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MAP 12: LAG GORM TO SAMHLAHinterland Geology and Coastal Geomorphology:The southern half of Baile Shear contains an assemblage of different landformsincluding flat, marshy deflation areas, fields of redepositional hillocks, old brockencoastal dunes, young active coastal dunes which encroach over older machair plains.Each of these forms occur side by side. The east side of the peninsula is low and isdominated by saltmarsh and dunes within the interior. The Atlantic side is dominatedby dune ridges and sand and shingle beach. A well developed shingle ridge curvesround the south tip of the island. It extends seawards at low water, having beenconstructed at the equilibrium point between wave-generated longshore drift and tidaloutflow through the channel separating Baleshare from Benbecula to the south.Erosion Class:The coastline from the thin sand and shingle peninsula incorporating Lag Gorm andMol Greannach, to Tràigh Eachcamais on the east side of the island is severelyeroding (Cell 37). It has been badly affected by the recent storm event, with localinformants stating that 20m of coastline has been lost. The dunes have sheer facesand extensive evidence of deflations, both old and fresh. Saltmarsh behind the sandand shingle beach on the north-east side of Eachcamais has erosion occurring amongstthe areas of tidal creeks. The coastline to the north of Tràigh Eachcamais is eroding ata slower rate due to the rocky nature of the coast, although erosion scars are presentalong Cell 39.Built Heritage & Archaeology:This section includes the southern tip of Baleshare’s machair dune system. A numberof boat noosts, jetties and possible fish traps were recorded along the east coast ofBaleshare, along with buildings, enclosures and field boundaries relating to thecrofting landscape of the 18 th -20 th centuries. A B Listed building was recorded. Nosites of certainly prehistoric date were recorded.UISN/1051/0124CFA