Abstract The Moine Thrust Belt in NW Scotland is fundamental for developing an understanding of complex fault systems and continental tectonics. The high-quality geological mapping, exceptional structural interpretation and insight of the late nineteenth century that underpins this is chronicled here. The Geological Survey of Great Britain mapped the thrust belt over a 14 year period, at 1:10 560, but it took five decades for the individual 1:63 360 map sheets to be published. The mapping itself was hampered by access problems, illness and prevailing weather. The deployment of expert staff to this region of few apparent economic resources threatened the status of the Geological Survey. Map publication was hindered by the transition from hand-coloured to full-colour printing, together with the restrictions of publishing to a strict grid that incorporated complex geology outside the thrust belt itself. This history of fieldwork, publication and outreach by the Geological Survey is placed in an environmental and logistical context to identify the challenges not only for the mapping itself but also in sharing the results in publication. The execution of these activities provides lessons for developing coherent interpretation in complex geology and the challenges in charting their uncertainties and alternative explanations.

Abstract Since the term was coined in 1873, palaeogeography has provided a powerful map-based tool for synthesizing, visualizing, and testing diverse regional data and hypotheses, but there are problems in deducing the palaeogeography of areas with few data points. As an example, the Scottish Highlands are better mapped and more studied than almost any other ancient orogen, yet questions remain on the persistence of topography since the Caledonian orogeny and the possibility of Cretaceous marine inundation. This paper reviews the data available on Scottish Cretaceous outcrops using published geological maps and memoirs to extract data: outcrop length, stratigraphic thickness and component units, elevation range of the outcrop and subcrop formations. All Cretaceous rocks in western Scotland were deposited in shallow marine and shoreline environments; deposits thin northwards and appear to be close to a feather edge. Elevation data are used to construct a Cretaceous surface which intersects present-day topography at low to intermediate altitudes. It is concluded that the Scottish Highlands were largely emergent during the Late Cretaceous, confirming previous palaeogeographic studies.