https://www.ipernity.com/tag/earthwatcher/keyword/929964 https://cdn.ipernity.com/p/200/FE/AE/1683198.buddy.jpg https://www.ipernity.com/tag/earthwatcher/keyword/929964 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:32:30 +0000 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:32:30 +0000 https://www.ipernity.com https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744372 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744372 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:30 +0000 2016-06-28T15:03:41+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744372"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/72/42744372.a14231ed.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Watching sea birds from the eastern end of Geodha Smoo, near Durness.</div> Watching sea birds <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744372"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/72/42744372.a14231ed.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Watching sea birds from the eastern end of Geodha Smoo, near Durness.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744370 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744370 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:26 +0000 2016-06-28T15:01:28+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744370"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/70/42744370.93115052.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform of the Durness Group limestones from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness. The terracing and some of the smoothly planed-off surfaces suggest some sort of quarrying activity, possibly for chert as well as limestone.<br /> <br /> I can't find any references about such activity here, so please drop me a note if you have any more information, thanks!</div> Geodha Smoo east platform <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744370"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/70/42744370.93115052.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform of the Durness Group limestones from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness. The terracing and some of the smoothly planed-off surfaces suggest some sort of quarrying activity, possibly for chert as well as limestone.<br /> <br /> I can't find any references about such activity here, so please drop me a note if you have any more information, thanks!</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744368 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744368 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:22 +0000 2016-06-28T15:00:19+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744368"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/68/42744368.6cbf4edf.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Sea thrift growing in an enlarged fissure in the Durness Group limestones on the palaeo wave-cut platform at the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Sea thrift at Geodha Smoo <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744368"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/68/42744368.6cbf4edf.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Sea thrift growing in an enlarged fissure in the Durness Group limestones on the palaeo wave-cut platform at the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744366 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744366 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:18 +0000 2016-06-28T14:53:41+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744366"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/66/42744366.77e5c867.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">At the eastern end of Geodha Smoo in the Durness Group limestones, is a curious limestone breccia, colloquially known as 'leopard rock'. The origin of the breccia is obscure; possibly due to bioturbation (burrowing) or a thrombolite (bacterial mounds/concretions) - although to me it doesn't particularly look like these. <br /> <br /> Possibly the angularity of the clasts points towards a diagenetic origin, i.e. when the lime-rich muds were undergoing burial and mineralisation to form the hard rock we see today.</div> Geodha Smoo east - &#039;leopard rock&#039; close-up view <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744366"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/66/42744366.77e5c867.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">At the eastern end of Geodha Smoo in the Durness Group limestones, is a curious limestone breccia, colloquially known as 'leopard rock'. The origin of the breccia is obscure; possibly due to bioturbation (burrowing) or a thrombolite (bacterial mounds/concretions) - although to me it doesn't particularly look like these. <br /> <br /> Possibly the angularity of the clasts points towards a diagenetic origin, i.e. when the lime-rich muds were undergoing burial and mineralisation to form the hard rock we see today.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744364 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744364 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:14 +0000 2016-06-28T14:53:35+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744364"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/64/42744364.203ac330.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">At the eastern end of Geodha Smoo in the Durness Group limestones, is a curious limestone breccia, colloquially known as 'leopard rock'. The origin of the breccia is obscure; possibly due to bioturbation (burrowing) or a thrombolite (bacterial mounds/concretions) - although to me it doesn't particularly look like these. <br /> <br /> Possibly the angularity of the clasts points towards a diagenetic origin, i.e. when the lime-rich muds were undergoing burial and mineralisation to form the hard rock we see today.</div> Geodha Smoo east - &#039;leopard rock&#039; <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744364"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/64/42744364.203ac330.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">At the eastern end of Geodha Smoo in the Durness Group limestones, is a curious limestone breccia, colloquially known as 'leopard rock'. The origin of the breccia is obscure; possibly due to bioturbation (burrowing) or a thrombolite (bacterial mounds/concretions) - although to me it doesn't particularly look like these. <br /> <br /> Possibly the angularity of the clasts points towards a diagenetic origin, i.e. when the lime-rich muds were undergoing burial and mineralisation to form the hard rock we see today.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744362 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744362 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:10 +0000 2016-06-28T14:51:04+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744362"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/62/42744362.8ae4c451.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The eastern end of Geodha Smoo inlet near Durness has terraces and palaeo wave-cut platforms, some of which appear to have been worked, possibly for chert (the white/pale grey bands) as well as limestone.</div> Geodha Smoo limestone platform with chert bands <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744362"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/62/42744362.8ae4c451.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">The eastern end of Geodha Smoo inlet near Durness has terraces and palaeo wave-cut platforms, some of which appear to have been worked, possibly for chert (the white/pale grey bands) as well as limestone.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744350 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744350 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:55 +0000 2016-06-28T15:42:00+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744350"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/50/42744350.b080dd86.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Another view of Smoo Cave from the footpath on the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Smoo Cave from above (2) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744350"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/50/42744350.b080dd86.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">Another view of Smoo Cave from the footpath on the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744358 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744358 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:04 +0000 2016-06-28T14:49:41+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744358"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/58/42744358.7f1db3af.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="161" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A zoomed-in view westwards over the wave-cut platform to towards Faraid Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Geodha Smoo view NW to Faraid Head 2 <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744358"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/58/42744358.7f1db3af.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="161" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A zoomed-in view westwards over the wave-cut platform to towards Faraid Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744360 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744360 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:07 +0000 2016-06-28T14:50:15+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744360"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/60/42744360.42e6efab.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view westwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Faraid Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Geodha Smoo view NW to Faraid Head <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744360"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/60/42744360.42e6efab.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view westwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Faraid Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744354 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744354 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:58 +0000 2016-06-28T14:49:09+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744354"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/54/42744354.c3fede31.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="161" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A zoomed-in view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Whiten Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness.</div> Whiten Head from Geodha Smoo <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744354"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/54/42744354.c3fede31.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="161" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A zoomed-in view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Whiten Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744356 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744356 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:56:01 +0000 2016-06-28T14:49:25+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744356"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/56/42744356.0ab04e89.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Whiten Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness.</div> Geodha Smoo east to Whiten Head <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744356"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/56/42744356.0ab04e89.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view eastwards over the palaeo wave-cut platform to towards Whiten Head from the eastern end of the Geodha Smoo inlet, near Durness.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744348 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744348 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:51 +0000 2016-06-28T14:29:29+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744348"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/48/42744348.3aaf56f7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave from the footpath on the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Smoo Cave from above <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744348"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/48/42744348.3aaf56f7.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave from the footpath on the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744346 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744346 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:47 +0000 2016-06-28T14:21:49+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744346"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/46/42744346.c99ffe09.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance taken from the footbridge over the Allt Smoo.</div> Smoo Cave entrance, Durness <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744346"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/46/42744346.c99ffe09.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance taken from the footbridge over the Allt Smoo.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744344 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744344 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:43 +0000 2016-06-28T14:08:59+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744344"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/44/42744344.99e7a443.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance from the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Geodha Smoo and cave, Durness 2 <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744344"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/44/42744344.99e7a443.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance from the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744342 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744342 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:40 +0000 2016-06-28T14:08:47+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744342"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/42/42744342.96957460.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance from the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Geodha Smoo and cave, Durness <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744342"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/42/42744342.96957460.240.jpg?r2" width="240" height="160" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A view of Smoo Cave entrance from the east side of the Geodha Smoo inlet.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744340 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744340 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:35 +0000 2016-06-28T13:18:31+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744340"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/40/42744340.7a8de9e4.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A closer view through the 'window' in the side of a sink hole showing the Allt Smoo cascading down a second sink hole into Smoo Cave.</div> Allt Smoo sink holes, Durness <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744340"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/40/42744340.7a8de9e4.240.jpg?r2" width="160" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">A closer view through the 'window' in the side of a sink hole showing the Allt Smoo cascading down a second sink hole into Smoo Cave.</div> Earthwatcher https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744338 tag:ipernity.com,2016-08-14,doc-42744338 Sun, 14 Aug 2016 07:55:31 +0000 2016-06-28T13:18:25+01:00 nobody@ipernity.com (Earthwatcher) <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744338"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/38/42744338.afbf324a.240.jpg?r2" width="171" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">View southwards showing the northerly flowing Allt Smoo disappearing down a sink hole (beneath the bridge) into Smoo Cave. In the foreground a nearer sink hole has a 'window' connecting to the other sink hole down which the river cascades.</div> Allt Smoo and sink holes, Durness <p class="who"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/home/earthwatcher">Earthwatcher</a> has posted:</p><p class="preview"><a href="https://www.ipernity.com/doc/earthwatcher/42744338"><img src="https://cdn.ipernity.com/200/43/38/42744338.afbf324a.240.jpg?r2" width="171" height="240" alt=""/></a></p><div class="description">View southwards showing the northerly flowing Allt Smoo disappearing down a sink hole (beneath the bridge) into Smoo Cave. In the foreground a nearer sink hole has a 'window' connecting to the other sink hole down which the river cascades.</div> Earthwatcher