Geology of Edinburgh full course (all 6 walks & 5 online sessions)

Welcome to the Geology of Edinburgh course, a combination of walks and online learning in October and November 2025. You are welcome to attend the whole course, or individual sessions. Programme & booking information – geowalks.scot/geology-courses/.

There’s nowhere else quite like it. Edinburgh is a city defined by its geology, with a city centre clustered around the spectacular, craggy remains of extinct volcanoes, and plentiful green space provided by the city’s hills, reclaimed bogs and raised beaches. And Edinburgh’s geology has also provided useful resources, including coal, shale oil and building stone.

We’ll explore the deep basement rocks the peak through in the centre of the Pentland Hills, then move on to consider the long story of sediment accumulation in this area, combined with two episodes of volcanic activity and magma intrusion that form the bedrock underlying the city. We’ll also consider the long period of erosion, including recent glaciations, that have shaped the landscape of Edinburgh; and how this huge geological story influences today’s city and has helped developed ideas of how the world works.

All the online sessions in the Geology of Edinburgh course are delivered on Zoom, and recorded for later viewing. There will be plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion as we go along. The course is open to all, you don’t need any prior knowledge or to do any homework; and it will be an informal course with plenty of time to ask questions and get into more detail if you like.

Book below for all 11 sessions (walks and online). Or visit the course page to book individual sessions – geowalks.scot/geology-courses/.

Programme

Wednesday 08 October, 10:00 – Pentland Hills – the oldest rocks (walk)
Monday 13 October, 19:00 – Online session 1: Introduction to the geology of Edinburgh
Friday 17 October, 10:00 – Devonian volcanic activity, Braid and Blackford Hills (walk)
Monday 20 October, 19:00 – Online session 2: Formation of the Old Red Sandstone & the volcanoes of the Pentland Hills
Friday 24 October, 10:00 – Old Red Sandstone and younger sedimentary rocks, Dunbar, East Lothian (walk)
Monday 27 October, 19:00 – Online session 3: Sedimentary basins in the Carboniferous
Thursday 30 October, 10:00 – Carboniferous sedimentary rocks along the River North Esk, Roslin (walk)
Monday 03 November, 19:00 – Online session 4: Volcanoes and intrusions in the Carboniferous
Friday 07 November, 10:00 – Carboniferous volcanic and intrusive rocks in Holyrood Park (walk)
Monday 10 November, 19:00 – Online session 5: Erosion and landscape formation
Thursday 13 November, 10:00 – Erosion and landscape formation, Water of Leith (walk)