Scottish Blog

The Highland Boundary is the name given to a major fault line that crosses the Scottish Highlands.

Technically called the Highland Boundary Fault, the Highland Boundary represents itself as a topographical change across Scotland. Although it is not as strong a symbol of Scotland as the symbols on your Scottish Clan Jewelry, the Highland Boundary is still an important part of the image of Scotland.

For most casual observers, the Highland Boundary will appear as nothing more than a sudden change in topography on a map. But to those who are more interested or study this field will regard the Highland Boundary as exactly what it's name implies it to be, the Boundary of the Scottish Highlands. In more specifics, the Highland Boundary separates the Highlands from the Midland valley. Researchers will also be interested in the fact that the Highland Boundary separates two various rock formations, the North side has hard Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian rocks while the South has softer rocks, generally considered to be of the Devonian group.

The Highland Boundary runs from Arran in North Ayrshire to Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. This location comparative to the next closest major fault line, Southern Upland Fault, has created what is known as the Midland Valley, which at points sinks 4400 meters below the Highland Boundary.