Aberdeen Geological Society

Welcome to AGS

Welcome to and thank you for visiting our web-site.  Aberdeen Geological Society comprises a lively mix of professional geologists (both working and retired) as well as amateurs from different career backgrounds, all with a shared enthusiasm for things geological.  We aim to share knowledge, experience and keep interest alive by scheduling a programme of evening talks given by guest lecturers during the winter months and a series of guided field excursions from May through the summer months.

Forthcoming Events

The next scheduled Field Excursion forming part of our 2026 summer programme, is at the end of August , a fairly local field trip to Skatie Shore just north of Stonehaven followed by 3 days in September – a weekend trip to the Northern Cairngorms, covering 4 sites with particular glacial morphology.  We may yetadd some further visits so keep checking here for updates For further details of forthcoming events, click / select the item in the ribbon below.

	                
Skatie Shore - Dalradian metamorphism and structure
				
30aug9:00 pm4:00 pmSkatie Shore - Dalradian metamorphism and structureLed by K Milne & S Ogilvie9:00 pm - 4:00 pm 

							
Event Details
This day excursion to Skatie Shore to examine Dalradian metamorphism and structure will be led by Keith Milne and Steve Ogilvie. It will be a new approach to the guide

							
							

								
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Event Details

									
This day excursion to Skatie Shore to examine Dalradian metamorphism and structure will be led by Keith Milne and Steve Ogilvie. It will be a new approach to the guide currently on our Field Guides page table (Item 8 – download Stonehaven Dalradian).
If you wish to attend, please contact our excursion secretary, Rosemary Feilden, by email – excursions@aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk
We also ask all attendees to download and read the Pre-excursion Awareness Checklist which covers points for individual and group safety, so that we achieve an incident-free excursion. This document is listed on the Excursions Booklets table also on the Field Guides page. We will hold a Safety Briefing at the start point.
The path to the shore runs under the railway viaduct and is mostly okay although the terrain is quite rough and the shore is rocky so boots with good-treaded soles and a walking pole are recommended. We also suggest you bring a whistle, a map of the area and magnifying eyepiece.
The meeting point will be Stonehaven open-air swimming pool car park from 9:00 for 9:30 depart. We will car share from there to the layby on the slip road (by Stonehaven golf club) from which we will access Skatie Shore.

								
							
						

							
							
							
								
Time
(Sunday) 9:00 pm - 4:00 pm
							
						
						

							
							

								
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Exploring Glacial Geomorphology of the Cairngorms
				
18sepAll DayExploring Glacial Geomorphology of the CairngormsPart 1 ; Led by S Archer(All Day: friday) 

							
Event Details
This is the first day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. Part 1 essentially comprises the road trip from Aberdeen to the Granton on Spey

							
							

								
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Event Details

									
This is the first day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. Part 1 essentially comprises the road trip from Aberdeen to the Granton on Spey / Carrbridge area. We will stop at various locations en-route to view the various glacial scenery.
The trip will commence at 2 pm from the University of Aberdeen library car-park.
If you wish to attend, please contact our Excursions Secretary, Rosemary Feilden, by email (excursions@aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk)
Note that participants will have to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are not able to make a block booking.
Suggested hotels include:
Grant Arms Hotel, Craig Lynne Hotel, Garth Hotel, Ben Mhor Hotel, Carrbridge Hotel, Cairn Hotel if you want to stay near Granton or Carrbridge.
The 3rd day is closer to Roy Bridge so suggested hotels include:
Highland Bridge Hotel, Roy Bridge Hotel. Highlander Hotel, Balavil Hotel, Braeriach hotel, Glen Hotel, Laggan Hotel.
We suggest early booking as hotel or B & B accommodation in this part of the Highlands is likely to be well subscribed in September.
 
 

								
							
						

							
							
							
								
Time
All Day (Friday)
							
						
						

							
							

								
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Exploring Glacial Geomorphology of Cairngorm
				
19sepAll DayExploring Glacial Geomorphology of CairngormPart 2: Led by S. Archer(All Day: saturday) 

							
Event Details
This is the second day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. Part 2 explores the landscape at Cairngorm Mountain itself.

The field trip will commence at

							
							

								
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Event Details

									
This is the second day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. Part 2 explores the landscape at Cairngorm Mountain itself.
The field trip will commence at 9:30am from the Cairngorm Ski Centre Coire Na Ciste car park.
If you wish to attend, please contact our Excursions Secretary, Rosemary Feilden, by email (excursions@aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk)
As a precaution, because this is a big area, we ask that all participants have a map of the area (OS Landranger 36, Explorer OL58), a compass and a whistle.
Note that participants will have to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are not able to make a block booking.
Suggested hotels include:
Grant Arms Hotel, Craig Lynne Hotel, Garth Hotel, Ben Mhor Hotel, Carrbridge Hotel, Cairn Hotel if you want to stay near Granton or Carrbridge.
The 3rd day is closer to Roy Bridge so suggested hotels include:
Highland Bridge Hotel, Roy Bridge Hotel. Highlander Hotel, Balavil Hotel, Braeriach hotel, Glen Hotel, Laggan Hotel.
We suggest early booking as hotel or B & B accommodation in this part of the Highlands is likely to be well subscribed in September.
(Note: Photo of the Cairngorm plateau by Don Stewart.)
 

								
							
						

							
							
							
								
Time
All Day (Saturday)
							
						
						

							
							

								
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Exploring Glacial Geomorphology - Glen Roy
				
20sepAll DayExploring Glacial Geomorphology - Glen RoyPart 3: Led by S. Archer(All Day: sunday) 

							
Event Details
This is the third day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. In part 3 we will be visiting Glen Roy and the famous Parallel roads

							
							

								
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Event Details

									
This is the third day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. In part 3 we will be visiting Glen Roy and the famous Parallel roads feature.
The trip will commence at 8:30am at the Roy Bridge / Glen Roy turn off on the A86.
If you wish to attend, please contact our Excursions Secretary, Rosemary Feilden, by email (excursions@aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk)
As a precaution, because this is a big area, we ask that all participants have a map of the area (OS Landranger 34, Explorer 400), a compass and a whistle.
Note that participants will have to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are not able to make a block booking.
Suggested hotels include:
Grant Arms Hotel, Craig Lynne Hotel, Garth Hotel, Ben Mhor Hotel, Carrbridge Hotel, Cairn Hotel if you want to stay near Granton or Carrbridge.
The 3rd day is closer to Roy Bridge so suggested hotels include:
Highland Bridge Hotel, Roy Bridge Hotel. Highlander Hotel, Balavil Hotel, Braeriach hotel, Glen Hotel, Laggan Hotel.
We suggest early booking as hotel or B & B accommodation in this part of the Highlands is likely to be well subscribed in September.
(Note: Photo kindly supplied by Alan Doherty)
 

								
							
						

							
							
							
								
Time
All Day (Sunday)
							
						
						

							
							

								
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Glacial Geomorphology - Glen Einich
				
21sepAll DayGlacial Geomorphology - Glen EinichPart 4: Led by S. Archer(All Day: monday) 

							
Event Details
 

This is the final day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. In part 4 we will visit either Glen Einich  ((glacial lake deltas) or Glen

							
							

								
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Event Details

									
 
This is the final day of a 4 part excursion exploring the geomorphology of the Cairngorms. In part 4 we will visit either Glen Einich  ((glacial lake deltas) or Glen Feshie (Glacial braided river).
The trip will commence at 9:30 from the Rochiemurchus Visitor Centre.
If you wish to attend, please contact our Excursions Secretary, Rosemary Feilden, by email (excursions@aberdeengeolsoc.org.uk)
As a precaution, because this is a big area, we ask that all participants have a map of the area (OS Landranger 36, Explorer OL57), a compass and a whistle.
Note that participants will have to make their own accommodation arrangements. We are not able to make a block booking.
Suggested hotels include:
Grant Arms Hotel, Craig Lynne Hotel, Garth Hotel, Ben Mhor Hotel, Carrbridge Hotel, Cairn Hotel if you want to stay near Granton or Carrbridge.
The 3rd day is closer to Roy Bridge so suggested hotels include:
Highland Bridge Hotel, Roy Bridge Hotel. Highlander Hotel, Balavil Hotel, Braeriach hotel, Glen Hotel, Laggan Hotel.
We suggest early booking as hotel or B & B accommodation in this part of the Highlands is likely to be well subscribed in September.
 

								
							
						

							
							
							
								
Time
All Day (Monday)
							
						
						

							
							

								
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The first "Man of Granite", James Hutton at 300.
									
										Cowdry Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery
										
											Schoolhill
										
				
03oct2:00 pm3:30 pmThe first "Man of Granite", James Hutton at 300.Talk by Dr Stuart Archer2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Cowdry Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery

							
Event Details
AGS member and many-times excursion leader, dr Stuart Archer, will present an afternoon talk at the Aberdeen Art Gallery to celebrate the tercentenary of the "Father of Modern Geology", James

							
							

									
Event Details

									
AGS member and many-times excursion leader, dr Stuart Archer, will present an afternoon talk at the Aberdeen Art Gallery to celebrate the tercentenary of the “Father of Modern Geology”, James Hutton who redefined geological time and introduced the concept of Deep Time. The talk is open to the general public.
Note that the photo accompanying this event is of Hutton’s locality in Glen Tilt which Hutton visited in 1785 and AGS visited in 2023. Stuart participated in the trip.

								
							
						

						

							

							

								

									
									
							
										
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(Saturday) 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
									
								
							

								

									
									
							
										
Location
Cowdry Hall, Aberdeen Art Gallery
Schoolhill
									
								
							

							
						
						

							
							

								
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Shining New Light on an Old Basin
									
										Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building
										
											Meston Building, King\'s College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
										
				
04mar6:30 pm8:00 pmShining New Light on an Old BasinBy Dr Ian Sharp6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building

							
Event Details
This is a preliminary notice for an evening lecture in 2027. Further details will become available closer to the event. The talk will discuss how outcrop data and subsurface data

							
							

									
Event Details

									
This is a preliminary notice for an evening lecture in 2027. Further details will become available closer to the event. The talk will discuss how outcrop data and subsurface data has been used to revisit and revitalise the regional geology of the NCS and UKCS.

								
							
						

						

							

							

								

									
									
							
										
Time
										
(Thursday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
									
								
							

								

									
									
							
										
Location
Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building
Meston Building, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
									
								
							

							
						
						

							
							

								
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North-east Greenland Ice Stream
									
										Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building
										
											Meston Building, King\'s College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
										
				
18mar6:30 pm8:00 pmNorth-east Greenland Ice StreamTalk by Dr Brice Rea6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building

							
Event Details
This is a preliminary notice for a lecture in March 2027 concerning the evolution of the Greenland ice stream since the last glacial maximum and the holocene retreat.

							
							

									
Event Details

									
This is a preliminary notice for a lecture in March 2027 concerning the evolution of the Greenland ice stream since the last glacial maximum and the holocene retreat.

								
							
						

						

							

							

								

									
									
							
										
Time
										
(Thursday) 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
									
								
							

								

									
									
							
										
Location
Lecture Theatre 1 - Meston Building
Meston Building, King's College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE
									
								
							

							
						
						

							
							

								
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The field excursions are a highly popular and enjoyable part of AGS’ activity, giving members the opportunity to explore local natural environments within North-East Scotland,  a region with a wealth of stunning geology. Take a peek at some of the very interesting geological features from our past trips on our Gallery page.

The 26 /27 winter lecture programme is currently being finalised. 2 events in March with preliminary details have been added to the web events thus far.

Website Content – What’s New

August ’26:

A new excursion was added to Events – 30th August to Skatie Shore. We also added a talk by Stuart Archer which he will give at the Aberdeen Art Gallery.

A complementary document was added to the Excursion booklets table on the Field Guides page regarding the geology of Old Aberdeen.

Two 1980s folders were added to the Deeside Field Archive, (namely volumes 17 & 18).

Also please check the section at the foot of the Deeside Field page where we suggest articles that are appropriate to current AGS activities.