Lawson, J.D. and Weedon, D.S. (Eds.) 1992. Geological Excursions around Glasgow & Girvan. Geological Society of Glasgow. This material is part of the series of excursion itineraries published by the Geological Society of Glasgow. Find out more on the Geological Society of Glasgow website.

Excursion planner

List of excursions

1. Building stones of Glasgow

2. Fossil Grove

3. Milngavie and Mugdock

4. Baldernock and Blairskaith

5. Campsie Glen

6. Corrie Burn

7. Dumbarton Rock

8. Ardmore Point and Auchensail

9. Balmaha

10. Aberfoyle district

11. Loch Lomondside

12. Sithean Sluaigh

13. Rosneath Peninsula and Loch Long

14. Greenock to Largs

15. Great Cumbrae

16. Upper Old Red Sandstone of the Firth of Clyde

17. Saltcoats

18. Loanhead Quarry

19. Boyleston Quarry

20. Trearne Quarry

21. Hagshaw Hills

22. Lesmahagow

23: Lugar Sill and Mauchline

24. Heads of Ayr

The Girvan-Ballantrae District (25–31)

25. Pinbain Block

26. Knocklaugh

27. Bennane Head to Downan Point

28. Dow Hill, Byne Hill and Ardmillan Braes

29. Upper Stinchar Valley and adjacent areas

30. Girvan Foreshore

31. The Craighead Inlier

32. Dob's Linn

33. Quaternary

Standards of excursions

a) Less advanced–but can provide advanced study as well: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 31, 33 (excursion) plus introductory itineraries for Girvan (25 to 30) and Dob's Linn (32).

b) More advanced–but with impressive exposures for all levels of knowledge and explanation of the more advanced features in most cases:

9–faulting and terrane development

10–cleavage and overfolding

11–polyphase deformation

12–a metamorphic aureole

13–Dalradian structures

16–alluvial palaeoenvironments in Old Red Sandstone

20–palaeoecology in the Carboniferous

22–arthropods and early fish (Silurian)

25 to 30–history of the Girvan area (plate tectonics)

32–graptolite succession

33–Quaternary (account)

Topics in excursions

The Stratigraphical Summary (Table 0.1) indicates which excursions are most suitable for studying particular examples of the following:

Stratigraphical systems
Rock groups or important formations
Sedimentary facies
Faunal associations

More detailed information is given under the heading Features at the beginning of each excursion account.

The following topics are not adequately covered in (Table 0.1).

1. Igneous intrusions

a) sills: excursions 3, 17, 23

b) dykes: excursions 3, 14, 15, 17, 18, 24, 25, 30

c) plugs and vents: excursions 7, 12, 24

2. Metamorphism excursions 10, 11, 12, 13

3. Structural features

a) simple folds: excursion 8

b) complex folds: excursions 10, 11, 13, 25

c) minor faults (visible): excursions 7, 8,13,14,15,24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32

d) major faults (not usually visible): excursions 5, 6, 9, 10

e) cleavage: excursions 10, 11, 13

4. Fossil collecting

a) Ordovician and Silurian shells: excursions 28, 29, 30, 31

b) Ordovician and Silurian graptolites: excursion 32

c) Devonian plants: excursion 8

d) Carboniferous shells: excursions 4, 5, 6, 20

e) Carboniferous plants: excursion 2

5. Mineral collecting excursions 18, 19, 20

Timing of excursions

Estimates of the time needed for each excursion are provided at the beginning of each account. In some cases a shortened itinerary is suggested.

Suitable for half-day or summer evening Excursions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20
Combinations of above geographically convenient for a day trip Excursions 1 and 2: 3 and 4: 7 and 8: 18 and 19: 18 and 20
Week-end trip Selected localities in the Girvan and Ballantrae area from Excursions 25 to 31. See Introduction to Girvan–Ballantrae section.

Maps

The 1: 63 360 and 1 : 50 000 geological (BGS) maps which cover the area are shown on (Figure 0.4).

The following O.S. 1 : 50 000 maps cover the excursion area:

56 Inveraray and Loch Lomond

57 Stirling and The Trossachs

63 Firth of Clyde

64 Glasgow

70 Ayr and Kilmarnock

71 Lanark and Upper Nithsdale

76 Girvan

79 Hawick and Eskdale