The geological landscape of East Sutherland has many interesting rock formations that have attracted the professional and amateur geologist to the area over the last few hundred years. The Jurassic rocks of the Brora-Helmsdale coastal strip are bounded on the landward side by the Helmsdale Fault. These rocks were formed over 150 million years ago and include the Brora coal sequence and the rocks of the Beatrice oilfield. The production platforms can be seen some 12 miles off Helmsdale on a clear day.

The Helmsdale River flows out of the Strath of Kildonan, a glacial valley with alluvial deposits, prized highly by the gold miners of 1869. The upland area comprises the late Caledonian Helmsdale Granite, overlain by the Old Red Sandstone of Devonian age.

The beaches in the area contain interesting fossils, including ammonites, belemnites and coral, as well as many different types of water worn rounded stones. At Portgower a fallen rock stack can be seen among the Jurassic bed rocks and angular boulders.

More information about the area’s geology can be obtained in the Timespan Public Archive.

Find out more about Timespan’s geology garden here.