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Bearreraig Bay EarthCache

Hidden : 4/6/2011
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size:   not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

The area between Portree and Staffin on the East coast of Skye is world famous for fossils, and Bearreraig Bay is one of the most interesting places to look for them.


The coordinates will take you to the top of the access path which while paved is very steep so take care with young children if you intend to make the descent to the beach.

Parking can be found adjacent to the fishing hut at Storr Lochs.




Bearreraig Bay is an internationally important site for fossils, especially belemnites and ammonites. The scree slopes seen in the photo below at the back of the bay contain thousands of fossils from the period when the bay was a tropical sea and the fossils were formed in the mud and silt at the bottom of this sea.

FOSSILS
Fossils of prehistoric shellfish can be found in Bearreraig Bay - the most common being ammonites and belemnites. But these are not the only fossils that have been found here - scallops and oysters can also be found, as can bits of plants and wood that ended up in the sea. Bearreraig Bay is also one of the sites in Scotland where dinosaur skeletons have been found!







It is impossible not to notice the power station and railway that are present at the site. The power station was constructed between 1950 and 1952 when it was commissioned in to service. This was a very important milestone for the Isle of Skye as prior to this time many places relied on generators, undersea cables, or didn't have any electricity at all!

The other interesting feature here is the railway which is the only working railway on Skye and the only hydro-electric power station in Scotland with a railway instead of an access road.

Lots of interesting information at the excellent Am Baile Highland History and Culture website.



To claim this EarthCache, please email us the answers to the following questions :

1. How high are the cliffs around the bay at Bearreraig and how was the top layer formed?

2. How long ago were the fossils formed and during which period?

3. Why are the fossils in the bay now exposed?

Optional Task : Please also post a photo from the site showing your GPS device and the bay.



It is forbidden to use a hammer at this site. Please observe all notices.


Attributes based on journey down to the bay.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)