Strathglass facts for kids
Strathglass is a wide, shallow valley in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. A valley like this is often called a "strath" in Scotland. The River Glass flows through the valley, winding its way along.
The River Glass starts where two other rivers meet: the River Affric and the Abhainn Deabhag. It then flows until it joins with the River Farrar at a place called Struy. When these two rivers combine, they form the River Beauly.
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Exploring Strathglass
The A831 road travels through Strathglass. It goes southwest from near Erchless Castle and passes through the valley. The biggest village in the valley is Cannich, which the road serves. From Cannich, the road then heads east through Glen Urquhart to Drumnadrochit, which is close to Loch Ness.
There's also a smaller road that continues southwest from Cannich, leading further up the valley towards Glen Affric.
Nature in the Valley
Both sides of the Strathglass valley are covered in many trees, forming thick forests. Higher up, beyond these forests, you'll find open, grassy areas called moors. These moors are part of places like Struy Forest and Balmore Forest.
You might also see large electricity pylons in Strathglass. These are part of a power line that helps bring electricity to different areas.
How Strathglass Was Formed
Strathglass wasn't always here; it was created over a very long time by natural forces.
Water and Ice at Work
The valley was carved out by the power of water and by glaciers. Glaciers are like giant, slow-moving rivers of ice. As they moved, they scraped and shaped the land, making the valley wider and deeper.
The Strathglass Fault
The valley also follows a natural crack in the Earth's crust called the Strathglass Fault. A "fault" is like a big break in the rocks underground. This particular fault runs from the northeast to the southwest.
The bottom of the valley is made up of alluvium. This is a type of soil and rock that the river has carried and dropped over time. In some places, you can also see old river terraces. These are like flat steps on the sides of the valley, showing where the river used to flow at higher levels in the past.
