Third Form Field Week
RDH
A investigation of two contrasting upland
environments within the Cairngorm National Park
Pupil Worksheet - Staff copy
Introduction
The Cairngorm massif is a magnificent mountain wilderness. It is the largest and
most unspoilt highland area in the British Isles. The scenery is principally shaped by
glaciation and there are many fine examples of glacial features in the area. The
wilderness qualities and stunning landscape also pose a threat by inviting ever more
numbers of visitors for climbing, skiing, hill walking and nature watching.
Below is a map showing the location of the Cairngorm mountains.
The Cairngorm plateau is mostly made of GRANITE
, which is a pink or
grey rock. It is formed when LAVA COOLS BENEATH THE SURFACE
Granite is an igneous rock formed well below the surface. Why is it now on the
surface forming the Cairngorm Mountains?
ROCK PREVIOUSLY COVERING IT HAS BEEN ERODED / WEATHERED
AWAY
Glaciation has shaped these mountains over millions of years. The last glaciers only
disappeared 10000
years ago. At the height of the ice age, glaciers filled the
valleys and an ice sheet covered the plateau, with only the highest peaks poking out.
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Third Form Field Week
RDH
Stop 1
Approx. GR986055 on path leading from car park up into Coire an t’Sneachda
The arctic-like conditions often experienced on the plateau lead to a unique
environment for flora and fauna. What characteristics do the plants require to survive
in this environment?
STRATEGIES TO PREVENT WATER LOSS, GROUND HUGGING, FLESHY
LEAVES, THICK SKIN
Name two of the plants able to survive in this environment and give a characteristic of
each which allows it to survive here.
HEATHER OR LING
BILBERRY
CROWBERRY
CREEPING AZALEA (HIGHER IN SNEACHDA)
CLOUDBERRY (WHITE FLOWER – V. RARE OUTSIDE CAIRNGORMS)
A glacier moved down from the corrie behind you and met another much larger
glacier moving from the SE to the NE (left to right).
How do you think the large ridge in front of you was formed?
LATERAL MORAINE FROM THE STRATHSPEY ICE (MOVING L TO R)
BLOCKING THE END OF THE VALLEY
What is the name of the lake you can see?
LOCH MORLICH
How do you think it was formed?
KETTLE HOLE – FORMED BY A MASS OF STAGNANT ICE BURIED IN
SEDIMENT DURING THE MELTING OF THE ICE SHEET
This view gives a good idea of the current landuse in the northern flank of the
Cairngorm Mountains.
Name the three different ‘zones’ of vegetation which you can see
MIXED FARMING
PINE FOREST
MOORLAND
Can you see any evidence of how humans might impact on this kind of landscape?
RECREATION
DEFORESTATION
FARMING
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Third Form Field Week
RDH
Field Sketch 1
Give the grid reference of your location GR986055
Which direction are you looking? NW
Draw a labelled field sketch of what you can see (guidelines at back of sheet to help
you)
You might want to include the following:
 Horizon – peaks, settlement
 Middle ground – forest, lake, moraine, road leading into Coire Cas
 Foreground – footpath maintenance, river, peat bog vegetation type
Stop 2
Any stage on path leading from Stop 1 up into Coire an t’Sneachda. Have a view
of the corrie.
You are now climbing into Coire an t-Sneachda. This is a large corrie formed during
the last ice age. A glacier would have once filled the small valley you are walking up.
The valley is
U shaped. The stream in the bottom is called a misfit stream.
Why do you think this is?
TOO SMALL TO HAVE ERODED THE VALLEY IT NOW OCCUPIES
A glacier erodes in two main ways.
ABRASION / PLUCKING
However, freeze-thaw weathering would have also have attacked the cliffs you can
see. Explain how freeze-thaw weathering occurs.
DURING THE DAY ICE MELTS AND THE WATER RUNS INTO CRACKS
IN THE ROCK. AT NIGHT THIS FREEZES AND EXPANDS (9%) THUS
CRACKING THE ROCK
As you walk up the path – what do you notice about it? Is it a good thing it has been
maintained so intensively?
DISCUSSION ABOUT FOOTPATH EROSION AND ADVANTAGES /
DISADVANTAGES OF WELL MAINTAINED PATHS – ENCOURAGE
MORE PEOPLE UP ETC.
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Third Form Field Week
RDH
Stop 3
From top of ‘ramp’ (GR994037) in Coire an t’Sneachda
Look into Coire an t-Sneachda. Originally there would have been a much smaller
hollow here. This would have gradually filled with snow and ice. Gravity would
have then caused this snow and ice to begin to slide the mountain. This very slow
process would have eroded the ‘armchair shaped’ feature we see today.
Why do you think a glacier was particularly likely to form in this location?
ASPECT (NE FACING), WIND BLOWN SNOW, SHADING
About 10 000 years ago the glacier finally melted away. What evidence is now left of
that glacier?
LOCH LOMOND STADIALTERMINAL MORAINES
Looking into the corrie, imagine a glacier sitting in front of you. How has the ridge of
material you are sitting on been formed?
DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES: TERMINAL MORAINE? PROTALUS
RAMPART? BEDROCK FORM?
Field Sketch 2
Give the grid reference of your location.
Which direction are you looking?
Draw a labelled field sketch of what you can see (guidelines at back of sheet to help
you)
You might want to include the following features:
 Horizon – pyramidal peak, arête, steep heavily plucked back wall
 Middle ground – Goat track, polished rock, lochans in bottom of corrie,
‘armchair shape’ hollow
 Foreground – terminal moraines, boulder field, stream
When you have finished the field sketch, have a good look around.
Thousands of people visit the Cairngorms every year, and the number of visitors is
increasing. Many people use the area for recreation, such as walking, climbing or
skiing. According to the SNH “Human activity has made a huge impact on the area.”
Can you see any evidence of that impact in Coire an t-Sneachda?
VERY LITTLE - FOOTPATH EROSION
Now complete your first Landscape Assessment Survey for Coire an t-Sneachda.
Read the instructions at the top of the sheet carefully to ensure you are completing the
survey correctly.
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Third Form Field Week
RDH
Stop 4
On top of Fiacaill a Choire Chais looking down into Coire Cas (GR996043)
You have now walked up onto the Fiacaill á Choire Chais. What glacial feature is
this?
AN ARETE
Look down into Coire Cas where the Cairngorm ski centre is based.
What do you notice is different about this corrie compared to Coire an t-Sneachda?
LESS DRAMATIC, NOT AS STEEP BACKWALL
Why are there these distinct differences?
NO GLACIER FORMED DURING LOCH LOMOND STADIAL. CORRIE
MOULDED BY PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES
What is the impact of humans on Coire Cas compared to their impact on Coire an tSneachda?
SKI CENTRE EYESORE, PATH EROSION, VEGETATION DIFFERENCES
Now complete your second Landscape Assessment Survey for Coire Cas. Read the
instructions at the top of the sheet again to ensure you are completing the survey
correctly. Compare the two corries you have visited in your mind as you complete
this assessment.
Further questions for investigation…
Why was Coire Cas chosen for the location of the ski centre and not Coire an tSneachda? Are there human and physical factors?
Has the building of the ski centre had a positive or negative or affect on the area?
Conclusion
The glacial plateaus and valleys of the Cairngorms provide some of the most
spectacular scenery in Britain. Human activity has had a huge impact on this
sensitive area over thousands of years and we must be very careful not to destroy the
very delicate balance that exists between the ecosystem, landforms and
geomorphological processes.
The skiing facilities on Cairngorm have had a major affect on the landscape.
Improving access to the hills may accelerate soil erosion and cause disturbance to the
wildlife. Today there is wide public concern about the future of the Cairngorms and
the need to preserve the natural environment as well as providing jobs.
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