CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Why's it called "the Granites"?

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Why's it called "the Granites"? http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Why's it called "the Granites"? en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:31:20 +0000 ejstubbs on "Why's it called "the Granites"?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16640#post-305930 Fri, 03 May 2019 12:57:19 +0000 ejstubbs 305930@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @arellcat: there is an intrusion at Broad Law, which is why it was quarried there Does that explain what appears to be a scarp slope that the B7007 traverses between there and Whitelaw Cleugh/Whitelaw farm? I've often admired the views from there on good visibility days, but I never paused to consider why it's actually there. Gilbot on "Why's it called "the Granites"?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16640#post-225457 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 10:29:36 +0000 Gilbot 225457@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Great answers. Cheers. I was looking at the OS map and the is a disused quarry on Broad Law at the top of the B7007 climb from Middleton. Fantastic riding round there. I'm getting out of town and moving to that area and can't wait to explore it on the bike. Arellcat on "Why's it called "the Granites"?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16640#post-225441 Wed, 20 Jul 2016 23:36:30 +0000 Arellcat 225441@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ As I understand it, the Moorfoots and much of the surrounding area lie above what's called a magnetic basement block, which is a granite batholith. Most of that lies up to 8km down, but it's much closer to the surface at Lammer Law and there is an intrusion at Broad Law, which is why it was quarried there. But the bedrock of the Moorfoots is greywacke, a type of slate, that was laid down in the Silurian and Ordovician periods (about 450 million years ago, give or take). Ed1 on "Why's it called "the Granites"?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16640#post-225439 Wed, 20 Jul 2016 21:46:43 +0000 Ed1 225439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I was on that road yesterday there is granite quary in the area according to Google Gilbot on "Why's it called "the Granites"?" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16640#post-225438 Wed, 20 Jul 2016 21:29:33 +0000 Gilbot 225438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ That great road from Middleton to Innerleithen, the B7007 & B709. Why's it called the Granites? Is it as simple as there's lots of granite around?