Loch Lomond-Evidence of Glaciation

Much of the mountainous area in the National Park

bears evidence of its glacial history.

Preglacial V-shaped river valleys were widened

to form U-shaped valleys, such as Glen Dochart.

Valleys were also deepened through several cycles

of glacial erosion, and are now occupied by deep
lochs including Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine

Excellent examples of glacially carved corries exist

on the shaded north-eastern sides of Ben Lui and
Ben Lomond

As the ice flowed over the landscape, debris

carried at its base scoured and smoothed the rock
surface below (a process known as abrasion)., eg
glacially smoothed bedrock surfaces can be seen at
Rowardennan car park

When the Loch Lomond ice cap grew to its

maximum extent, ice filled the valleys The surface
of the ice cap reached up to 900 metres in altitude,
with peaks such as Ben Lui just protruding above
the ice.

Due to the intensely cold conditions, rocks on these

exposed peaks were subjected to considerable
frost-shattering. Today, the angular blocky debris
on the high summits contrasts with the glacially
smoothed landscape in the valleys below.

During their final retreat, glaciers throughout

northern and central parts of the National Park
deposited moraines at their margins.

These landforms can be observed as ridges and

hummocks scattered along valley floors, with
particularly good examples occurring in Glen
Cononish