Psammosere
This takes place at Tentsmuir Sands and we follow a dune transect. Plant keys are used to record changes in the succession as we move from strandline, through embryo dunes, foredunes and over the high yellow dune to the grey fixed dunes. A similar course also runs in Morayshire.
Coastal landforms
We visit the coast between North Berwick and Dunbar to see a range of erosional and depositional landforms including wave platforms, bays, caves headlands, salt marsh, dunes, a spit and a tombolo. We look for evidence of key processes at work on the coast. Similar courses in Angus and Ayrshire.
Glaciated Landscapes
Amidst the grandeur of Glencoe we move from ice sheet scoured landscape of Rannoch Moor into the confines of the U shaped glen. Looking for examples of erosional, depositional and post glacial features we also review the geological past. Also at Glen Clova and Grisedale in the Lake District.
Rural Land Conflicts & Landscapes
A visit to the Loch Lomond area to look at the glaciated landscapes and how the rural land uses and National Park and visitor pressures coexist. Farming, forestry, hydro power nature conservation and tourism compete. We use sites at Sloy, at village of Luss, Duck Bay and Lomond Shores.
Coastal Landforms
This Ayrshire course centres on the coast around Culzean. We look at the effect of hard basalts and soft sandstone rocks on the coast and the headlands and bays they produce. We examine beach profiles and also assess the processes that have produced the variety of landforms, from caves, cliffs and platforms to dunes.
Urban Change
In Glasgow we follow a transect out towards the west. We study migration of and zonation and change in the CBD. We visit inner city Maryhill and then Kelvinside, Knightswood, and the city edge to see the changing characteristics of housing. We also look at Drumchapel estate. Also in Edinburgh & Aberdeen.
Upland Glaciated Landscapes
As part of a two day course we visit Grisedale by Ullswater. This valley cut out of the Helvellyn massif is a superb example of a glaciated valley. We investigate its formation by finding and interpreting the important landforms, including striations, moraines, roch moutonnees, aretes. corries and so on.
Upland Limestone Landscapes
As part of a two day course we visit the Doe valley above Ingleton. A transect through the limestone beds on the flanks of Ingleborough give a wonderful insight into the surface and underground features of carboniferous limestone, including pavements, collapsed caverns, sink and shake holes and cave systems.
