Scottish Geologist
That Girl That Makes Videos About Rocks
Welcome to Scottish Geologist’s website - the home of “That Girl That Makes Videos about rocks”.
I’m Luisa - a Glasgow-trained geologist who ditched the engineering world after nine years to follow my dream of, well… talking about rocks for a living. And it worked! Now I Make funny, Bite-sized geology videos on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook (@scottishgeologist) where more than 600K rock fans follow along.
I started making videos about rocks in March 2023 because I felt like something was seriously missing from social media: a proper appreciation for Scotland’s incredible geological landscapes. So I set out to fix that - one silly, educational video at a time.
As my online community grew, I wanted to take what I do on camera and bring it outdoors. That’s why I created Scot Rock Walks - Scottish Geology Tours ranging from short local walks to full-day and multi-day adventures across Scotland.
Come and explore the birthplace of modern geology with me!
Scot Rock Walks -
Scottish Geology Tours
Want to explore Scotland’s geology with me? interested in learning about the geological history of Scotland and the different rock types you can find?
Come along and explore Scotland’s geology today!!
Upcoming Afternoon Geology Tours
Volcanoes, Beaches & Ancient Seas: A Geology Tour of Gullane with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for a stunning coastal geology tour around Gullane, East Lothian—where wide sandy beaches, rocky headlands, and classic Scottish geology come together. This area offers an exceptional snapshot of Carboniferous volcanism, sedimentary environments, and Ice Age landscape change, all in an accessible, walkable setting with big views across the Firth of Forth.
What to Expect
🌋 Carboniferous Volcanic Activity
Explore volcanic rocks formed around 340 million years ago, when this part of Scotland lay near the equator.
Examine basaltic intrusions and lava flows exposed along the shoreline and at Gullane.
Learn how magma forced its way through soft sediments, baking and altering them at the margins - very good examples of chilled margins.
🪨 Sedimentary Rocks from Ancient Seas and Deltas
Walk across sandstones, mudstones, and limestones deposited in warm, shallow seas, lagoons, and river deltas.
Identify features such as bedding planes, ripple marks, iron nodules, cross bedding, deformation beds and fossil-rich layers that record shifting environments through time.
🦴 Fossils and Past Life
Look for marine fossils—including shells and crinoid fragments—in limestone beds and loose blocks.
Discover how these fossils help reconstruct a tropical Carboniferous coastline very different from today’s Scotland.
🌍 Structural geology and plate tectonics
Analyse faults and learn about brittle deformation.
Learn about stresses associated with convergent, divergent and transform plate boundaries.
🌊 Coastal Processes in Action
Observe wave-cut platforms, rock pools, and eroded cliffs that give textbook exposures of the geology.
Discuss how modern coastal erosion continues to reveal new sections of rock each year.
👣 Hands-On Geology
Practice reading the rocks in the field: distinguishing igneous from sedimentary units and tracing contacts.
Use everyday features—beaches, cliffs, headlands—to link big geological ideas to real landscapes.
Who Should Attend?
Perfect for beginners, families, students, and anyone curious about Scotland’s coastal geology.
Ideal if you enjoy learning outdoors with minimal scrambling and maximum scenery.
Event Details
📍 Location: Gullane beach , East Lothian
🗓️ Date: Sunday 5th April 2026
⏰ Duration: 10:00-12:00. If 10:00-12:00 sells out I will offer another tour between 12:30-14:30
🎟️ Price: £25pp meet us there
🥾 Terrain: Beach, rock platforms, and coastal paths (tide-dependent) - some rock scrambling - however not necessary for those who aren’t up for ‘scrambling’.
📏 Distance: 2 miles
Why Join This Tour?
Led by @ScottishGeologist, this tour turns a beautiful day at the beach into a journey through volcanoes, ancient seas, and Ice Age Scotland. Gullane’s geology is clear, varied, and wonderfully accessible—making it one of the best places to learn how to read the rocks.
Book Your Gullane Geology Tour
🪨 Ancient lava
🌊 Coastal rock platforms
🦴 Fossils underfoot
🧊 Ice Age landscapes
Gullane proves that world-class geology doesn’t need a mountain—sometimes it’s right by the sea.
Join @ScottishGeologist for a fascinating guided walk along the coastline of Lower Largo in Fife, where quiet beaches and rolling farmland hide the remains of an ancient volcanic, tropical and semi-arid landscape.
This geology tour explores the story 315-million-year-old Carboniferous Scotland, when the land that is now Fife sat close to the equator and was shaped by erupting volcanoes, tropical rivers, shallow seas and semi-arid environments.
Standing on the shores of Largo Bay, we’ll uncover the geological history written in the rocks beneath our feet and learn how one dramatic hill in the landscape reveals the plumbing of a long-extinct volcano.
What You’ll Discover
🌋 The Volcano of Largo Law
Towering above the landscape is Largo Law, a striking volcanic plug that formed when magma solidified inside the throat of an ancient volcano.
Over millions of years erosion stripped away the surrounding cone, leaving behind the hardened volcanic core that now dominates the skyline.
On the tour you’ll learn:
How volcanic necks form
Why Largo Law stands higher than the surrounding landscape
What this tells us about Scotland’s Carboniferous volcanic activity
🪨 Reading the Rocks of the Beach
Along the shoreline we’ll examine the rocks that tell the story of a very different Scotland.
Participants will discover:
Basalt lava flows formed from ancient eruptions
Volcanic ash and tuff deposits from explosive activity
Sedimentary rocks laid down in rivers, coastal lagoons, inter-tidal areas and semi-arid environments
Each rock reveals clues about the environment that existed here hundreds of millions of years ago.
🌍 Scotland Near the Equator
During the Carboniferous Period, Scotland was located close to the equator and experienced a warm tropical climate.
This meant:
Lush swamp forests covered the landscape
Rivers and deltas flowed across the Midland Valley
Volcanoes erupted across the region
The rocks around Lower Largo preserve evidence of this remarkable time in Scotland’s deep geological past.
Tour Highlights
✔ Explore a spectacular volcanic and sedimentary landscape
✔ Learn how geologists read rocks like a storybook
✔ See the remains of an ancient volcano up close
✔ Discover the tropical Scotland of 320 million years ago
✔ Experience the coastline of historic Fife through the lens of geology
Tour Information
📍Location: Lower Largo, Fife - https://maps.app.goo.gl/6MQ3Fw77pPUCmZog9
📆When: Sunday 12th April 2026 15:00-17:00
⏱️Duration: ~2 hours
📏Distance and Accessibility: ~2 km coastal walk, mostly flat, sandy and rocky terrain - some rock scrambling but not necessary.
🥾Difficulty: Easy – suitable for beginners and families
Led by: Luisa Hendry, founder of ScottishGeologist and Scot Rock Walks - Scottish Geology Tours
No prior geology knowledge is required—just curiosity and a sense of adventure.
What Makes a Scot Rock Walk Special
Scot Rock Walks tours combine scientific insight, storytelling, and hands-on exploration.
Expect:
✔ Picking up and identifying real rocks
✔ Understanding how landscapes evolve through deep time
✔ Learning geology in a relaxed and accessible way
✔ Discovering hidden stories in familiar landscapes
No previous geology knowledge is required.
Tour Highlights
🌋 See the volcanic core of a volcanic vent
🪨 Explore Carboniferous-permian volcanic rocks along the coast
🌍 Discover Scotland’s tropical past
📖 Learn how geologists interpret landscapes
📸 Enjoy spectacular views across Largo Bay
Who This Tour Is For
This tour is ideal for:
Families and curious explorers
Visitors interested in Scottish landscapes
Students studying geology or geography
Outdoor enthusiasts looking for a unique experience
What to Bring
Comfortable walking shoes
Weather-appropriate clothing
Camera or smartphone
Curiosity about Scotland’s landscapes
Exact meeting instructions will be sent after booking.
About Your Guide
Luisa Hendry is the science communicator behind ScottishGeologist, followed by hundreds of thousands of people online for her engaging explanations of Scotland’s geology.
Through Scot Rock Walks, she brings Scotland’s landscapes to life through guided geology experiences designed to make Earth science accessible and exciting for everyone.
👉 Book your place with Scot Rock Walks and discover the ancient forces that shaped Scotland’s landscapes
Explore Coastal Geology and Ancient Landscapes: A Geology Tour of Portencross with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for an engaging geology tour of Portencross, a stunning coastal site in North Ayrshire where ancient rock formations and breathtaking scenery combine to tell a fascinating story of Scotland’s geological past. From Devonian sandstones to glacial features, this tour offers a unique insight into the processes that have shaped Scotland’s landscapes.
What to Expect
🪨 Examine Ancient Sandstones
Explore Portencross’s striking Devonian old red sandstone formations, which date back over 400 million years. Learn how these layers were formed in an ancient desert environment and were deposited by rivers and how they provide clues to Scotland’s arid past.
🌊 Coastal Processes in Action
Observe how the forces of waves, tides, and weathering continue to shape Portencross’s rocky shores. Identify features such as wave-cut platforms, sea cliffs, and boulder fields that reveal the dynamic relationship between land and sea.
🌍 Trace the Impact of Glaciation
Discover evidence of Scotland’s Ice Age history, including glacial striations, erratics, and deposits left behind as the glaciers retreated. Understand how these powerful forces shaped the coastline around Portencross.
👣 Guided Walk and Interpretation
Enjoy a guided walk along the Portencross coastline, with expert explanations of the rock formations, landforms, and geological history of the area. Bring your curiosity and enjoy hands-on activities, such as identifying rock types and sketching geological features.
🏰 Geology Meets History
Visit Portencross Castle, a historic site built on the local sandstone. Learn how the area’s geology influenced human settlement, trade, and construction throughout history.
🌿 Environmental and Geological Conservation
Discuss the importance of conserving Portencross’s geological features and how sites like this contribute to our understanding of Scotland’s natural heritage.
Who Should Attend?
This tour is ideal for geology enthusiasts, students, families, and anyone who loves exploring Scotland’s stunning coastlines. No prior knowledge of geology is needed—just bring your sense of adventure!
Event Details
📍 Location: Portencross, North Ayrshire
🗓️ Date: 15th April 2026
⏰ Time: 18:00-20:00
🎟️ Price: £25pp - meet us there, or £40pp pick up from Glasgow
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the experienced @ScottishGeologist, this tour combines hands-on learning with the natural beauty and history of Portencross. It’s an unforgettable opportunity to explore Scotland’s geological wonders while enjoying the fresh sea air and captivating landscapes.
Book Your Spot Today!
Let Portencross’s rocks and stunning coastal views reveal Scotland’s geological story!
Upcoming Day trip Geology Tours
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist - Be a geologist for the day.
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist - Be a geologist for the day.
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist - Be a geologist for the day.
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Discover the Scottish Highlands like you’ve never seen them before. Delve deep into the geological past of the highlands with @scottishgeologist
Itinerary
Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Falls of Falloch - Rannoch Moor - Glencoe - Ballachulish - Fort William - Glenfinnan - Return to Glasgow
08:00 Departure from Glasgow - Meet outside Costa Coffee, 50 George Square, Glasgow for introductions.
During the journey there will brief talk on the formation of the Scottish Highlands, focusing on:
The Midland Valley geological Terrane
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
The Central Highlands geological Terrane - The Dalradian Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Caledonian Orogeny (~400 million years ago)
The Northern Highlands geological Terrane
The Moine Supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
A geological history of Scotland
Loch Lomond
How Scotland was once near the South Pole and moved northward.
The Dalradian Supergroup - ancient seafloor sediments that were buried, folded, and metamorphosed.
The Highland Boundary Fault (HBF) - the major geological divide between the Lowlands & Highlands.
Evidence of glacial processes shaping the loch.
The falls of Falloch visit
Drive through Rannoch Moor (A82 Route to Glencoe)
Scenic stop at Black Mount viewpoint and Loch Tula
The last Ice Age (~20,000 years ago) and how glaciers shaped Rannoch Moor.
Granite and how it forms.
Glacial erratics, peat bogs, and permafrost landscapes - learn how to recognise glacial features.
Glencoe - Scotland’s 420 Million year old ‘Supervolcano’
We will stop and explore a few points in Glencoe, learning about what rocks form the munro that surround us and how these came to be. There will be a few short walks involved in this area of intermediate nature.
The Glencoe Caldera Collapse (~420 million years ago) a volcanic super-eruption - learn how to identify different igneous rocks
Igneous rocks and there processes (volcanos and that)
U-shaped valleys & hanging valleys formed by Ice Age glaciers.
The difference between different magmas
Lunch in Glencoe visitor centre
Ballachulish Slate Quarry - Metamorphism, fools gold and slaty rocks
Explore the Ballachulish Slate Quarry, where sedimentary rocks were transformed into roofing slates.
How high-pressure metamorphism changed mudstone into slate.
Regional metamorphism and Barrovian metamorphism.
The role of the Caledonian Orogeny in rock deformation.
The quarrys impact on Scotlands industrial history.
Fort William & Ben Nevis Geology
Ben Nevis: An extinct Devonian volcano (~400 million years ago).
The difference between Ben Nevis granite & Glencoe volcanic rocks.
How glacial erosion carved the mountains current shape.
Tectonic movements & faulting linked to the Great Glen Fault.
Glenfinnan - The Moine Supergroup now known as the Loch Ness and Wester Ross Supergroup
Metamorphism of the Moine supergroup in around the viaduct that represent the metamorphic rocks of the northern highlands - we will look at the schists that make up the Glenfinnan Group.
Glenfinnan viaduct - only if parking is available - the Harry Potter train bridge (includes short optional walk and if we arrive on time, we may get the chance to see the train.
On the way home - Recap of:
Scotlands geological evolution from Precambrian to today.
How plate tectonics continue to shape the landscape.
Estimated arrival in Glasgow: 18:30-19:00.
Rock types seen
Slate
Phyllite
Schist
Granite
Rhyolite
Andesite
Ash and tuff
Dolerite
Basalt
Quartz
Meta sedimentary rocks - psammite, pelite, semi-pelite and quartzite
Tour Highlights (1-Day Experience)
See Glencoes supervolcano - one of the best-preserved in the world.
Explore Ballachulish Slate Quarry - a story of metamorphism & industry.
Learn about the Caledonian Orogeny
Learn about Ben Nevis - Britains highest peak and its volcanic origins.
Glenfinnan Viaduct - AKA the Harry Potter bridge
Understand Scotlands Ice Age past - how glaciers shaped the landscape.
This efficient yet immersive tour covers Scotlands key geological wonders in a single day while allowing for scenic stops and short walks.
Please note lunch is not included in the price and you can either buy lunch at the Glencoe visitor centre or bring a packed lunch with you.
Price:
£150.00 per person
What to bring?
Waterproof jacket and trousers (Scotland is known for the rain and that so please be prepared
Backback
Warm clothes, potentially extra layers you can take on and off.
Gloves and hat if tour is in winter/autumn/spring time
comfortable shoes/walking boots for rough wet terrain
Good comfortable socks (maybe a spare pair in the backpack
Sunscreen (recommended SPF30 (UVB) with 4-star UVA protection
Camera/smart phone
Battery pack
Phone charger
Upcoming Weekend Geology Tours
Volcanoes, Sacred Stone, and Fingal’s Cave: A Geology Tour of Mull, Iona & Staffa with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist on an unforgettable geological journey through the Inner Hebrides, exploring the spectacular islands of Mull, Iona, and Staffa. Over several days, you’ll discover stories of fiery volcanoes, ancient continents, and world-famous rock formations, all set against Scotland’s most dramatic island scenery.
What to Expect
🌋 Isle of Mull igneous geology – Scotland’s Great Volcano
Explore the remains of one of the largest volcanic centres in Britain, active around 60 million years ago during the opening of the Atlantic Ocean.
Examine vast basalt lava flows, volcanic ash deposits, and intrusive rocks that reveal the power of this ancient volcanic system.
Learn how Mull’s geology links to Iceland and Greenland, part of the same rift system that tore apart the North Atlantic.
Visit the stunning Loch Ba Ring Dyke, where magma once forced its way through cracks in the crust.
🌍 Deep Time on Display
Walk through hundreds of millions of years of Earth history in a single island, from Precambrian metamorphic rocks to Tertiary granites and dykes.
🧭 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Identify folds and faults in Dalradian metamorphic rocks.
Learn how these structures formed during the Caledonian Orogeny (~430 million years ago), when Scotland was part of a giant mountain belt like today’s Himalayas.
Discuss how later extension and volcanism reshaped the island.
🪨 Iona – Ancient Crust of the Earth
Step back more than 2.7 billion years as you walk across the Lewisian gneiss of Iona, some of the oldest rocks in Europe.
Learn how these rocks record Earth’s earliest continental crust and were later reshaped by billions of years of tectonic activity.
Discover how Iona’s geology shaped its role in history, from building stone to the setting of St Columba’s monastery.
🌊 Staffa – The World-Famous Fingal’s Cave
Sail to Staffa, home to the spectacular Fingal’s Cave, where towering basalt columns form a natural cathedral.
Learn how these iconic hexagonal columns formed as molten lava cooled and cracked, the same process seen at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Experience first-hand the link between geology and legend, as Staffa’s rocks inspired artists, poets, and composers like Mendelssohn.
🌊 Dynamic Coasts and Ice Age Legacies
• Stroll along Arran’s spectacular coastlines to find raised beaches and wave-cut platforms, evidence of changing sea levels since the last Ice Age.
• See glacial erratics, striated pavements, and corries that reveal how ice sculpted the island.
• Compare glacial landscapes inland with modern coastal erosion happening before your eyes.
👣 Guided Walks and Coastal Exploration
At each island, enjoy guided walks to key outcrops and landscapes, with time to:
Identify rock types and structures.
Learn about the processes that formed them.
Sketch and photograph world-class geological features.
Who Should Attend?
This tour is ideal for:
Geology enthusiasts and students.
Nature lovers and island explorers.
Anyone captivated by Scotland’s volcanic and ancient past.
No prior geology experience is needed—just sturdy shoes, curiosity, and a love of the outdoors.
Event Details
📍 Locations: Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, Isle of Staffa
Pick up: outside Costa coffee, 50 George square, Glasgow city centre at 10:00 on Friday morning or meet us there
🗓️ Dates: Friday 1st May (10:00) to Sunday 3rd May 2026 (20:00/20:30)
Pick up: outside Costa coffee, 50 George square, Glasgow city centre at 10:00 on Friday morning.
⏰ Duration: Multi-day tour (2–3 days)
🎟️ Price:
Without accommodation - £365pp from Glasgow. £320pp to meet us there (includes guided geology walks, ferry tickets and transportation in 7/8 seater minibus. Accommodation is not included).
You can either book accommodation in Tobermory or Craignure on both nights so please book accommodation in either of these places and Luisa will arrange pick ups/drop offs.
We will visit the following places:
Loch Lomond
The Falls of Falloch Waterfall
Oban
Craignure
Tobermory
Loch Bà
Griban
Ross of Mull
Ardalanish bay
Fionnphort
Isle of Staffa
Isle of Iona
Rock units you’ll see:
The Dalradian supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Moine supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
Ross of mull granite
Devonian old red sandstones (Oban)
Premian/triassic sedimentary rocks
Paleogene igneous mafic and felsic rocks
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the knowledgeable @ScottishGeologist, this tour brings together ancient continental crust, fiery volcanic eruptions, and iconic coastal landscapes in a single journey. From the sacred rocks of Iona to the volcanic columns of Staffa, and the mighty caldera of Mull, this is geology at its most awe-inspiring.
Book Your Island Geology Adventure Today!
Step into Scotland’s geological story—where ancient crust meets volcanic fire, and nature has carved some of the most iconic landscapes on Earth.
Volcanoes, Sacred Stone, and Fingal’s Cave: A Geology Tour of Mull, Iona & Staffa with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist on an unforgettable geological journey through the Inner Hebrides, exploring the spectacular islands of Mull, Iona, and Staffa. Over several days, you’ll discover stories of fiery volcanoes, ancient continents, and world-famous rock formations, all set against Scotland’s most dramatic island scenery.
What to Expect
🌋 Isle of Mull igneous geology – Scotland’s Great Volcano
Explore the remains of one of the largest volcanic centres in Britain, active around 60 million years ago during the opening of the Atlantic Ocean.
Examine vast basalt lava flows, volcanic ash deposits, and intrusive rocks that reveal the power of this ancient volcanic system.
Learn how Mull’s geology links to Iceland and Greenland, part of the same rift system that tore apart the North Atlantic.
Visit the stunning Loch Ba Ring Dyke, where magma once forced its way through cracks in the crust.
🌍 Deep Time on Display
Walk through hundreds of millions of years of Earth history in a single island, from Precambrian metamorphic rocks to Tertiary granites and dykes.
🧭 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Identify folds and faults in Dalradian metamorphic rocks.
Learn how these structures formed during the Caledonian Orogeny (~430 million years ago), when Scotland was part of a giant mountain belt like today’s Himalayas.
Discuss how later extension and volcanism reshaped the island.
🪨 Iona – Ancient Crust of the Earth
Step back more than 2.7 billion years as you walk across the Lewisian gneiss of Iona, some of the oldest rocks in Europe.
Learn how these rocks record Earth’s earliest continental crust and were later reshaped by billions of years of tectonic activity.
Discover how Iona’s geology shaped its role in history, from building stone to the setting of St Columba’s monastery.
🌊 Staffa – The World-Famous Fingal’s Cave
Sail to Staffa, home to the spectacular Fingal’s Cave, where towering basalt columns form a natural cathedral.
Learn how these iconic hexagonal columns formed as molten lava cooled and cracked, the same process seen at the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Experience first-hand the link between geology and legend, as Staffa’s rocks inspired artists, poets, and composers like Mendelssohn.
🌊 Dynamic Coasts and Ice Age Legacies
• Stroll along Arran’s spectacular coastlines to find raised beaches and wave-cut platforms, evidence of changing sea levels since the last Ice Age.
• See glacial erratics, striated pavements, and corries that reveal how ice sculpted the island.
• Compare glacial landscapes inland with modern coastal erosion happening before your eyes.
👣 Guided Walks and Coastal Exploration
At each island, enjoy guided walks to key outcrops and landscapes, with time to:
Identify rock types and structures.
Learn about the processes that formed them.
Sketch and photograph world-class geological features.
Who Should Attend?
This tour is ideal for:
Geology enthusiasts and students.
Nature lovers and island explorers.
Anyone captivated by Scotland’s volcanic and ancient past.
No prior geology experience is needed—just sturdy shoes, curiosity, and a love of the outdoors.
Event Details
📍 Locations: Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, Isle of Staffa
Pick up: outside Costa coffee, 50 George square, Glasgow city centre at 10:00 on Friday morning or meet us there
🗓️ Dates: Friday 10th July (10:00) to Sunday 12th May 2026 (19:30/20:00)
Pick up: outside Costa coffee, 50 George square, Glasgow city centre at 10:00 on Friday morning.
⏰ Duration: Multi-day tour (2–3 days)
🎟️ Price:
Without accommodation - £365pp from Glasgow. £320pp to meet us there (includes guided geology walks, ferry tickets and transportation in 7/8 seater minibus. Accommodation is not included) .
You can either book accommodation in Tobermory or Craignure on both nights so please book accommodation in either of these places and Luisa will arrange pick ups/drop offs.
We will visit the following places:
Loch Lomond
The Falls of Falloch Waterfall
Oban
Craignure
Tobermory
Loch Bà
Griban
Ross of Mull
Ardalanish bay
Fionnphort
Isle of Staffa
Isle of Iona
Rock units you’ll see:
The Dalradian supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
The Moine supergroup (metamorphic rocks)
Ross of mull granite
Devonian old red sandstones (Oban)
Premian/triassic sedimentary rocks
Paleogene igneous mafic and felsic rocks
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the knowledgeable @ScottishGeologist, this tour brings together ancient continental crust, fiery volcanic eruptions, and iconic coastal landscapes in a single journey. From the sacred rocks of Iona to the volcanic columns of Staffa, and the mighty caldera of Mull, this is geology at its most awe-inspiring.
Book Your Island Geology Adventure Today!
Step into Scotland’s geological story—where ancient crust meets volcanic fire, and nature has carved some of the most iconic landscapes on Earth.
Through Deep Time: A Geology Tour of the North West Highlands with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist on a journey into the North West Highlands, one of the most geologically important landscapes in the world. Here, billion-year-old rocks, ancient mountain-building collisions, and world-famous thrust faults tell the story of Earth’s deep past in a setting of breathtaking mountains, lochs, and sea cliffs.
What to Expect
🪨 The Oldest Rocks in Europe
Walk across outcrops of Lewisian gneiss, some of the oldest rocks on the continent at over 3.2 billion years old.
Learn how these rocks formed deep in Earth’s crust and were later uplifted and exposed by tectonic events.
🏜️ Torridonian Sandstones
Discover striking red sandstone mountains such as Stac Pollaidh and Suilven, formed from ancient river and desert deposits around 1 to 1.2 billion years ago.
Examine sedimentary structures like cross-bedding, ripple marks and mud cracks that preserve clues to these long-vanished environments.
🌍 The Moine Thrust Belt
Visit the internationally famous Moine Thrust Zone, where older rocks were pushed for miles over younger rocks during the Caledonian Orogeny ~430 million years ago.
See spectacular thrust fault exposures and understand why this region became a cornerstone of modern geological science.
⛰️ Classic Highland Landscapes
Explore iconic sites such as Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, where geology meets art and interpretation.
Trace how glaciers sculpted the rugged terrain into corries, U-shaped valleys, and polished rock surfaces during the last Ice Age.
👣 Guided Walks and Field Observations
Enjoy carefully chosen walks and stops to study:
Rock textures and mineralogy.
Fold and fault structures in outcrop.
How geology influences today’s landscape and ecology.
Who Should Attend?
Geology enthusiasts and students keen to see textbook examples in the field.
Hikers, photographers, and nature lovers drawn to Scotland’s wildest scenery.
Anyone curious about how mountains form and why the North West Highlands are a UNESCO Geopark.
No prior geology knowledge required—just sturdy footwear and a spirit of exploration.
Event Details
📍 Location: Ullapool, North West Highlands
📍Pick up locations: outside Costa coffee, 50 George’s square, Glasgow at 10:00 or Inverness train station at 15:30/16:00
🗓️ Dates: Friday 29th May to Sunday 31st May 2026
⏰ Duration: multi-day tour (2 to 3 days)
🎟️ Price:
£350pp from Glasgow
£320pp from Inverness
£300pp meet us there (guiding and transport included, accommodation not included - book
Places we will visit:
Loch Lomond metamorphic rocks
Glencoe’s supervolcano
The great Glen Fault line - Loch Ness
Knocken Crag - The Moine Thrust Fault
Loch Assynt
Achmelvich Bay
Clachtoll beach
Glencoul thrust fault
The Rock Stop (if opened) - The North West Highlands Geopark stop and rock museum.
Kylesku Bridge
Scourie Bay
Laxford Cutting
Smoo Cave, Durness
Ceannabeinne beach, Durness
Corrieshalloch gorge - the deepest gorge in Scotland
Rock formations you’ll see:
The Lewissian Gniess - the oldest rocks in Scotland
The Torridonian Sandstones
The Moine supergroup
The Cambrian quartzites including the ‘pipe rock’
The Durness Group
The Ardverck Group
The Dalradian supergroup
And many more 🪨😍
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the knowledgeable @ScottishGeologist, this tour will guide you through some of the most important outcrops in Earth science history. You’ll walk across rocks older than life itself, stand at the site of ground-breaking 19th-century geological discoveries, and see how tectonics, sedimentation, and glaciation shaped Scotland’s wild northwest.
Book Your Highland Geology Experience Today!
The North West Highlands are not just Scotland’s oldest rocks—they are pages in the story of our planet. Come and read them with @ScottishGeologist.
Ancient Stones and Atlantic Shores: A Geology Tour of Lewis & Harris with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist on a breathtaking geological journey across the Isle of Lewis and Harris, where the landscape tells a story stretching back nearly 3 billion years. From the Lewisian gneiss, some of the oldest rocks in Europe, to stunning Atlantic beaches and towering Harris mountains, this tour reveals how Scotland’s Outer Hebrides became a geological wonderland.
What to Expect
🪨 The Lewisian Gneiss Complex
Walk across outcrops of Lewisian gneiss, formed over 3.2 billion years ago deep in Earth’s crust.
Learn how these rocks were altered by intense heat and pressure, creating their distinctive banded appearance.
Understand how these gneisses are fragments of Earth’s earliest continental crust, older than almost all life.
⛰️ The Mountains and minerals of Harris
Explore the dramatic Harris hills, where gneiss forms a rugged, rocky landscape shaped by glaciers.
See how later intrusions of granite and pegmatite veins cut through the gneiss, telling a story of deep magmatic activity.
Trace how these ancient foundations influence the island’s modern topography.
Analyse crystals such as tourmaline, mica and quartz in pegmatic form.
🏜️ The Uig and Stornoway Sandstones
Visit exposures of Torridonian-like sandstones, deposited around 1 billion years ago by ancient rivers and deserts.
Spot sedimentary structures like ripples and cross-bedding, frozen evidence of vanished landscapes.
⛰️ Structural Geology in the Gneiss
Analyse how the Lewisian was deformed over billions of years, recording cycles of burial, heating, and uplift.
Look at isoclinal folds, refolded folds, and shear fabrics, and discuss what they reveal about the pressures and directions of ancient tectonic forces.
Learn how geologists unravel deformation histories by tracing cross-cutting relationships between different fold generations.
Compare the structures in Lewisian gneiss to those found in modern mountain belts like the Himalayas.
🌍 The Outer Hebrides Fault Zone (OHFZ)
Explore one of Scotland’s most significant tectonic structures, stretching for more than 200 km along the Outer Hebrides.
Understand how this ancient fault marks the boundary between the Lewisian gneiss block and rocks further east.
Learn that the OHFZ was reactivated several times:
During the Proterozoic, when the Lewisian basement was fractured and sheared.
During the Caledonian Orogeny (~430 million years ago), when thrusts and folds developed as Scotland collided with North America and Greenland.
Even later, during the opening of the Atlantic, when dykes intruded along fault lines.
See spectacular mylonites and sheared rocks, where the gneiss has been ground and stretched by movement along the fault.
Discuss how this deep crustal fault connects Arran, the mainland, and the Outer Hebrides, showing how Scotland’s geology is linked across regions.
🌊 Glacial and Coastal Landscapes
Discover how the last Ice Age carved corries, valleys, and lochs across Lewis and Harris.
Walk along the Atlantic coast, where white-sand beaches like Luskentyre meet outcrops of ancient gneiss.
Observe how waves and weather continue to shape the coast today, creating sea stacks, cliffs, and machair grasslands.
🏛️ Geology and Culture
Learn how Lewisian gneiss was used in building crofts and stone walls across the islands.
Visit the Callanish Standing Stones, erected over 5,000 years ago, and discuss how the local geology provided both the material and the setting for this remarkable site.
Hear how geology influenced settlement, farming, and industry in the Outer Hebrides.
👣 Hands-On Exploration
Examine thin bands of different minerals in the gneiss and learn how to identify feldspar, quartz, and mica.
Sketch folded gneiss outcrops and glacial features in a field notebook.
Compare the Lewisian to modern geological analogues, such as the Canadian Shield.
Who Should Attend?
Geology enthusiasts wanting to see some of the oldest rocks in the world.
Nature lovers drawn to Harris’s mountains and Lewis’s sweeping beaches.
Anyone fascinated by the link between geology, history, and human culture.
No prior geology background is needed—just good walking shoes and a love of wild landscapes.
Event Details
📍 Location: Isle of Lewis & Harris, Outer Hebrides
Pick up available from Glasgow, Inverness or meet us there.
🗓️ Dates: Friday 24th July to 27th July 2026
⏰ Duration: 2-4 days
🎟️ Price:
£395pp from Glasgow
£365pp from Inverness
£300pp meet us there (2 day ticket - Saturday and Sunday)
(guiding, ferry and transport included. Accommodation not included - please book accommodation within a 10 mile radius of Stornoway)
Places we will visit:
Luskentyre
Scarista
Rodel
Harris tweed
Isle of Harris distillery
Stornoway
Callinish stones
Alpaca cafe
Port of ness
Why Join This Tour?
Led by @ScottishGeologist, this tour offers the chance to stand on rocks nearly as old as the Earth itself, while surrounded by some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery. From billion-year-old gneiss to Ice Age landscapes and ancient monuments, the Outer Hebrides bring together deep time, cultural history, and natural beauty in one unforgettable journey.
Book Your Lewis & Harris Geology Adventure Today!
Step into the deep past of Scotland—where some of the world’s oldest rocks meet the wild Atlantic shore.
Scotland in Miniature: A Geology Tour of the Isle of Arran with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for an inspiring geological tour of the Isle of Arran, often called “Scotland in Miniature” because it showcases almost every type of rock and geological process found across the country. From ancient ocean crust found In north Glen Sannox along the Highland Boundary fault line to folded meta-sediments that were deformed during the Caldeonian orogeny (mountain building) to the granite mountains, fossil-rich sandstones, and famous unconformities, Arran is one of the best places in the world to explore Earth’s story in a single island.
What to Expect
🌍 Deep Time on Display
Walk through hundreds of millions of years of Earth history in a single island, from Precambrian metamorphic rocks to Tertiary granites and dykes.
Understand why Arran is nicknamed “Scotland in Miniature”—its rocks represent almost every major stage of Scotland’s geological story.
🪨 Hutton’s Unconformity at Lochranza
Stand at the site where James Hutton, the father of modern geology, found one of his most famous examples of unconformity.
See how vertical Dalradian schists (c. 500–600 million years old) are overlain by much younger Devonian sandstones (~370 million years old).
Learn how this relationship gave Hutton evidence for “deep time” and the endless cycles of rock formation.
🌋 Igneous Geology: The Arran Granite and Beyond
• Explore the granite mountains of North Arran, intruded around 60 million years ago during the opening of the North Atlantic.
• Learn how slow-cooling magma deep underground produced the rugged Goatfell massif.
• Trace dyke swarms that cut through older rocks, part of the same magmatic activity that shaped Skye and Mull.
• See where igneous intrusions altered surrounding rocks by metamorphism (contact aureoles).
🧭 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Identify folds and faults in Dalradian metamorphic rocks.
Learn how these structures formed during the Caledonian Orogeny (~430 million years ago), when Scotland was part of a giant mountain belt like today’s Himalayas.
Discuss how later extension and volcanism reshaped the island
👣 Hands-On Exploration
Use simple field skills: sketching outcrops, noting sedimentary structures, and identifying igneous textures.
Compare rocks of very different ages side by side.
See how Arran acts as a “natural classroom,” ideal for connecting big geological ideas with real-world rocks.
🏜️🏝️Sedimentary Stories
Walk across Devonian Old Red Sandstone, laid down in rivers and desert basins when Scotland lay near the equator.
Visit Carboniferous rocks with limestones, sandstones, and shales, packed with fossils of corals, crinoids, and plants, evidence of warm shallow seas and swampy deltas.
Examine the Permian sandstones of southern Arran, deposited in arid desert conditions, their vivid red colour still striking today.
Who Should Attend?
Geology enthusiasts and students eager to see world-famous outcrops.
Walkers, families, and nature lovers looking to understand Arran’s landscapes more deeply.
Anyone curious about James Hutton and the birth of modern geology.
No prior geological knowledge needed—just sturdy footwear and a sense of curiosity!
Event Details
📍 Location: Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde
Pick up: from Glasgow outside costa coffee, 50 George square, Glasgow city centre or meet us there
🗓️ Dates: Friday 12th June (10:00) to 14th June 2026 (19:00)
⏰ Duration: 3 days
🎟️ Price:
£330pp from Glasgow.
£295pp meet us there.
(Includes guiding, transport and ferry tickets. Accommodation is not included - please book accomodation within a 5 mile radius of Brodick)
Places we will visit:
Brodick
Corrie
North Glen Sannox
Arran geopark
Lochranza
Blackwaterfoot (drumadoon)
Kildonan
Rock Units you’ll see:
Dalradian metasedimentary rocks including psammite, pelite and semipelite with a variety of different textures and folds
Highland border complex
Devonian old red sandstone including sandstone, siltstone and conglomerate
Carboniferous sedimentary and volcanic rocks including sandstone, mudstone, limestone, basalt and tuff as well as a reptile footprints and marine fossils
Permian new red sandstone supergroup
Volcanic mafic and felsic intrusive and extrusive rocks from the paleogene
Why Join This Tour?
Arran has been called a “geological textbook” in the field, and with @ScottishGeologist as your guide, you’ll explore its unconformities, volcanoes, fossils, and glacial landscapes in a way that connects science, scenery, and story.
Book Your Arran Geology Tour Today!
Uncover the island where Scotland’s geology comes together—and where the science of deep time was born.
Through Deep Time: A Geology Tour of the North West Highlands with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist on a journey into the North West Highlands, one of the most geologically important landscapes in the world. Here, billion-year-old rocks, ancient mountain-building collisions, and world-famous thrust faults tell the story of Earth’s deep past in a setting of breathtaking mountains, lochs, and sea cliffs.
What to Expect
🪨 The Oldest Rocks in Europe
Walk across outcrops of Lewisian gneiss, some of the oldest rocks on the continent at over 3.2 billion years old.
Learn how these rocks formed deep in Earth’s crust and were later uplifted and exposed by tectonic events.
🏜️ Torridonian Sandstones
Discover striking red sandstone mountains such as Stac Pollaidh and Suilven, formed from ancient river and desert deposits around 1 to 1.2 billion years ago.
Examine sedimentary structures like cross-bedding, ripple marks and mud cracks that preserve clues to these long-vanished environments.
🌍 The Moine Thrust Belt
Visit the internationally famous Moine Thrust Zone, where older rocks were pushed for miles over younger rocks during the Caledonian Orogeny ~430 million years ago.
See spectacular thrust fault exposures and understand why this region became a cornerstone of modern geological science.
⛰️ Classic Highland Landscapes
Explore iconic sites such as Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, where geology meets art and interpretation.
Trace how glaciers sculpted the rugged terrain into corries, U-shaped valleys, and polished rock surfaces during the last Ice Age.
👣 Guided Walks and Field Observations
Enjoy carefully chosen walks and stops to study:
Rock textures and mineralogy.
Fold and fault structures in outcrop.
How geology influences today’s landscape and ecology.
Who Should Attend?
Geology enthusiasts and students keen to see textbook examples in the field.
Hikers, photographers, and nature lovers drawn to Scotland’s wildest scenery.
Anyone curious about how mountains form and why the North West Highlands are a UNESCO Geopark.
No prior geology knowledge required—just sturdy footwear and a spirit of exploration.
Event Details
📍 Location: Ullapool, North West Highlands
📍Pick up locations: outside Costa coffee, 50 George’s square, Glasgow at 10:00 or Inverness train station at 15:30/16:00
🗓️ Dates: Friday 14th August (10:00 or 15:30) to Sunday 16th August 2026 (19:00)
⏰ Duration: multi-day tour (2 to 3 days)
🎟️ Price:
£350pp from Glasgow
£320pp from Inverness
£300pp meet us there (guiding and transport included, accommodation not included - book within 5 miles radius of Ullapool)
Places we will visit:
Loch Lomond metamorphic rocks
Glencoe’s supervolcano
The great Glen Fault line - Loch Ness
Knocken Crag - The Moine Thrust Fault
Loch Assynt
Achmelvich Bay
Clachtoll beach
Glencoul thrust fault
The Rock Stop (if opened) - The North West Highlands Geopark stop and rock museum.
Kylesku Bridge
Scourie Bay
Laxford Cutting
Smoo Cave, Durness
Ceannabeinne beach, Durness
Corrieshalloch gorge - the deepest gorge in Scotland
Rock formations you’ll see:
The Lewissian Gniess - the oldest rocks in Scotland
The Torridonian Sandstones
The Moine supergroup
The Cambrian quartzites including the ‘pipe rock’
The Durness Group
The Ardverck Group
The Dalradian supergroup
And many more 🪨😍
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the knowledgeable @ScottishGeologist, this tour will guide you through some of the most important outcrops in Earth science history. You’ll walk across rocks older than life itself, stand at the site of ground-breaking 19th-century geological discoveries, and see how tectonics, sedimentation, and glaciation shaped Scotland’s wild northwest.
Book Your Highland Geology Experience Today!
The North West Highlands are not just Scotland’s oldest rocks—they are pages in the story of our planet. Come and read them with @ScottishGeologist.
Inside Scotland’s Ancient Volcano: A Geology Tour to Ardnamurchan with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for a spectacular field excursion to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula — the best-preserved Palaeogene (Tertiary) volcanic complex in the UK, and one of the finest exposed volcanic ring structures in the world. This is a rare chance to step inside the heart of an ancient volcano, where lava once erupted, magma forced its way into the crust, and geological structures were frozen in time.
What to Expect
🌋 Explore a Classic Eroded Volcano
Stand inside the remains of a 60-million-year-old central volcanic complex, formed during the opening of the North Atlantic.
Learn how Ardnamurchan’s gabbroic ring structures, cone sheets, and radial dykes were formed as magma rose through the Earth’s crust.
Understand the anatomy of a volcano from the inside out: magma chambers, feeder systems, and surface eruptions — all visible in 3D.
🧭 The Famous Ring-Dyke Complex
Walk across the textbook example of a ring dyke, formed when the central magma chamber collapsed and magma injected into concentric fractures.
Observe radial dykes that radiate from the old volcanic centre like spokes on a wheel.
Understand how geologists interpret volcanic plumbing systems using these kinds of structures.
🪨 Gabbro, Basalt, and Beyond
Examine coarse-grained gabbro, crystallised slowly within the magma chamber, alongside finer-grained basaltic intrusions.
Learn how differences in cooling rate and magma chemistry affect mineral textures and rock types.
Identify minerals like plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine, common in mafic volcanic systems.
📏 Geological Structures in the Field
Measure and sketch dykes, sills, and cone sheets, and interpret how they relate to the broader volcanic structure.
Try basic field mapping and orientation exercises, guided by clear outcrop patterns in the landscape.
Discuss the link between Ardnamurchan and modern volcanoes like those in Iceland.
🌊 Wild Coastlines and Erosion
Explore how coastal erosion has cut into the volcano, exposing deep levels of its plumbing system.
Visit dramatic sea cliffs, headlands, and raised beaches, where geological processes from different eras intersect.
📚 From Volcano to Field Lab
Learn how Ardnamurchan became a classic site in British geology, featured in textbooks and taught at universities worldwide.
Discuss the site’s scientific importance in understanding volcanic ring complexes and collapse structures.
Who Should Attend?
Geology students and enthusiasts interested in volcanology and igneous geology.
Outdoor explorers and photographers who love dramatic Highland landscapes.
Anyone curious about Scotland’s fiery geological past.
No previous geology experience required — just good walking boots and a sense of wonder.
Event Details
📍 Location: Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Highland
🗓️ Dates: Friday 26th June (10:00) to Sunday 28th June 2026
⏰ Duration: 2-3 days
🎟️ Price: £350pp from Glasgow or meet us there on Saturday and Sunday for £300pp includes guided tour and transport in an 7/8 seater Volkswagen transporter. Does not include accommodation that has to be booked separate in and around Kilchoan for both nights. For those who don’t mind camping there’s a campsite outside Kilchoan.
Places you will see:
The Scottish Highlands
Loch Lomond
Glencoe and Ballachullish
Strontian
Ben Haint
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
Sanna bay
Ardnamurchan Caldera
Kilchoan
Rock Units You will see:
Ardnamurchan central complex (3 different centres) - granite through to gabbro
a variety of igneous rocks, textures and structures
Basaltic cone sheets and ring dykes
Adrnamurchan lava formation
Vent Agglomerates and tuffs
Granophyre intrusions
Moine supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks) - schist, gneiss
Dalradian supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks) - slate, phyllite, schist
Caledonian granites (strontian, Glencoe)
Rhyolite and andesite (Glencoe)
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the expert and engaging @ScottishGeologist, this tour offers the chance to walk through the core of a long-dead volcano, read the rocks like pages in a story, and discover why Ardnamurchan is one of Europe’s geological treasures.
Book Your Ardnamurchan Volcano Tour Today!
Feel the pulse of ancient magma chambers and explore the plumbing of Scotland’s volcanic past — only at Ardnamurchan.
Scotland in Miniature: A Geology Tour of the Isle of Arran with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for an inspiring geological tour of the Isle of Arran, often called “Scotland in Miniature” because it showcases almost every type of rock and geological process found across the country. From ancient ocean crust found In north Glen Sannox along the Highland Boundary fault line to folded meta-sediments that were deformed during the Caldeonian orogeny (mountain building) to the granite mountains, fossil-rich sandstones, and famous unconformities, Arran is one of the best places in the world to explore Earth’s story in a single island.
What to Expect
🌍 Deep Time on Display
Walk through hundreds of millions of years of Earth history in a single island, from Precambrian metamorphic rocks to Tertiary granites and dykes.
Understand why Arran is nicknamed “Scotland in Miniature”—its rocks represent almost every major stage of Scotland’s geological story.
🪨 Hutton’s Unconformity at Lochranza
Stand at the site where James Hutton, the father of modern geology, found one of his most famous examples of unconformity.
See how vertical Dalradian schists (c. 500–600 million years old) are overlain by much younger Devonian sandstones (~370 million years old).
Learn how this relationship gave Hutton evidence for “deep time” and the endless cycles of rock formation.
🌋 Igneous Geology: The Arran Granite and Beyond
• Explore the granite mountains of North Arran, intruded around 60 million years ago during the opening of the North Atlantic.
• Learn how slow-cooling magma deep underground produced the rugged Goatfell massif.
• Trace dyke swarms that cut through older rocks, part of the same magmatic activity that shaped Skye and Mull.
• See where igneous intrusions altered surrounding rocks by metamorphism (contact aureoles).
🧭 Structural Geology and Tectonics
Identify folds and faults in Dalradian metamorphic rocks.
Learn how these structures formed during the Caledonian Orogeny (~430 million years ago), when Scotland was part of a giant mountain belt like today’s Himalayas.
Discuss how later extension and volcanism reshaped the island
👣 Hands-On Exploration
Use simple field skills: sketching outcrops, noting sedimentary structures, and identifying igneous textures.
Compare rocks of very different ages side by side.
See how Arran acts as a “natural classroom,” ideal for connecting big geological ideas with real-world rocks.
🏜️🏝️Sedimentary Stories
Walk across Devonian Old Red Sandstone, laid down in rivers and desert basins when Scotland lay near the equator.
Visit Carboniferous rocks with limestones, sandstones, and shales, packed with fossils of corals, crinoids, and plants, evidence of warm shallow seas and swampy deltas.
Examine the Permian sandstones of southern Arran, deposited in arid desert conditions, their vivid red colour still striking today.
Who Should Attend?
Geology enthusiasts and students eager to see world-famous outcrops.
Walkers, families, and nature lovers looking to understand Arran’s landscapes more deeply.
Anyone curious about James Hutton and the birth of modern geology.
No prior geological knowledge needed—just sturdy footwear and a sense of curiosity!
Event Details
📍 Location: Isle of Arran, Firth of Clyde
Pick up: from Glasgow or meet us there
🗓️ Dates: Friday 28th August (10:00) to 30th August 2026 (19:00)
⏰ Duration: 3 days
🎟️ Price:
£330pp from Glasgow.
£295pp meet us there.
(Includes guiding, transport and ferry tickets. Accommodation is not included - please book accomodation within a 5 mile radius of Brodick)
Places we will visit:
Brodick
Corrie
North Glen Sannox
Arran geopark
Lochranza
Blackwaterfoot (drumadoon)
Kildonan
Rock Units you’ll see:
Dalradian metasedimentary rocks including psammite, pelite and semipelite with a variety of different textures and folds
Highland border complex
Devonian old red sandstone including sandstone, siltstone and conglomerate
Carboniferous sedimentary and volcanic rocks including sandstone, mudstone, limestone, basalt and tuff as well as a reptile footprints and marine fossils
Permian new red sandstone supergroup
Volcanic mafic and felsic intrusive and extrusive rocks from the paleogene
Why Join This Tour?
Arran has been called a “geological textbook” in the field, and with @ScottishGeologist as your guide, you’ll explore its unconformities, volcanoes, fossils, and glacial landscapes in a way that connects science, scenery, and story.
Book Your Arran Geology Tour Today!
Uncover the island where Scotland’s geology comes together—and where the science of deep time was born.
Upcoming Workshops
Did you Know…
That Scotland has some of the oldest rocks in Europe? Click below to find out more about the geological history of Scotland.
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