City Centre Walk

Excursion title:

A Geological Walk from Lothian Road, around Castle Rock to the Lawnmarket

Date & time:

Wednesday 17 May 2017, 7 pm

Finish time:

9.00 pm

Leader:

Andrew McMillan, Lothian & Borders Geoconservation

Excursion aims and description:

This excursion will offer the opportunity to examine some of the building stones of 17^th to 20^th century buildings on the walk from Lothian Road to the Lawnmarket. We shall also see the crag of the famous crag-and-tail of the Castle Rock and consider various interpretations of its origin. Contacts between the basaltic plug of the Castle Rock and early Carboniferous sedimentary strata into which it was emplaced will also be seen.

Transport:

many Lothian buses to Lothian Road (Nos. 1,10,11,16, 24, 34, 36, 47)

Start place & time:

In front of the Usher Hall, 7.00pm

Excursion route:

Itinerary: Lothian Road , Cambridge Street, Castle Terrace, Johnston Terrace, Castle Esplanade (via steps of Castle Wynd North), Castlehill, Lawnmarket

Geological map:

1:50k 32E

OS map:

Landranger 1:50k 66

Terrain, walking distance, height gain:

Streets and Pavements; several flights of steps (Castle Wynd North) up to the Castle Esplanade from Johnston Terrace, otherwise on the level or on gentle gradients

www.plotaroute.com/route/341227

Specific Hazards:

Crossing busy streets

Control measures required to mitigate against any Hazards referred to above:

Be diligent and look before crossing

Hard hats or Hi-viz clothing needed?

Hi-viz vests desirable; leader will wear his.

May dogs be brought on the excursion?

No

Toilet information:

None on the route of the excursion

References:

Building Stones of Edinburgh, 2nd edition (EGS)

Lothian Geology – an Excursion Guide (EGS) – City of Edinburgh – The Castles chapter by Charles Waterston

Building Stones of Edinburgh’s South Side – Leaflet (Lothian & Borders Geoconservation)