Man – mining and quarrying
Arran, Bute and the Cumbraes can claim to be largely unspoilt and their landscape unaffected by mining, quarrying or tipping. However, peat cutting, which still continues as a source of fuel, has changed the appearance since the last Ice Age.
Mining has occurred but has been restricted to a few small operations. The Corrie Limestone, which was excavated to form the Old Harbour, was quarried inland and mined from adits which can still be seen today (DO NOT ENTER - these are dangerous). An old limestone quarry at Kilchattan on Bute is now used as a reservoir.
Coal was mined in the Laggan and Cock of Arran area, and on Bute at Ascog and Loch Quien. Baryte, a heavy barium mineral, was mined in Glen Sannox during the last century and between the World Wars. Spoil heaps litter the valley floor, giving opportunities to hunt for minerals.
Many small quarries have been worked for building stones, such as the red and white sandstones. The igneous rocks, particularly the dolerite sills, have been worked for aggregate and road metal. Lastly, the Ailsa Craig microgranite has proved to be ideal for the manufacture of curling stones and has been quarried over many years for that purpose.