservoir.
Glacial meltwater channels are common along the northern and eastern margins of the hills, with a notable group beneath Newlands Hill and Dod Law to the southeast of Gifford and north of Deuchrie Edge and Lothian Edge, largely directed towards the northeast in these areas.[3]
Geography
[edit]Spanning the counties of Selkirk, East Lothian, and Berwick, the Lammermuirs extend from the Gala Water to St Abb's Head, and offer a traditional site for sheep grazing. The hills are nowhere especially high, the highest points being Meikle Says Law at 535 m (1,755 ft) and the Lammer Law at 528 m (1,732 ft); but steep gradients, exposure to the elements, and a lack of natural passes combine to form a formidable barrier to communications between Edinburgh and the Borders.
The hills are crossed by only one major road (the A68), which crosses the shoulder of Soutra Hill between Lauder and Pathhead, and is frequently closed by snow in winter. The main road linking Edinburgh to England (the A1) avoids the hills by following a circuitous route around the coast.
Features
[edit]White Castle was an Iron Age hill fort, settled by the ancestors of the Votadini tribe.
Crystal Rig Wind Farm is located on the hills.
Historical and literary significance
[edit]The Northumbrian missionary bishop Cuthbert spent his early years as a shepherd on the Lammermuir Hills.[4]
Sir Walter Scott's novel The Bride of Lammermoor and Gaetano Donizetti's derivative opera Lucia di Lammermoor is set here. Scott lived at Abbotsford House, near Galashiels.
Two ranges of hills in New Zealand, the Lammermoors and Lammerlaws, are named after the Scottish hills.
See also
[edit]- List of places in East Lothian
- List of places in the Scottish Borders
- Marilyns in the area
- List of places in Scotland
References
[edit]- ^ Williamson, May (1942). The Non-Celtic Place-Names of the Scottish Border Counties (PDF) (Thesis). Edinburgh University. p. 66. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Great Conglomerate Formation". Lexicon of Named Rock Units. British Geological Survey. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Geoindex Onshore". British Geological Survey. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ Godfrey, John (2009). The Church in Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge University Press. p. 125. ISBN 9780521050890.
External links
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