Regosol/Brown Calcareous Soil
Young by Scottish standards
Coastal locations
Often used for recreation (golf) in the east, but is the mainstay of many crofting communities in the west (machair). Has a strong natural and cultural heritage dimension.
Depth can vary and the soil is prone to serious erosion
Yellow brown, with a darker shallow surface
Very loose and soil is prone to wind erosion
Regosols are very coarse textured and exhibit excessively free drainage. Formed primarily from acid (quartzose) sand in the east, but from alkaline (shelly) sand in the west
In the east, will require fertilization and frequent cutting to sustain golfing activity, whereas in the west seaweed is applied as a natural fertiliser and grass cutting is allowed once a year to protect nesting birds that rely on the habitat sustained by machair soils.
Links:
[1] https://www.hutton.ac.uk/staff/willie-towers
[2] https://www.hutton.ac.uk/learning/dirt-doctor
[3] https://www.hutton.ac.uk/learning/dirt-doctor/sandy