Whitbread, K., Ellen, R., Callaghan, E., Gordon, J. E. and Arkley, S. 2015. East Lothian Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/14/063. 192pp.
ELC_30: Aberlady Bay
Site information
Location and summary description:
Aberlady Bay comprises a varied assemblage of coastal landforms located north of the village of Aberlady. It includes sand dunes, salt marsh, extensive intertidal flats, an active sand spit and raised shorelines.
National Grid reference:
Mid-point:
Site ownership: Mostly Local Nature Reserve (East Lothian Council); part owned by local golf courses
Site type: Natural landform; Natural view
Current use: Open country, recreation
Field surveyors: John Gordon
Current geological designations: Part of Firth of Forth SSSI
Date visited: 5 November 2014
Other designations: Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar site, Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve
Site map
Site description
Background
The site comprises an area of sand dunes, salt marsh, intertidal sand and mud flats, an actively forming sand spit and raised shorelines
Quaternary deposits and landforms
Several relict erosional coastal features occur within the site. Kirby (1997) identified fragments of two raised shore platforms at Gullane Point, while Smith (1972) described a buried planated till surface at 1.8 m OD between the village of Aberlady and the footbridge at the entrance to the Local Nature Reserve. Intertidal shore platforms are present at Gullane Point and Aberlady Point, planed across a variety of dipping Carboniferous strata. Glacial erratic blocks are present on their surface
Smith (1972) identified two raised Holocene shorelines at 8–9 m OD and 6–7 m OD on the southern flank of Gullane Hill within Luffness Links Golf Course
Running south from Gullane Point, a succession of dune ridges and intervening dune slacks form part of a prograding coastal foreland that has built westwards during the late Holocene from the lower slopes of Gullane Hill (Rose, 1980;
Aberlady Bay itself is a large sediment sink with extensive intertidal sand and mudflats fringed by salt marshes
There are close associations between the different landforms, vegetation and the diversity of physical features which provide the basis for a range of habitats and vegetation communities (Kirby, 1997). The salt marsh and intertidal flats also form important wintering grounds for geese.
Assessment of site: access and safety
Road access and parking Access is from the A198 coastal road east from Edinburgh at Aberlady.
There is a public car park and toilets 500 m east of the village and a footbridge across the Peffer Burn at the entrance to the Local Nature Reserve. Access to the southern shore of the bay can be gained by walking along the road from Aberlady to Kilspindie Golf Course. The site can also be accessed by walking along the coast from Gullane.
Safety of access No additional precautions beyond those normally associated with visiting a beach and dunes. Visitors should be aware of incoming tides if accessing the sand spit and intertidal flats.
Safety of exposure The tide rapidly rises in the intertidal flats and visitors should be aware of tide times.
Access There is good access on footpaths from the public car park 500m east of Aberlady. Part of the site lies within a golf course adjacent to the Local Nature Reserve.
Current condition The condition is good.
Current conflicting activities None known.
Restricting conditions The active sand spit and intertidal areas are covered at high tide.
Seasonal access restrictions may apply over parts of the Local Nature Reserve during the bird breeding season.
Nature of exposure Coastal
Assessment of site: culture, heritage & economic value
Historic, archaeological & literary associations Not known
Aesthetic landscape Coastal landscape
History of earth sciences The John Muir Way passes through part of the site
Economic geology Not known
Assessment of site: geoscientific merit
| Rarity | Quality | Literature/collections | Primary interest | |
| Lithostratigraphy | ||||
| Sedimentology | ||||
| Igneous/mineral/metamorphic geology | ||||
| Structural geology | ||||
| Palaeontology | ||||
| Geomorphology | Regional | Good/Excellent | Smith (1972), Rose (1980), Firth et al (1997), Kirby (1997), Babtie Group ABP (2002) | X |
Site geoscientific value
Aberlady Bay displays a good range of coastal landforms and sedimentary environments that demonstrate coastal evolution, particularly during the latter part of the Holocene. There is significant potential for research on coastal processes and coastal evolution, as well as education and public interpretation on coastal dynamics and the links between geodiversity and biodiversity.
Aberlady Bay is an excellent example of an assemblage of depositional coastal landforms and sedimentary environments with regional significance.
Assessment of site: current site usage
Community The beach and dunes within the Local Nature Reserve are heavily used for recreation, including walking and bird watching. The area includes parts of the Luffness Links and Gullane Links golf courses.
Education There is significant potential for education and public interpretation on coastal dynamics and evolution.
Assessment of site: fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility Trampling, off-road vehicle use, tree planting, tipping and hard engineering responses to coastal erosion; likelihood of development. However the site is carefully managed as a Local Nature Reserve by East Lothian Council. Note that coastal erosion is part of the natural process of coastal evolution.
Potential use School education and public interpretation addressing coastal dynamics and living with a dynamic landscape in the context of climate change and sea-level rise.
Geodiversity summary
The site is a good example of a range of coastal landforms and there is potential for developing its value for research, education and public interpretation through greater promotion of existing information.