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Guide to soil types

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Find out about the key characteristics of the main soil types in Scotland. More detailed information can be found in the Scottish soil classification.

Scotland has a wide variety of soil types which have a wide range of properties. Soils are classified by grouping similar soils together. In Scotland, soil classification is based on the soil properties you can see in the field (for example, colour, texture) and on the arrangement and nature of the different horizons (layers) within the soil. The main soil types are described below.

Find out more about the Scottish soil classification.

Find out more about the Origins of the Soil Survey of Scotland 50 cm threshold to define a Peat soil.

This page was last updated on 18 Jul 2024