Two people stand inside the remains of a stone building inside an Irish ring fort called Leacanabuaile.

Inside the neighbouring Leacanabuaile ring fort.

Two people have climbed to the top of the inside wall of this ancient Irish ring fort, using the stepped construction.

Inside Cahergal - stepped walls provide easy access to top for defenders.

A large wave is breaking with a fine white cloud of spray being blown backwards by a strong wind.

Same in the Outer Hebrides - virtually no rain. The strong and cold easterly wind does make for some spectacular breaking waves with the spray being blown backwards.

Is there any riebeckite granite on the island? A very long time ago I was taught that the blue pleochroic amphibole in the curling stones from there was riebeckite.

Expensive though.

I wonder if the uppermost hinge is part of a thrust related drag fold, which post dates the other near isoclinal fold. There looks to be dislocation in the top right quadrant of the photo.

Beautiful example of undulose extinction in that little fish - I really miss having a microscope😞

This looks like one of the stones at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. It is a fine example of Lewisian gneiss, but hides a secret on the other side😉

And a Happy New Year to you as well. May your lenses remain dust free😀

It is hard to overstate how critical @ncar-ucar.bsky.social is to climate science in the US and around the world. It's the beating heart of our field. Generations of scientists have trained there, and almost everyone I know relies on deep collaborations with NCAR scientists. It's end is unthinkable.

These are very common in the Outer Hebrides where I live, known as "runrigs" or "lazy beds". Frustratingly they are so common that I haven't bothered to photograph any examples🤦‍♂️
I believe remnants can be found throughout the British Isles.

I have done a few photo books in the last couple of years which is a good way of selecting the most important digital photos from amongst the thousands I have on my computer.

During COVID times l digitised all my photos and those I inherited from my parents. I can't bring myself to throw out the hard copy prints though.

Win a copy of STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)

🏆Win🏆the perfect Christmas 🎄 gift for a stones enthusiast:
STONE LANDS (on the Waterstones and Telegraph Best Books of 2025 lists) AND ALSO
THE OLD STONES (The Megalithic Portal guide, winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year)
To win a signed (and dedicated if you like) copy of both books… 1/

Chlorite, biotite, muscovite

I used to just varnish the cut surface on the best looking "half".

We haven't established enough windbreaks yet and our fruit trees are still young.
Storm Floris stripped our outdoor beans and spuds😱

The plum harvest😋 is one of the few things I miss, having moved from Enderby to the Outer Hebrides.

🟩🟩🟩 with envy.

In the skiing season they take their arguments to Slovenia, which provides endless entertainment in the queues for the ski tows.

Yup, finishing off my son's Slovenian horse burger was an unexpected highlight of our holiday 🤣

The city built upon Slovenian oak?

A very popular choice on the Student Association jukebox (remember those?), back in the early 70s at Dundee.
Unfortunately I can't find my copy of the "Best of Mountain" LP, but I remember it being a favourite of mine.

The Lewisian, (part of the Pre-Cambrian), is named after the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and the Caledonian mountain chain is named after the Latin name for Scottish Highlands.

🤣

I saw my first rhyolite in Glen Coe😃⚒️

Geology people who do we you know in Edinburgh so that we can connect and go to Siccar point together. Do your thing social media!!!

The snow covered triangular peak of Schiehallion on a bright spring day.

One of my favourite Scottish mountains with fantastic Dalradian geology on the northern flanks.

I moved to the Isle of Lewis to get away from the heatwaves😅🤦‍♂️

Yes😀

Taken there, in the mid 70s, as an interesting historical diversion whilst on a geological field trip around Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon.