General information about the Excursions Programme, including how to book, and the Code of Conduct and Safety Guidelines.

If you have any other queries, please contact the Excursions Secretary.

How to Book Excursions

You must book in advance for all excursions, as numbers are limited for safety reasons.

This year, all our excursions are free of charge. EGS Council has agreed to subsidise the costs of the excursion programme, including coach hire for Saturday excursions that are difficult to reach by public transport. Please do not abuse the system by booking excursions and not turning up, or cancelling at short notice. You may deprive someone else of the opportunity.

Non-members are welcome to join the excursions – you need to create a free WebCollect account to book, but you do not need to be an EGS member.

Book online via WebCollect – https://webcollect.org.uk/edinburghgeolsoc

You must notify the Excursions Booking Secretary David Graham by email excursions@edinburghgeolsoc.org if you have booked an excursion and are not able to attend – numbers are limited and you may prevent someone else from enjoying the excursion.

Coach Pick Up Points

There are the normal pickup locations for coach/minibus excursions departing from Waterloo Place. Click for google map showing these locations:

1. WATERLOO PLACE (east from the junction of Princes Street and North Bridge): Pick-up point is on Waterloo Place. Can be either side of the road: close to the Apex Hotel, 23 Waterloo Place or the entrance to the Old Calton Burial Ground.

Coaches going west on the A8:
2. GLASGOW ROAD (A8), west of the Drumbrae roundabout near PC World. The pick-up point is on the south side of the road at the bus stop near the Shell petrol station about 50 m from the roundabout [NT 192 729].

Coaches going north on the M90:
3. BLACKHALL Pick-up point at the bus stop on the south side of A90 Hillhouse Road, opposite shops 100m east of junction with Strachan Road/Telford Road [NT 216 748].
4. BARNTON Pick-up point at the bus stop on the south side of A90 Queensferry Road, 150 m west of the junction with Whitehouse Road [NT 183 750].
5. FERRY TOLL PARK AND RIDE Park and ride is just off the M90, south of Inverkeithing. Pick-up point is at the bus stop on turning circle, beside the waiting room [NT 124 819].

Coaches going east on the A1:
6. MILTON ROAD Pick-up point near Portobello High School, north side of Milton Road ( A1 Duddingston Crescent). Bus stop is 70 m west of the school entrance and 170 m east of Park Avenue [NT 306 729].

Coaches going south:
7. FAIRMILEHEAD Pick-up point at the bus stop on the east side of Comiston Road (A702) 250 m north of the Fairmilehead traffic lights (junction with Oxgangs Road B701) [NT 684 248].

Code of Conduct and Safety Guidelines

It is important to realise that Excursions involve a level of personal risk, but that awareness of hazards, use of common sense and thought for others can greatly reduce this risk. Every participant on an Excursion has a duty of care and attention to all other participants and any member of the public.

Code of Conduct for Participants. You should:

1. Be aware of potential hazards that may be encountered during the Excursion, and familiarise yourself with the information about hazards and control measures available in advance. For your own and others’ safety, you should exercise a duty of care and attention at all times.

2. Take all reasonable precautions to maintain your own safety and not endanger other members of the group, as directed by the Excursion Leader and in line with the Risk Assessment.

3. Before each Excursion, fill in the online booking form to confirm that you have received and accept guidance and information relating to hazards and control measures and this Code of Conduct.

4. Wear clothing and footwear suitable for the Excursion.

5. Consider your level of physical fitness in relation to the itinerary described. The Excursion Leader has the right to refuse to allow you to participate in, or to continue in, the Excursion if your health or fitness, clothing or equipment gives rise to concern.

6. Listen to the Safety Briefing at the start of the Excursion and follow the instructions of the Excursion Leader at all times. It is important to stay with the Leader during all of the Excursion. Racing ahead or lagging behind causes problems of safety as well as making the Leader’s job more difficult.

7. Notify any problems immediately to the Excursion Leader. You should notify them if you wish to leave the Excursion early.

8. Do not use a geological hammer or collect samples.

9. Follow the Country Code e.g. close gates, leave no litter, and do not disturb wildlife or plants.

10. If you smoke, have consideration for others.

11. If you are responsible for children or dogs, keep them under control.

12. If you have a medical condition such as asthma, angina, diabetes, allergy etc, please inform the Excursion Leader at the start of the Excursion.

EGS Excursions: Safety Information (pdf file)

Excursion Guides

Some of the following excursion guides and booklets will be used for the excursions.  See Publications for more details.

  • Landscape Fashioned by Geology booklets cover most of Scotland, and are available as free PDF downloads from http://www.scottishgeology.com/find-out-more/publications/. The series includes Fife & Tayside, Edinburgh & West Lothian and East Lothian & the Borders.
  • Lothian Geology – an Excursion Guide
    McAdam & Clarkson, 1996
  • Building Stones of Edinburgh
    McMillan, 2000
  • A Geological Excursion Guide to the Stirling & Perth Area
    Browne and Gillen, 2015
  • Scottish Borders Geology – an Excursion Guide
    McAdam, Clarkson & Stone, 1992
  • Fife & Angus Geology – an Excursion Guide
    MacGregor, 1996
  • Geological Excursions around Glasgow and Girvan
    Lawson & Weedon, 1992