1 February – 16 March 2020
Firth of Forth Geowalk: St Abbs to St Andrews
I organised this series of 20 Day Walks, walking the entire coastline of the outer Firth of Forth, from St Abbs to St Andrews, in celebration of amazing geodiversity and Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. Discovering remote beaches, rocky headlands and a story that stretches back more than 400 million years, we walked through extinct volcanoes, the remains of long lost swamps and oceans, and found the traces of the animals and plants that lived here in the past. Along the way, the harbours, castles, headlands and bridges helped demonstrate the deep connection between geology and society.
Starting at St Abbs on Saturday 1 February and finishing at St Andrews on Monday 16 March, the series of 20 Day Walks combined to make a 230-km coastal journey around the outer Firth of Forth – up to and including the Forth Road Bridge.
These walks were an informal exploration of a variety of themes: geology (of course), but also the shape and variety of the coastline, wildlife and natural heritage, and the ways that geology influences the human story in the past and present. Coming sharp on the heels of (the start of) Brexit, they also recognised and celebrated connections from the Forth to the rest of Europe, not least in the historic trade of salt and pantiles. But also just walking for the sake of it, for exercise, fresh air, and physical and mental health.
All of these walks were free, with donations invited for the Place2Be charity – you can donate via Just Giving www.justgiving.com/fundraising/geowalks
