A 3.3 magnitude earthquake rattled the Scottish Highlands on Monday at 7.25am, startling residents as their homes shook and windows rattled. The tremor hit near Pubil, in the remote Glen Lyon area of Perth and Kinross, according to the British Geological Survey (BGS).

Residents Describe Surreal Shaking and Rattling

Though modest on a global scale, the quake was strong enough to wake people from sleep and send vibrations through buildings across a wide stretch of central Highlands. Dozens reported the tremor on the Volcano Discovery website.

“I experienced up and down movement, it was like a giant walking past our van,” said one resident living in a static caravan.

Another said: “I was in bed and felt my bed roll and shake for one second, and my wardrobe doors were vibrating. It felt like a fast train going past but there was no train or lorry.”

Wide Area Feels the Shake – From Aberfeldy to Tyndrum

The quake’s reach extended across a 60-kilometre radius, with towns like Aberfeldy, Killin, Pitlochry, and Tyndrum all reporting the rumble. Witnesses described loud rumbling noises, shaking houses, and rattling windows.

• “We thought a large lorry had crashed,” one resident said.
• “A prolonged low rumble accompanied the shaking,” noted another.

BGS Calls for More Reports as Seismologists Track Quake

Seismologist Davie Galloway of the British Geological Survey confirmed the quake’s details and urged locals to submit felt reports—even if they didn’t feel anything.

“If you live in the area, even if you didn’t feel the event, please consider filling out our felt report, which helps us understand more about the event,” Galloway said.

Negative feedback is crucial for mapping the quake’s boundaries.

Scotland’s Seismic Scene: Glacial Rebound and Tectonic Shifts

Scotland sees 200-300 earthquakes annually, but most escape notice. Only 20 to 30 are strong enough to rattle buildings. Monday’s 3.3 tremor was among the rarer shakes powerful enough to wake residents.

The root cause? Ongoing glacial rebound. After ice sheets melted 10,500 years ago, the previously compressed rock is still rising, causing stress and quakes. Layered on top are subtle tectonic forces from the expanding Mid-Atlantic Ridge and African plate movement.

No Damage, Just a Wake-Up Call

The earthquake posed no threat of structural damage. Modern UK building codes don’t factor in quakes due to their rarity, but standard construction easily withstands tremors of this size.

Most impacts were psychological – that eerie sensation of solid earth moving beneath your feet.

A Reminder of Scotland’s Restless Earth

Monday’s quake, centered in the sparsely populated Glen Lyon, isn’t unprecedented. It’s part of a slow geological process that will continue jostling Highland communities for millennia.

As seismologists gather data from public reports, each tremor sheds light on Scotland’s hidden seismic stresses and helps map future risks.