Introduction

Abstract

The most striking feature of the Scottish landscape is the wide variety of landforms represented in a relatively small geographical area. The rugged Highlands with their accentuated relief contrast with the surrounding lowlands and the more rolling hills of the Southern Uplands and the Midland Valley. Further variety is introduced in the distinctive landscapes of the western and northern island groups and in the rich diversity of scenery around Scotland’s coasts. This varied topography largely reflects the interplay of geological controls, geomorphological processes and the effects of climatic change, most recently during the Quaternary. When combined with the prevailing climate, the geological legacy has produced a complex natural environment which incorporates a remarkable geographical diversity of plant communities, soils and geomorphological processes. By virtue of Scotland’s position on the extreme Atlantic fringe of north-western Europe, allied with its geomorphological diversity, many aspects of the natural environment are unique and demand to be conserved.