Geology: An Introduction to Rocks and Landscape Interpretation - BORROWDALE

Session content:

This workshop will look at the hard rock geology of Borrowdale and the story of its formation. It is the story of volcanoes, islands arcs, plate tectonics and earthquakes. Some context will be given so that the story can be appreciated as part of a longer history of the Lake District’s evolution.

Alongside the hard rock story, the course will look at the reasons behind the current shape of the landscape. This is the much more recent story of the Ice age shaping the volcanic rocks into the crags, fells and valleys we see today and for which the Lake District is justly famous.

Learning outcomes:

1. A broad knowledge of the hard rock types of Borrowdale.
2. Some understanding of the geological processes that took place resulting in the formation of these rocks using the geological principle that the “present day is the key to the past.”
3. An understanding of the current landscape will through careful, structured teaching of Ice age processes using local landforms to demonstrate these processes.
4. Participants should gain basic interpretive skills which will enable you to see the landscape with informed eyes and apply these skills elsewhere in the Lake District.

Participants will be encouraged to explore and develop their understanding through direct and immediate contact with the environment. i.e. get your hands dirty!

A day course booklet will be provided, with base maps and routes.

A contextual booklet will be provided given background information and a glossary of terms at the end of the session.

Please bring: 

• Food and drink.
• Field Note book (or electronic notepad if you must!!)
• 3/4 Pencils needed! (Suggest 2B) (biros don’t always work in the rain)
• Selection of coloured pencils (optional)
• OS maps- English Lakes OL4
• Camera + spare batteries
• GPS (optional)
• Waterproof Walking boots (There are some wet sections)
• Waterproofs
• Insulated seat/pad to sit on
• Midge repellent!

(Please note there is no indoor backup venue so the walk will go ahead in poor weather unless unreasonable or unsafe to do so)

Workshop provider credentials

Stephen Mott has been involved in teaching and education advisory work for over 30 years. He graduated from Durham University (Hatfield College) with a degree in geological sciences and the Main Prize for fieldwork in 1979. For some years, he taught the subject and physical geography to A level. He has continued to keep up-to-date with advances in earth sciences and has regularly led geology and wildlife walks over the years. He has taught two successful courses for the Cumbria CC Adult-education department at Shap CDC on Rocks and landscapes of Eastern Cumbria.

Start

23/11/2019 09:30

End

23/11/2019 16:15

Total Days

1

Maximum Bookings

9

Bookings

11

Venue

Derwent Hill Outdoor Centre

Town

Keswick

County

Cumbria

Postcode

CA12 5RD

Country

United Kingdom

Latitude

54.60143

Longitude

-3.15943

Name

Mountain Training Association

Phone

01628 720272

Email