15 September 2021
Please read all of the below information including the COVID information before registering for this event.
We meet at the car park on the left of the road as you enter Rockcliffe at GR NX851535
What we will be doing: This “Understanding the Geology” trip gives an opportunity to explore the roots of the geology that we have looked at within the Hadrian’s Wall landscape. This provides a way of understanding the geological context of the Carboniferous and Permian sedimentary sequences as well as giving an insight into some of the more exotic material used in Wall construction.
This section of the coast exposes the edge of the Criffel-Dalbeattie granite intrusion which formed late in the Caledonian Orogeny in early Devonian times. The intrusion fingers into the Silurian deep-ocean sediments which were laid down at the bottom of the Iapetus Ocean which separated England and Scotland at this time. The Caledonian Orogeny marks the closure of this ocean, and these intensely folded rocks show the massive forces at work. Dykes of pink felsitic material cut through the folded Silurian sediments – these date from the same sort of time as the Criffel-Dalbeattie intrusion.
At the south-eastern end of this outcrop the early Carboniferous sedimentary rocks are exposed. These are very different from the Carboniferous rocks we have explored around Tynemouth and in the Haltwhistle Burn and help give an understanding of the way that the area switched from mountain building to a sedimentary basin.
The rocks we will be looking provide the source of Glacial erratics commonly used within buildings at the western end of the Wall as well as re-worked glacial material used in the Wall core. Some of these rocks may also be the source of minerals which were eroded and transported to form the Carboniferous sediments which underpin the eastern and central sections of the Wall.
The walk will be up to about 7km long most on good path. There will be an optional short steep descent into Barcloy Heigh beneath Castlehill Point and scramble across slippery rocks on the foreshore. Sturdy footwear is required and walking poles may be helpful particularly for the slippery sections. There are toilets in Rockcliffe.
Click here to register for this event.
COVID information: COVID-19 is a serious illness which is readily transmitted between people. To minimise the risk of passing on this disease during geo-walks, a process has been put in place. Whilst this gives a structure to manage the risk of transmission, for it to succeed there is a need for us to take individual responsibility to make this work. This is nothing new and I imagine you will already be doing this when you go out for shopping and other activities where you will be meeting people outside your own household. The three things that I would like us to do are:
- to be aware,
- to be considerate, and:
- to communicate.
To be aware of others around you so that you can negotiate how to remain distant from them
To be considerate. This is a difficult time, and we know that some people are more vulnerable than others. This includes the way that we feel about the situation and it is important to be aware of and respect others’ feelings and needs as we proceed.
To communicate. Humans are good at working out where we are physically in relation to others, however, to get the distancing sorted, using your awareness and consideration to communicate and negotiate your way around the walk is vital. Smiling, “you-go-firsts” and “I’ll leave the gate for you” amongst other considerations will oil the wheels of how this works, as well as making the day out more enjoyable.
Participants will be asked to perform a self-assessment of their health on the day of the walk. If they feel generally unwell and especially if they find that they have any of the currently recognised symptoms of COVID19, they will be asked to self-exclude from the walk and to let the leader know that they will not be attending.
The currently recognised symptoms of COVID19 illness can be found here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366
If participants find that they develop symptoms within 10 days after the walk please can you get in touch directly so that we can work as required with the government Track and Trace process.
Volunteer information:
- No previous experience required just come along and have a great day investigating Wall stone!
- Please bring your own hand gel and mask if you wish to wear one.
- Please bring appropriate clothing and wear appropriate sturdy footwear. You will need waterproofs if it is raining.
- Volunteers will need to arrange their own transport.
- Please bring your own water and picnic lunch.