seen, cut across by steeply dipping sheets of granite and pegmatite. This area has been studied for over 100 years. First recognised by Peach et al. (1907), the area is made up of predominantly gneiss. F. Davies released a series of articles about the area in the 1970s, particularly in relation to the Scouie dyke swarms that cross cut the lewisian gneiss in the region. Further work in the area has investigated the nature of the Laxford shear zone (for example, the current geologist Katherine Goodenough). The Laxford area lies on the Laxfordian Shear Zone, which defines the boundary between the central region and the northern region of the lewisian gneiss. This is one of the few areas what has experienced all three metamorphic events of the lewisian gneiss: the Badcallian (2.8-2.7Ga), the Inverian (2.6-2.5Ga) and the Laxfordian (1.8-1.3Ga) however some academics argue that the Laxfordian spans as recent as 1.0Ga. Each metamorphism event has, to an extent, overprinted the next. Thermobarometry has been used to attempt to identify the peak temperatures and pressures of each metamorphic event. Laxford Bridge At Laxford Bridge the A838 road, coming northwest from Lairg on Scotland's northeast coast, joins the A894 coming from Loch Assynt, which is to the south. The A838 then crosses the river at the bridge and runs northeast to Durness on Scotland's north coast. References Sutherland Geography of Highland (council area) Geology of Highland (council area)