A few years ago Leicester University rationalised its storage space and returned archived undergraduate mapping projects to their owners. The project was to map an area 3 x 3 miles during 3 separate visist of 1 month each.
My project was in SW Strath, Isle of Skye and I visited during Summer 1972, Easter 1973 (it was cold) and Summer 1973. I used the 2nd class rail fare travel allowance and 1Pound B&B allowance to buy an ex-GPO Morris1000 van (post office red) and drove and camped.
The geology was fascinating (Red Hills granites and rhyolites to the north, Beinn An Dubhaich granite intruding Cambrian limestones in north-centre and Mesozoic sediments to the south, all intruded by Tertiary dyke swarms) and the task of recording and interpreting it was challenging but rewarding. It probably set some of my characteristics that have borne me well throughout my chequered career.
The mapping was caried by pace-and-compass using a 6" topographic map as a base. It would be fascinating to repeat the excercise after 30 years of field and office studies and using modern day GPS and digital map facilities. Perhaps one day!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Isle of Skye 1972-74
