For a relatively small country of approximately 77000 km2 , Scotland has a
most remarkable diversity of landscape; mountainous terrain with both
individual high peaks and broad plateau areas, lowlands broken by irregular
hill masses, true lowland areas and coastal landforms ranging from spectacular
cliffs to dune formations and associated links. Traditionally, the Scottish
landscape has been divided into three main sectors - the Highlands and
Islands, the Southern Uplands and lying between these two hill areas, the
Central Lowlands. With each of these units, the layperson will associate
different habitats, for example arable fields will be widespread in the
Central Lowlands whilst heather moorland or coniferous woodland would be
associated with the hills.
However, variation within the landscape
depends on a combination of both local and regional factors, not least the
geological formations, the climate, the topographic units created by the past
glacial activity and the activities of man and other organisms which may
influence the vegetation cover. These factors are linked through their
influence on the soil, a natural resource central to all our lives and
responsible for the rich natural biodiversity within the Scottish landscape.
Some soil and landscape changes are abrupt
between designated regions; others are more subtle, changing imperceptibly
under the influence of gradual differences in environmental factors. These,
and many other observations, can allow us to interpret how the Scottish
landscape has formed and has particular properties. The landforms selected for
appraisal may not make much geographical sense at first glance, but they do,
nevertheless, have a considerable degree of soil/landform unity.
