Field Trips which took place in 2007

Saturday 21st July  HARBOTTLE AREA, NORTHMBERLAND
Leaders - David Lawrence and Sarah Arkley,  British Geological Survey (BGS), Edinburgh
An opportunity to hear about recent collaboration between BGS and Northumberland National Park to produce a Geodiversity Audit and Action Plan for the National Park, and to examine that geodiversity associated with the Fell Sandstone Formation in the Harbottle area. Meet at car park below Harbottle Crags [NT926 049] at 2 pm.  The walk will involve the ascent of about 100 m within a total walking distance of about 3 km.
David Lawrence has sent some photo's which can be viewed by clicking here.

Sunday 19th August COCKLAWBURN near Berwick. Leaders - Bill Scott and Andy lane, University of Sunderland. It is intended to re-examine the coastal section between Cargie' Plantation and Spittal.
Meet at 10.45 a.m. at the coast on the minor road out of Scremerston, south of Berwick, Grid Ref. 026 486, (OS Map 75)

Sunday 2nd September  COALCLEUGH AND EAST ALLENDALE   Leader - Stuart Clarke, British Geological Survey, Edinburgh.
A chance to visit some of the Carboniferous rocks of the upper East Allen Valley and to hear about new ideas coming from the current BGS mapping of the northern Pennines.
Meet at 10.30 am at the old mine 'shop' about 1 km S of Carrshield [NY804 468].  Walking distance about 6 km over moorland tracks. 

October 7th  HADRIAN'S WALL AND HALTWHISTLE BURN  Leader - Brian Young, Hon. Research Fellow, University of Durham. A cross-country walk to view the role of Carboniferous rocks, the Whin Sill and Quaternary sediments in forming this distinctive landscape.  The walk will include a spectacular section of Hadrian's Wall and a traverse of the beautiful Haltwhistle Burn.
Meet at 10.30 am at the public car park near the old pipe works at Haltwhistle [NY708 646].  Walking distance will be about 8 km along mainly good footpaths.

2003
6th April 2003 - - - "Evidence from the Ice Age at Whitburn". An easy coastal walk along spectacular exposures of Devensian glacigenic deposits at Whitburn, South Tyneside.
                The trip acted as a general introduction to identifying glacial deposits in the field.  Waterlain deposits occur between multiple Lodgement Tills (boulder clays). 
                 An opportunity was given to examine the effects of over-riding by glacial ice on glacial deposits, and explore some of the mysteries of deformation.  By the end of the day there was some understanding of the story of 'Ice Age' Northumberland.
                Met at 11.00 am in the car park (Grid Ref: NZ 408 614)  Leader: Dr Derek Teasdale

                 1st June 2003 - 'Sedimentation around the Bowlees area, Teesdale' - Meeting point Bowlees picnic area car park, Teesdale, 12pm. This trip examined the sediments and cycles within this classic section. Leader: Dr. Trevor Morse

               22nd June 2003 - 'Igneous, Metamorphic, Sedimentary rocks and Mineralisation, with their Associated Topography in Upper Teesdale' - Meeting point  Cow Green Nature Trail car park (NY811 309) 10:00am - The trip examined the Cronkley Scar area including the Whin Sill igneous intrusion into Carboniferous limestone with associated topography, metamorphism and mineralisation. Handouts were available on the day. Leader: John Waring

             20th July 2003- 'Geology of Runswick Bay'. Met at 10:30am. Leader: Dr. Paul Wignall

            10th August 2003- 'A new look at mineralisation in the northern Pennines'. Meeting point was Killhope Museum 10:30am. Leader: Brian Young

            14th September 2003 - Sediments, sauropds along the Dinosaur coast - meeting point was pub in Staithes harbour (Cod & Lobster) at 10:30am; walk followed coastline from Staithes to Port Mulgrave, returning to Staithes along the cliff path. Leader: Dinosaur Coast Project Officer, Will Watts

2002
14th. July 2002: Howick, Northumberland. Carboniferous Yoredale cyclothems: leader Alistair Bowden. For more details click

23rd.- 26th. Aug. 2002. "Earth Alert Festival of Geology" a major event organised by the Geologists' Association. It included Exhibitions, Lectures Field Walks and Activities for all the family. For more details,

2001
Saturday June 9th 2001: A traverse was made of the foreshore north of Sandsend near Whitby examining lithology & fossils of members of the Whitby Mudstone Formation (Jurassic), followed by a visit to the Whitby Museum where there is an excellent geological collection.
For details click .

A visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne to examine building stones

Nov. 3rd. and 4th 2001: Geologists' Assoc. Reunion in Liverpool. For more information and pictures:

Full reports on the society's lectures and field excursions from  2000 to 2002 and can be found if you