A popular hiking area in the UK experienced three earthquakes within a six-hour period, raising concerns about increasing seismic activity.
In a notable geological event, a popular hiking area in the UK experienced a series of three earthquakes within a short six-hour timeframe. These quakes struck the Schiehallion highland summit, which is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and attracts hikers and bikers alike. According to reports from the British Geological Society (BGS), the seismic activity is part of a larger trend, with over 60 earthquakes recorded throughout the UK since the beginning of 2025.
The first earthquake occurred at 5.58 am yesterday, registering a magnitude of 1.8 on the Richter Scale. Reports indicate that a household in Invervar, Glenlyon, felt the tremors, describing the experience as sounding “like a badly installed washing machine kicking into fast spin cycle” and lasting only a couple of seconds. This initial quake was recorded at a depth of 3 km.
Approximately five hours later, at 11.14 am, the region was shaken again, this time by a tremor that measured 0.6 in magnitude and was detected at a depth of 4 km. Just two minutes after the second event, a third earthquake struck, registering a magnitude of 1.0 and occurring at a depth of 2 km.
These recent occurrences follow a separate incident three days prior, when a 1.0 magnitude earthquake was felt in Roshven, Highland. That quake occurred at 7.21 pm and was registered at a depth of 8 km, with the coordinates indicating that it was felt near Loch Nan Uamh, an area not close to populated regions.
The seismic activity in Schiehallion is notably reminiscent of an earthquake that hit the same location just six days earlier, which registered 1.7 on the Richter Scale and was reported to have caused “roof tiles [to rattle]” and a “loud rumbling” sound. This earlier tremor was recorded at a depth of 3 km.
Roger Musson, a former Head of Seismic Hazard and Archives at the BGS, provided insights into the increasing frequency of these seismic events. In comments to the Daily Star, he explained that there is a relation between the magnitude of earthquakes and their frequency. “There is a simple rule of thumb – for every decrease of one unit of magnitude, one expects a tenfold increase of number,” he noted. This statistic implies that if the UK averages one 3.5 magnitude earthquake annually, it could expect around ten 2.5 magnitude quakes and approximately 100 of lower magnitudes, most of which are too weak or remote for people to notice but can still be detected by scientific instruments.
The ongoing seismic activity along with the recent trio of earthquakes serves to highlight the evolving geological landscape of the UK, prompting further scientific inquiry and public attention.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/earthquakes/recent_uk_events.html – This URL provides information on recent earthquakes in the UK and supports the claim of increased seismic activity with multiple quakes recorded since the beginning of 2025.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This URL is the source of the article discussing the earthquakes in Schiehallion and the broader seismic trends in the UK, though it doesn’t directly corroborate specific details.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schiehallion – This URL provides background information on Schiehallion, a notable hiking area in the UK, supporting the description of its popularity among hikers and bikers.
- https://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/earthquakes/historical.html – This URL supports the information from the British Geological Survey about seismic activity and trends in the UK, although it specifically covers historical data.
- https://www.dailystar.co.uk/ – This URL is referenced as a source where Roger Musson, a former BGS official, provides insights into earthquake frequencies, but does not directly link to specific information about Schiehallion.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative mentions specific recent dates and seismic events, suggesting it is current as of early 2025. There are no clear indications the content is reused from older reports.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The quote from Roger Musson is specific but lacks clear verification from other online sources. Further investigation could not confirm if this is the first use of this quote.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Star, which often provides sensationalized content. While it references the British Geological Society, a reputable source, the narrative itself may not be as authoritative as traditional news outlets like the BBC or Reuters.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims regarding seismic activity in the UK are plausible and consistent with natural phenomena. However, specific details such as exact quotes and experiences may require more verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the narrative appears to be recent and discusses plausible seismic activity, the source reliability is somewhat questionable due to the nature of the publisher. Quotes lack clear verification, but the context is understandable.
