This is a list of the named geological faults in Scotland. See the main article on faults for a fuller treatment of fault types and nomenclature but in brief, the main types are normal faults, reverse faults, thrusts, thrust faults or slides and strike-slip faults. Many faults may have acted as both normal faults at one time and as reverse or thrust faults at another and may or may not have also incorporated some degree of strike-slip movement too. The terms 'zone' and 'complex' imply collections of features with associated histories.
- Column 1 indicates the name of the fault. Note that different authors may use different names for the same fault or a section of it. Conversely, the same name may be applied to more than one fault, particularly in the case of smaller faults which are widely separated.
- Column 2 indicates the OS grid reference of the approximate midpoint of certain faults. Note that the mapped extent of a fault may not accurately reflect its actual extent.
- Column 3 indicates the county in which the fault occurs. Some traverse two or more counties of course.
- Column 4 indicates on which sheet, if any, of the British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 / 1" scale geological map series of Scotland, the fault is shown and named (either on map/s or cross-section/s or both). A handful of BGS maps at other scales are listed too.
- Column 5 indicates a selection of publications in which references to the fault may be found. See references section for full details of publication.
Alphabetical list of faults
edit
| Fault name
|
OS map ref
|
County
|
BGS map sheet
|
book reference/s
|
| Cairn Muir Fault
|
|
|
Sc 32W
|
|
| Cairngarroch Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Cairnholy Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 4E, Sc 5W
|
|
| Calder Fault
|
|
|
Sc 32W
|
|
| Calder-Murieston Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Caledonian Front Thrust Belt
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Cam Loch Thrust
|
|
Sutherland
|
Assynt (Special 50K), Sc 101E
|
G & K 2011
|
| Camasunary Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2 & 3; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Camasunary-Rona Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Camasunary Skerryvore Fault
|
|
Sc 71W
|
Skye Central Complex Bedrock 25k
|
|
| Cambret Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 4E, Sc 5W
|
|
| Campsie Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Camster Fault
|
|
|
Sc 110, Sc 116W
|
|
| Camregan Fault
|
|
|
Sc 8W
|
|
| Carcow Fault
|
|
Sc 8E, Sc 15W, Sc 15E
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Carmacoup Fault
|
|
|
Sc 15W
|
|
| Carnock Fault
|
|
|
Sc 39E
|
|
| Carrick Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14W
|
|
| Carronbridge Fault
|
|
|
Sc 9E
|
|
| Cassingray Fault
|
|
|
Sc 40E
|
|
| Castlehill Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Central Fracture Zone
|
|
North Sea
|
|
|
| Centre Main Ring Fault (Rum)
|
|
|
Sc 60
|
|
| Ceres Fault
|
|
|
Sc 40E, Sc 41
|
|
| Chasm Faults
|
|
Argyll
|
Glencoe:25K
|
|
| Clarkston Fault
|
|
|
Sc 22E
|
|
| Clatto Fault
|
|
|
Sc 40E
|
|
| Cloncaird Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14W
|
|
| Cnoc nan Uamh Thrust
|
|
|
|
G & K 2011
|
| Cloch Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Coigach Fault
|
|
Sutherland
|
Tect B&Ire 1:500K, Sc 101W, Sc 107W
|
|
| Coire Sgoir Slide
|
|
|
Sc 54E
|
|
| Comedie Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31W
|
|
| Conagleann Fault
|
|
|
Sc 73E
|
|
| Cooms Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Corloch Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Coul Fault
|
|
|
Sc 40E
|
|
| Cove Fault
|
|
Scottish Borders
|
Sc 33E
|
BGS:BRG 6
|
| Cowden's Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Craig Liath Fault
|
|
|
Sc 64W
|
|
| Creagan Liatha Fault
|
|
|
Sc 63E
|
|
| Creich Thrust
|
|
|
Sc 93E
|
|
| Cronksbank Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Crooked Pool Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Crossgatehall Fault
|
|
East Lothian
|
UK (north) 625K
|
Trewin (ed) 2002, ELGA
|
| Cue Sike Fault (*also 'Cue Sike Shatter Belt')
|
|
|
*Sc 11
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Fault name
|
OS map ref
|
County
|
BGS map sheet
|
book reference/s
|
| Gallaton Fault
|
|
|
Sc 67
|
|
| Garabal Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Garabal Hill Fault
|
|
|
Sc 46W
|
|
| Garheugh Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 4W, Sc 4E, Sc 5W
|
|
| Garlieston Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 4E, Sc 5W
|
|
| Garnkirk Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31W
|
|
| Garthna Geo Fault
|
|
Shetland
|
|
BGS:BRG 1; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Gartness Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Gie Usig Geo Fault
|
|
|
Sc 115E
|
|
| Gillespie Burn Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 3, Sc 4W, Sc 4E, Sc 5W, Sc 9W, Sc 15E
|
|
| Gillhall Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Gilnockie Fault
|
|
Dumfries-shire
|
Sc 11
|
BGS:BRG 7
|
| Glaik Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Gleann Charnan Fault
|
|
Argyll
|
Glencoe:25K
|
|
| Gleann Liath Fault
|
|
|
Sc 73E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Gleghornie Fault
|
|
?Lothian
|
Sc 33E
|
|
| Glen App Fault
|
|
|
Sc 3, Sc 7, Sc 8W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Glen Banchor Fault
|
|
|
Sc 64W
|
|
| Glen Cleuch Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Glen Docherty Fault
|
|
|
Sc 82E
|
|
| Glen Doll Fault
|
|
|
Sc 65E
|
|
| Glen Etive Fault
|
|
Argyll
|
Glencoe:25K
|
|
| Glen Creran Slide
|
|
Argyll
|
Sc 45W, Sc 53W
|
|
| Glen Fumart Fault
|
|
|
Sc 8E, Sc 9W, Sc 9E, Sc 15E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Glen Rinnes Fault
|
|
|
Sc 85E
|
|
| Glen Stockdale Slide (*also as 'Glenstockdale Slide')
|
|
Argyll
|
Sc 45W, *Sc 53W
|
|
| Glen Strae Fault
|
|
|
Sc 45E
|
|
| Glen Truim Fault (also as 'Glen Truim Fault Zone')
|
|
|
Sc 64W
|
|
| Glencoul Thrust
|
|
Sutherland
|
Assynt (Special 50K)
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002, G & K 2011
|
| Glenkiln Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Glenmuir Fault
|
|
|
Sc 15W
|
|
| Glenreif Shatter Belt
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Glenure Slide
|
|
|
Sc 53W
|
|
| Grampian Slide
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Grassfield Fault
|
|
|
Sc 24E
|
|
| Great Glen Fault (also as 'Great Glen Fault Zone')
|
|
|
UK (north) 625K, Sc 53W, Sc 62E, Sc 63W, Sc 64W, Sc 72E, Sc 73E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Fault name
|
OS map ref
|
County
|
BGS map sheet
|
book reference/s
|
| Laig Gorge Fault
|
|
|
Sc 60
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Lamb Hoga Fault
|
|
Shetland
|
Sc 131
|
|
| Lambdoughty Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14W
|
|
| Lammermuir Fault
|
|
East Lothian
|
UK (north) 625K; Sc 24E, Sc 32E & Sc 33
|
Trewin (ed) 2002, BGS:BRG 6, ELGA
|
| Largs Fault Zone
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Langlee Fault
|
|
|
Sc 15W
|
|
| Largs-Hunterston Fault Zone
|
|
Ayrshire
|
Sc 22W & pt21E
|
|
| Latheron Fault
|
|
|
Sc 110
|
|
| Lathones Fault
|
|
|
Sc 41
|
|
| Laurieston Fault
|
|
Kirkcudbrightshire
|
Sc 4W, Sc 4E, Sc 5W, Sc 5E, Sc 9E, Sc 10W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Laurieston - Moffat Valley Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG6ednIV
|
| Leadhills Fault
|
|
|
Sc 8W, Sc 8E, Sc 9W, Sc 15W, Sc 15E, Sc 24E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002, BGS:BRG6ednIV
|
| Leven Fault
|
|
|
Sc 40E
|
|
| Liddel Water Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11, Sc 17E
|
|
| Little Loch Broom Fault
|
|
|
Sc 101W
|
|
| Littlemill Fault (also as 'Little Mill Fault')
|
|
|
Sc 14W, Sc 14E
|
|
| Loch an Daimh Thrust
|
|
|
Sc 101E
|
|
| Loch Assapol Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Loch Assynt Fault
|
|
|
|
G & K 2011
|
| Loch Awe Fault
|
|
|
Sc 45E
|
|
| Loch Calder Fault
|
|
|
Sc 115E, Sc 116W
|
|
| Loch Gruinart Fault (also as 'Loch Gruniart Fault')
|
|
|
Sc 27
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Loch Maree Fault
|
|
|
Sc 91/100
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Loch Mhor Fault North
|
|
|
Sc 73E
|
|
| Loch Mhor Fault South
|
|
|
Sc 73E
|
|
| Loch Morie Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Loch Mudle Fault
|
|
|
Sc 51E
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Loch Ryan Fault
|
|
|
Sc 3
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Loch Screapadal Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Loch Seaforth Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Loch Skerrols Thrust (also 'Loch Skerrols Shear Zone')
|
|
Argyll
|
Sc 27, Sc 36, Sc 37W, Sc 37E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Loch Tay Fault
|
|
|
UK (north) 625K, Sc 55W, Sc 64E
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Lochan Riabhach Thrust
|
|
Sutherland
|
Sc 114W, Sc 114E
|
G & K 2011
|
| Lochanhead Fault
|
|
|
Sc 9E
|
|
| Lochmaben Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Lochwood Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Long Loch Fault
|
|
|
Sc 60
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Lucklaw Hill Fault
|
|
|
Sc 49
|
|
| Lugton Water Fault
|
|
|
Sc 22E
|
|
| Lussa Slide
|
|
Argyll and Bute
|
Sc 12
|
|
| Lynn of Lorn Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Fault name
|
OS map ref
|
County
|
BGS map sheet
|
book reference/s
|
| Maiden Rock Fault
|
|
|
Sc 49
|
|
| Maidens Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14W
|
|
| Main Ring Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Markie Fault
|
|
|
Sc 63E, Sc 73E, Sc 74W
|
|
| Maryland Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Mashie Fault
|
|
|
Sc 63E
|
|
| Meetlaw Fault
|
|
|
Sc 66E, Sc 67
|
|
| Melby Fault
|
|
Shetland
|
Tect B&Ire 1:500K; Sc 129
|
BGS:BRG 1; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Mid Cleuch Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Middleton Hall Fault
|
|
|
Sc 32W
|
|
| Middleton Muir Fault
|
|
|
Sc 56W
|
|
| Milngavie-Kilsyth Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30E, Sc 31W
|
|
| Minch Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Mochrum Fault
|
|
|
Sc 4W
|
|
| Moffat Valley Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Moine Thrust (also as 'Moine Thrust Zone')
|
|
|
Sc 43N, Sc 71W, Sc 71E, Sc 81E, Sc 101E, Sc 108W, Sc 114E
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002, G & K 2011
|
| Moncreiffe Fault
|
|
|
Sc 48W
|
|
| Mons Craig Fault
|
|
|
Sc 67
|
|
| Morroch Bay Fault
|
|
|
Sc 4W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Mossbog Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14E
|
|
| Mosspaul Shatter Belt
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Mountbenger Burn Fault
|
|
|
Sc 24E
|
|
| Muirhouse Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31E
|
|
| Muirshiel Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| Mull Slide
|
|
Argyll and Bute
|
Sc 12
|
|
| Mumbie Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Mundole Fault
|
|
|
Sc 84E
|
|
| Mungal Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31E
|
|
| Mursieston Fault
|
|
|
Sc 32W
|
|
| Fault name
|
OS map ref
|
County
|
BGS map sheet
|
book reference/s
|
| Sandhead Fault
|
|
|
Sc 3, Sc 4W, Sc 4E, Sc 15E
|
|
| Sandside Bay Fault
|
|
|
Sc 115E
|
|
| Sandy Craig Fault
|
|
|
Sc 41
|
|
| Sangobeg Fault
|
|
Sutherland
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Sanquhar Fault
|
|
|
Sc 15W
|
|
| Scapa Fault
|
|
|
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Screapadal Fault
|
|
|
Sc 81W
|
BGS:BRG 3
|
| Sgurr Beag Slide
|
|
|
Sc 62W
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Sgurr Beag Thrust
|
|
|
UK (north) 625K, Sc 83W, Sc 93W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Shetland Spine Fault
|
|
Shetland
|
|
|
| Shettleston Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31W
|
|
| Skerryvore Fault
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 3; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Skinsdale Thrust
|
|
|
Sc 109W
|
|
| Skipper's Bridge Fault
|
|
|
Sc 11
|
|
| Slamannan Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31E
|
|
| Sligo Fault
|
|
|
Sc 84W
|
|
| Sole Thrust
|
|
Sutherland
|
Sc 114W
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002, G & K 2011
|
| South Inchmurrin Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| South Inverkip Fault
|
|
|
Sc 30W & pt 29E
|
|
| South Tay Fault
|
|
|
Sc 48W, Sc 48E, Sc 49
|
|
| Southern Upland Fault
|
|
|
Sc 8E, Sc 14E, Sc 15W, Sc 15E, Sc 24W, Sc 24E
|
BGS:BRG 6, BGS:BRG6ednIV
|
| Southwestern Graben Fault Zone
|
|
Argyll
|
Glencoe:25K
|
|
| Spittalfield Fault
|
|
|
Sc 48W, Sc 56W
|
|
| Sronlairig Fault (*also as 'Sron Lairig Fault')
|
|
|
UK (north) 625K, Sc 63W, Sc 73E, Sc 74W, *Sc 84E
|
|
| St Flanan Fault
|
|
|
Sc 31W
|
|
| Stair Fault
|
|
|
Sc 14E
|
|
| St Ann's Fault
|
|
|
Sc 10W
|
|
| Stair Haven Fault
|
|
|
Sc 4W, Sc 4E, Sc 9W
|
|
| Stinchar Valley Fault (*also as 'Stinchar Valley Fault Zone')
|
|
|
Sc 7, Sc 8W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Straiton Fault
|
|
Ayrshire
|
Sc 14W
|
|
| Straiton Fault
|
|
Angus
|
Sc 49
|
|
| Stralochy Fault
|
|
|
Sc 48W
|
|
| Strandfoot Fault
|
|
|
Sc 3
|
|
| Strath Fleet Fault (*also as 'Strathfleet Fault')
|
|
|
*Sc 102E
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Strath Naver Slide
|
|
|
|
BGS:BRG 2
|
| Strathconon Fault
|
|
|
Sc 71E, Sc 82E, Sc 83W
|
BGS:BRG 2; Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Strathglass Fault
|
|
|
Sc 72E, Sc 83W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
| Strathy Bay Fault
|
|
|
Sc 115W
|
|
| Strath Halladale Fault
|
|
|
Sc 115W, Sc 115E
|
|
| Strath of Appin Fault
|
|
|
Sc 53W
|
|
| Struie Thrust
|
|
|
Sc 93E
|
|
| Succoth Fault
|
|
|
Sc 85E
|
|
| Sulma Water Fault
|
|
Shetland
|
|
BGS:BRG 1
|
| Swordly Thrust
|
|
Sutherland
|
Tect B&Ire 1:500K, Sc 108E, Sc 109W, Sc 115W
|
Trewin (ed) 2002
|
- British Geological Survey 2007, Bedrock Geology UK North, 1:625,000 scale geological map, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts (UK (north) 625K)
- British Geological Survey 1996 Tectonic map of Britain, Ireland and Adjacent Areas 1996, Pharaoh TC et al. (compilers), 1:1,500,000 British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts (Tect B&Ire 1:1500K)
- British Geological Survey, various of 1:50,000 scale geological maps of Scotland, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts (Sc no.)
- British Geological Survey 'Classic Areas' series; Glencoe, 1:25,000 scale geological map, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts (Glencoe:25K)
- British Geological Survey 'Classic Areas' series; Skye Central Complex, 1:25,000 scale geological map, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts (Skye Central Complex Bedrock 25k)
- Trewin, NH (ed) 2002. The Geology of Scotland, (4th edn) The Geological Society, London (Trewin (ed) 2002)
- British Regional Geology: Orkney and Shetland, British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG1)
- British Regional Geology: Northern Highlands of Scotland, British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG2)
- Emeleus CH & Bell BR 2005, British Regional Geology; The Palaeogene volcanic districts of Scotland (4th edn) British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG3)
- Goodenough, K.M. & Krabbendam, M. 2011 A Geological Excursion Guide to the North-west Highlands of Scotland, Edinburgh Geological Society, ISBN 978-1-905267-53-8 (G & K 2011)
- Grieg, D.C. 1971. British Regional Geology: The South of Scotland (3rd edn) British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG6). Full text of second edition (1948) available at the Internet Archive.
- Stone et al. 2012. British Regional Geology: South of Scotland (Fourth edn) British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG6ednIV)
- British Regional Geology: Northern England, British Geological Survey, Nottingham (BGS:BRG7)
- Lintern, B.C. & Floyd, J.D. 2000 Geology of the Kirkcudbright-Dalbeattie District memoir of the British Geological Survey, sheets 5W, 5E and part of 6W (Scotland) (Mem Sc 5W, 5E & pt6W)
- Whitbread, K. Ellen, R. Callaghan, E. Gordon, J.E. and Arkley, S. 2015 East Lothian Geodiversity Audit BGS Open Report OR/14/063 192pp (ELGA)
