The geology of St Andrews
Schedule
Sat Jun 20 2026 at 12:00 pm to 03:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
East Sands Leisure Centre | St Andrews, SC
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Sandstones, Seas & Scotland’s Ancient Coastline: A Geology Tour of St Andrews with @ScottishGeologistJoin @ScottishGeologist for a fascinating geology tour through the world-famous coastal town of St Andrews, where medieval history meets a landscape shaped by ancient rivers, tropical seas, volcanic activity, and Ice Age processes. From fossil-bearing sedimentary rocks to dramatic coastal landforms, St Andrews offers a unique opportunity to explore the geology hidden beneath one of Scotland’s most iconic towns.
What to Expect
🪨 Devonian & Carboniferous Sandstones
Walk across sedimentary rocks formed between 400–330 million years ago, when Scotland lay close to the equator.
Explore beautifully exposed sandstones, mudstones, and conglomerates, deposited by ancient river systems and coastal environments.
Learn how these rocks later became the famous building stones used throughout St Andrews.
🌊 Ancient Tropical Environments
Discover how St Andrews once sat within a landscape of river floodplains, lagoons, and shallow tropical seas.
Identify features such as cross-bedding, ripple marks, and layered sedimentary structures, preserving evidence of ancient water flow and changing environments.
Learn how rising and falling sea levels influenced the geology of Fife during the Carboniferous.
🦴 Fossils & Evidence of Ancient Life
Search for fossil fragments within coastal exposures, including traces of ancient marine organisms and plant material.
Understand how fossils help reconstruct past climates and ecosystems.
Discuss the transition from terrestrial river systems into marine environments preserved in the rocks.
🌋 Volcanic Influences Across Fife
Learn how nearby volcanic activity during the Carboniferous influenced sedimentation across the region.
Spot igneous intrusions and harder volcanic rocks shaping parts of the coastline and offshore islands.
🌊 Coastal Geology & Erosion
Walk along the shoreline at East Sands and West Sands, where wave action continuously exposes fresh geological sections.
Explore wave-cut platforms, sea cliffs, and coastal erosion features.
Understand how the sea shapes the coastline differently depending on rock type and structure.
🧊 Ice Age Landscapes
Discover how glaciers reshaped the St Andrews landscape during the last Ice Age.
Learn about glacial deposits, raised beaches, and post-glacial sea-level change across the Fife coast.
See how glacial erosion influenced the modern topography surrounding St Andrews Bay.
🏰 Geology & the Historic Town
See how geology influenced the growth of St Andrews itself—from the siting of the harbour and cathedral to the sandstone used in its famous buildings.
Learn how local stone gave St Andrews its distinctive appearance and architectural character.
👣 Hands-On Field Experience
Practice identifying sedimentary rocks and structures in the field.
Learn how geologists reconstruct ancient environments from rock layers and fossils.
Sketch geological sections and interpret how the landscape evolved through time (only if you want to - if you do please bring your own notebook)
Who Should Attend?
Perfect for geology enthusiasts, students, families, and visitors to St Andrews
Ideal for those interested in coastal geology, fossils, and landscape evolution
Suitable for beginners with an interest in Scotland’s natural history
Event Details
📍 Location: St Andrews Coastline - East Sands Leisure Centre car park, St Mary St, St Andrews KY16 8LH - https://maps.app.goo.gl/bkjvpCMRQmCkYszM7
🗓️ Date: Saturday 20th June 2026 12:00-15:00⏰ Duration: Half-day walking tour🎟️ Price: £30pp meet us there. Transport from Glasgow - £50🥾 Terrain: Beaches, coastal paths, and pavements (mostly easy walking)
Why Join This Tour?
Led by @ScottishGeologist, this tour reveals the hidden geological story beneath one of Scotland’s most famous towns. From ancient rivers and tropical seas to glacial landscapes and historic sandstone buildings, St Andrews is a place where deep time meets human history.
🪨 Ancient sandstones🌊 Coastal processes🦴 Fossils and past environments🏰 Geology shaping history
At St Andrews, every stone has a story millions of years in the making.
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Where is it happening?
East Sands Leisure Centre, St Mary Street,St Andrews, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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