Follow a fun family trail around Dumfries Museum to discover some of the geology of South West Scotland. From fossil footprints older than dinosaurs, to minerals glowing in the dark. You'll find out how people made tools from stone 10,000 years ago and how Dumfriesshire sandstone was shaped into amazing architecture. Explore the museum in […]
Follow in the footsteps of the great 19th century fossil explorer Hugh Miller. Join us at his museum in Cromarty for a drop-in session with hands-on fun. There will be handling fossils, fascinating stories and a spot of creative craft. A family event for the young (5+ years) and the young at heart (no upper […]
Join Emily Brown, Assistant Curator of Earth Systems at National Museums Scotland, as she takes you behind the scenes at the Museum and explores some highlights of Scotland’s national rock and mineral collections. This hour long online talk will premier a new collection tour video (which will later be available through the Scottish Geology Trust’s […]
Join researchers from the University of Aberdeen and take part in hands-on activities and demonstrations as they showcase research at Aberdeen Science Centre. This event gives future Earth Scientists the opportunity to generate their own earthquake, see a volcanic eruption, and protect a village against tsunamis. Geoscientists from the University of Aberdeen will be on […]
Join local geologists for a guided walk around St Andrews to see a selection of stones used for over 8 centuries. The stones themselves span an age range of 550 million years. The walk is up to 2km long along footpaths. Sensible footwear is recommended as some paths may be uneven. Meet at 11am outside […]
Follow in the footsteps of the great 19th century fossil explorer Hugh Miller. Join us at his museum in Cromarty for a drop-in session with hands-on fun. There will be handling fossils, fascinating stories and a spot of creative craft. A family event for the young (5+ years) and the young at heart (no upper […]
Walk the remains of ancient volcanoes and find Elie ‘Rubies' with Professor Adrian Finch of the University of St Andrews. Imagine paddling in balmy tropical seawater lapping on the shore. Inland are dense forests with volcanoes. Eruptions shake the Earth with such force that they rip up bits of the Earth’s mantle. This is Fife, […]
A guided walk exploring the geology and landscape stories of Ben Nevis. For many people it is all about standing on the top of the UK’s tallest mountain however, if you want to get a true feel for its character then there is no better place to be than beneath the imposing north face. The […]
The rocks surrounding Pittenweem represent a time around 330 million years ago when the temperatures were tropical, seas were rich with marine life, and land had the first dense forests with enormous trees. Come for a walk along the shore between Pittenweem and Pathhead at low tide with geologist Dr Catherine Rose and hunt for […]
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 and even a mammoth bone transported to the beach by the action of ice and water. Visit the beach and see what […]
A guided walk exploring the remote northern end of Glen Roy, Lochaber. Famed for its ‘Parallel Roads’ a geological phenomenon which attracts visitors from all over the world it is a beautiful, rugged glen where both nature and people have left their mark. We will discover the mystery and controversy behind the Parallel Roads story […]
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 […]
The Triassic was a critical time for the evolution of life on Earth. This period witnessed the first appearance of some of the most successful animals that ever lived, including lizards, dinosaurs, turtles and crocodilians, the descendants of which are still important components of today’s terrestrial ecosystems. Well-preserved fossils of the most primitive members of […]
Join the GeoBus team to explore local rock and fossil highlights on the St Andrews coast. The first few stops on our walk will be within the town, followed by a wander along the Fife Coastal Path to visit the Rock and Spindle, a Geological SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), noting features on our […]
Travel back in time on this 3-hour cruise along the Berwickshire Coast from Eyemouth, past St Abb's Head, to Siccar Point and back. There will be a geological and a wildlife guide on board to tell you all about the geology, wildlife and local history that we encounter on the journey. Eyemouth’s floating pontoons and […]
Join Emily Brown, Assistant Curator of Earth Systems at National Museums Scotland on a journey though agate formation and agate collecting in Scotland, through the lens of the world famous Scottish agate collection at National Museums Scotland. Agates have fascinated people for thousands of years and have particular cultural relevance for Scotland through their use […]
Midlothian was once a tropical swamp – and the evidence is in the rocks. A walk in Roslin Glen with Mark Wilkinson, a geologist from the University of Edinburgh will reveal all. Suitable for adults and older children, the walk will cover a couple of kilometres, walking on good paths. Meet at the main car […]
Travel back in time on this 3-hour cruise along the Berwickshire Coast from Eyemouth, past Burnmouth Caves to Lamberton Skerrs & Marshall Meadows and back. There will be a geological and a wildlife guide on board to tell you all about the geology, wildlife and local history that we encounter on the journey. Eyemouth’s floating […]
Fossil insects are rare in Scotland, though those that are found are significant and are from four periods: Specimens from the Lower Devonian Rhynie Chert of Aberdeenshire are the oldest in the world; a few species are known from the Upper Carboniferous Coal Measures of Ayrshire and Fife; as yet undescribed specimens are known from […]
Join the curators of Earth Systems at National Museums Scotland for a behind the scenes tour of the rock, mineral, meteorite and gemstone collections stored at the National Museums Collection Center. See fantastic mineral specimens from some of Scotland’s famous localities, examples of classic Scottish rock types, Scotland’s largest meteorite, and other fantastic specimens collected […]
This event has been rescheduled from Monday 19th September. Join the curators of Earth Systems at National Museums Scotland for a behind the scenes tour of the rock, mineral, meteorite and gemstone collections stored at the National Museums Collection Center. See fantastic mineral specimens from some of Scotland’s famous localities, examples of classic Scottish rock […]
Due to illness, this online talk has been cancelled. We're sorry for the disappointment caused. Scotland's fossil record seems to come up with exceptional records all the time. We have the oldest terrestrial ecosystem (Rhynie Chert), possibly the first air-breathing animal on land (Pneumodesmus), the oldest fossil embryos (fossil fish from Orkney), some of the […]
Read any travel blog or guide book about Arran, and you are likely to see the island described as "Scotland in Miniature". Like all good tourist slogans, this quickly becomes rather twee and irritating, but how accurate is it? Dr Bob Gooday takes us through half a billion years of Arran's geological history and its' […]
It’s estimated that 6,000 meteorites hit the Earth each year, but only 4 have ever fallen in Scotland. Join Peter Davidson, Senior Curator of Minerals at National Museums Scotland, for an exploration of the stories behind these meteorites, where and how they were found, and how you might recognise a meteorite of your own! Free, […]
Fossil Grove in Victoria Park, Glasgow houses a unique collection of fossil trees, formed 330 million years ago. Marvel at this piece of ancient history in the beautiful surroundings of Victoria Park. A guided tour will take you through of the interior of the Fossil Grove building to view the 330 million year old trees. […]
