30
J.S. Smith
common on the North Sea coast but rare along the Moray Firth coastline. Detached
sandhills and dunes that run relatively far inland from the coast are also characteristic
of the east coast whereas the Moray Firth systems tend to have lower, ridged or
undulating plains behind a single foredune ridge.
Both areas show examples of old links on the face and on top of pre-existing
abandoned clifflines and plateaux. The morphological (and subsequent land use)
control exerted by the position and elevation of such raised shoreline features is
extremely important throughout the region; with the main contrast occurring where the
old cliffline is close to the present coast, or alternatively, where landforms associated
with a former sea limit extends far inland and take the form of a degraded low angle
slope or, occasionally, an inland basin derived from a former marine embayment.
Coastal Zone Land Uses
Related to the physical nature of the resource are the various forms of land use. As
illustrated by the table, the main land use is broadly defined as agriculture. Grazing of
sheep and cattle is common in most links areas. The dune and sandhill areas are only
rarely used and it is on the various types of links and transitional surfaces that
agricultural use is concentrated. Another significant land use is golf links. The
concentration of golf courses along the entire coastline is remarkable. There is, for
example, about 50 km. of dunes and links between Fraserburgh and Aberdeen and
about 20% of this length is occupied by eight main golfing areas. Almost without
exception every major coastal settlement between Nairn and Aberdeen has one or more
golf courses at the coast. Another land use which has a distinctive distribution is
forestry; almost half the area between Portgordon and Inverness has this as the main
land use. Industrial use is minimal. Only Whiteness Head (oil rig fabrication yard) and
St Fergus (North Sea Gas Terminal) have significant areas of industrial use. Similarly
military use also occupies very small but locally significant areas.
Recreational use takes several forms. Caravans are almost exclusively a
Moray Firth phenomena, especially west of Burghead. There are also town beaches
with built facilities since most of the coastal settlements have a degree of dependence
on the tourist industry. It is of some interest to note that the greatest concentrations of
recreational activity are on the smaller beach units which are located close to or within
towns. Beaches within harbours, e.g. Collieston, Banff, Peterhead, Aberdeen are often
used for recreational purposes. Many of these beaches are more attractive because of
the variety of scenery nearby, and houses, cliffs, caves, skerries, etc. give a visual
richness that is lacking from the more extensive beach and dune areas which are often
monotonous and drab. Because of
J.S. Smith
common on the North Sea coast but rare along the Moray Firth coastline. Detached
sandhills and dunes that run relatively far inland from the coast are also characteristic
of the east coast whereas the Moray Firth systems tend to have lower, ridged or
undulating plains behind a single foredune ridge.
Both areas show examples of old links on the face and on top of pre-existing
abandoned clifflines and plateaux. The morphological (and subsequent land use)
control exerted by the position and elevation of such raised shoreline features is
extremely important throughout the region; with the main contrast occurring where the
old cliffline is close to the present coast, or alternatively, where landforms associated
with a former sea limit extends far inland and take the form of a degraded low angle
slope or, occasionally, an inland basin derived from a former marine embayment.
Coastal Zone Land Uses
Related to the physical nature of the resource are the various forms of land use. As
illustrated by the table, the main land use is broadly defined as agriculture. Grazing of
sheep and cattle is common in most links areas. The dune and sandhill areas are only
rarely used and it is on the various types of links and transitional surfaces that
agricultural use is concentrated. Another significant land use is golf links. The
concentration of golf courses along the entire coastline is remarkable. There is, for
example, about 50 km. of dunes and links between Fraserburgh and Aberdeen and
about 20% of this length is occupied by eight main golfing areas. Almost without
exception every major coastal settlement between Nairn and Aberdeen has one or more
golf courses at the coast. Another land use which has a distinctive distribution is
forestry; almost half the area between Portgordon and Inverness has this as the main
land use. Industrial use is minimal. Only Whiteness Head (oil rig fabrication yard) and
St Fergus (North Sea Gas Terminal) have significant areas of industrial use. Similarly
military use also occupies very small but locally significant areas.
Recreational use takes several forms. Caravans are almost exclusively a
Moray Firth phenomena, especially west of Burghead. There are also town beaches
with built facilities since most of the coastal settlements have a degree of dependence
on the tourist industry. It is of some interest to note that the greatest concentrations of
recreational activity are on the smaller beach units which are located close to or within
towns. Beaches within harbours, e.g. Collieston, Banff, Peterhead, Aberdeen are often
used for recreational purposes. Many of these beaches are more attractive because of
the variety of scenery nearby, and houses, cliffs, caves, skerries, etc. give a visual
richness that is lacking from the more extensive beach and dune areas which are often
monotonous and drab. Because of