Braghad Albainn – the highlands of the Scots’ land – is a land of giant geology, part of a large area of Scotland called the Precambrian Dalradian Supergroup and Killin nestles in the midst of this. These rocks were formed over several stages when this part of Scotland was still joined to North America and Greenland. No wonder this is a unique landscape with a unique natural and cultural heritage!
More than 600 million years ago the Breadalbane geology was first laid down as layers of sandy mud on a sea bed. During this period, and again around 500 to 440 million years ago, the movement of the Earth’s continents pushing against each other, thrust up the high peaks of Breadalbane. These original peaks were probably more akin to the present days Alps. The Land of Giants was formed.
At both these times the sedimentary rocks were intensely folded and this also produced local minor fault lines. Whole mountain ranges were “flipped over” so that the oldest layers are on top! Increased pressure and temperature gave rise to new crystallised minerals as well as flaky and shiny schist rock layers. Volcanic threads of hot molten rock also pushed up through fault areas and formed igneous outcrops. These outcrops and the very old limestone crags allow some very unique plants to grow that are found nowhere else in the National Park.
Then between 14,000 and 10,000 years ago most of the area was covered with large glaciers, which gradually moved eastwards and south. They left their mark through the scouring of rock exposures, formation of kettle holes, kames and eskers.