Geological Walk

Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth

Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth

Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth

A walk through geological time at BGS Keyworth

Three billion years of Earth's history squeezed into a 130-metre-long stone concourse, every step bringing you about 25 million years closer to the present day.

The new Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth was officially opened on 17 May 2012 by Sir John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser.

Download the Geological Walk leaflet
2MB pdf for viewing only

Visitors are welcome to pick up a guide leaflet from Reception and use our restaurant facilities for a drink or bite to eat.

  • the Walk is normally open from 09.00 to 16.30 Monday to Friday (except public holidays and other advertised closures)
  • check the Walk is open before travelling by contacting enquiries@bgs.ac.uk or 0115 936 3143
  • groups of 10 or more should contact enquiries@bgs.ac.uk to 'book in' in advance
  • no dogs (except guide/assistance dogs)
  • pedestrian access only (no bicycles, scooters etc.)
  • staff restaurant closes at 15.00 hrs
  • visitors must sign in at Reception on arrival and sign out on leaving

We offer a limited number of guided tours of the BGS facilities, including the Geological Walk, for groups of 10 or more visitors. For information on dates and availability, please contact David Bailey.

UK's diverse geology

The geology of the UK is amongst the most varied on the planet with every major geological interval and rock formation represented, from the ancient three-billion-year-old rocks of the Scottish Highlands to the younger sedimentary sequences of south-east England.

The Geological Walk consists of natural stone paving laid out to represent the different geological time periods, with some 40 different types of rock used over the 130-metre-long concourse.

From ice age to tropical seas

Every step of the way tells a different story: starting from a period before life began through to the last great ice age, along the way encountering forbidding deserts, tropical seas and lands that dinosaurs roamed.

Large boulders of archetypal rocks are situated along the Walk, providing budding geologists with the opportunity to get close up to their favourite rocks; including the grandaddy of them all, the three-billion-year-old boulder of Lewisian Gneiss, weighing 15 tonnes, from the Outer Hebrides.

Geological column cartoon

Contact

Contact enquiries@bgs.ac.uk for further information