Scotland’s iconic landscapes and rugged coastlines have been shaped by the elements over countless millennia. These foundations, the rocks beneath our feet, hold the secrets of our planet’s past, they have influenced our culture and provide an outdoor playground for us to enjoy and discover.
The Scottish Geology Festival 2021 will be making a splash this autumn for Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters. From 1 September to 17 October the Scottish Geology Trust and
partners, including Solway Firth Partnership, will deliver a packed programme of activities from Stranraer to Shetland that will showcase and celebrate Scotland’s geology.
Events will range from coastal walks to fossil hunting to online talks and even boat trips to Siccar Point, where James Hutton found proof of an ancient Earth. You can explore extinct volcanoes in Edinburgh or the UNESCO Global Geopark in the North West Highlands, find evidence of ancient tropical seas and coral reefs in Fife and learn how the recent ice age helped shaped our incredible Scottish landscapes; geology isn’t just a thing of the past, but a tool for exploring our future too. Find out more about the festival at https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/festival/
The events on the Solway include:
Beach Pebble event: Stranraer Beach on 25 September @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm FREE
Experts will help you discover the story behind pebbles you find on the beach.
Red sandstones from nearby cliffs laid down 300 million years ago in a desert, stones from Ailsa Craig and even a mammoth bone transported to the beach by the action of ice and water.
Visit the beach and see what you can find out about an amazing variety of pebbles.
This is a drop-in event, so you can turn up at a time that suits you and spend as long as you like talking to the experts.
Beach Pebble event: Kirkcudbright Beach on 9 October @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm FREE
Experts will help you discover the story behind pebbles you find on the beach.
Sandstones from nearby cliffs laid down 430 million years ago in a deep ocean, granite transported by ice and water to the beach by the action of ice and water and rocks formed in a volcanic vent and exposed on a nearby beach.
Visit the beach and see what you can find out about pebbles and some surprising ways stones have arrived on the beach.
This is a drop-in event, so you can turn up at a time that suits you and spend as long as you like talking to the experts.
Both events are FREE, booking not required
The Out & About section in Dumfries & Galloway is headlined by Gretna Green
A Place to Escape From it All – Scotland’s most romantic destination since 1754
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