Tarbatness/Portmahomack - Dr Steven Andrews

19 September 2026

Lakes, deserts and life in the Devonian of Tarbet Ness Peninsula.

The rocks of the Tarbat Ness peninsula contain a record of the opening and eventual filling of the Devonian Orcadian Basin. This huge basin, which formed in the lee of the Himalayan-scale Caledonian mountain chain, stretched from the Moray Firth to Shetland. Early in its history a series of lakes linked northwards during more humid climatic periods, hosting a diverse range of early fish, and in drier periods these lakes dried out entirely undergoing prolonged desiccation. Extensive river systems eventually began to fill the Orcadian Basin, and during drier periods these sands were reworked into extensive dune fields. Life still persisted here with some of the earliest land-dwelling animals (tetrapods) leaving tracks between the sand dunes. This trip will examine evidence for the changing environments and the life they held through the Devonian, visiting sites near Hilton of Cadboll and Tarbat Ness.

Anyone wishing to attend day trips or to find out more should email:    HighlandGeologicalSociety@Gmail.com    Your email will be passed to the individual event organiser who will respond to you directly.
Field trip contributions are £5 per person / day.