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  4. Local Geodiversity Sites in West Lothian
  5. 35. Carsie Hill near Linlithgow in the Bathgate Hills

35. Carsie Hill near Linlithgow in the Bathgate Hills

Carsie Hill is one of the best examples of the dozen or so Carboniferous volcanic vents scattered in this area. In addition, the hill is an excellent example of an ice-sculpted "crag and tail".

35 Carsie Hill near Linlithgow in the Bathgate Hills

Here, the ice moved from west to east. It created a steep slope on the impact side and deposited a tapering ridge of material on the lee side (see also site 42). Outcrops of breccia can be seen around the west end of the crag. This consists of rock which was broken into fragments during a violent eruption and has subsequently become cemented together with finer material. The western end was also once quarried: the hard igneous rock has many uses, especially for roadstone. Farther to the east, beyond the tail, small exposures of limestone contain coral fossils, which lived about 328 million years ago.

Carsie Hill is located south-east of Linlithgow. Nearby geodiversity sites are Union Canal Museum (22), Hillhouse Quarry and mine (30), Kildimmery Fishery Quarry (43) and Linlithgow Loch (47).