Image 1 of 3
Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
The geology of Ardnamurchan - Friday 26th June to Sunday 28th June 2026
Inside Scotland’s Ancient Volcano: A Geology Tour to Ardnamurchan with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for a spectacular field excursion to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula — the best-preserved Palaeogene (Tertiary) volcanic complex in the UK, and one of the finest exposed volcanic ring structures in the world. This is a rare chance to step inside the heart of an ancient volcano, where lava once erupted, magma forced its way into the crust, and geological structures were frozen in time.
What to Expect
🌋 Explore a Classic Eroded Volcano
Stand inside the remains of a 60-million-year-old central volcanic complex, formed during the opening of the North Atlantic.
Learn how Ardnamurchan’s gabbroic ring structures, cone sheets, and radial dykes were formed as magma rose through the Earth’s crust.
Understand the anatomy of a volcano from the inside out: magma chambers, feeder systems, and surface eruptions — all visible in 3D.
🧭 The Famous Ring-Dyke Complex
Walk across the textbook example of a ring dyke, formed when the central magma chamber collapsed and magma injected into concentric fractures.
Observe radial dykes that radiate from the old volcanic centre like spokes on a wheel.
Understand how geologists interpret volcanic plumbing systems using these kinds of structures.
🪨 Gabbro, Basalt, and Beyond
Examine coarse-grained gabbro, crystallised slowly within the magma chamber, alongside finer-grained basaltic intrusions.
Learn how differences in cooling rate and magma chemistry affect mineral textures and rock types.
Identify minerals like plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine, common in mafic volcanic systems.
📏 Geological Structures in the Field
Measure and sketch dykes, sills, and cone sheets, and interpret how they relate to the broader volcanic structure.
Try basic field mapping and orientation exercises, guided by clear outcrop patterns in the landscape.
Discuss the link between Ardnamurchan and modern volcanoes like those in Iceland.
🌊 Wild Coastlines and Erosion
Explore how coastal erosion has cut into the volcano, exposing deep levels of its plumbing system.
Visit dramatic sea cliffs, headlands, and raised beaches, where geological processes from different eras intersect.
📚 From Volcano to Field Lab
Learn how Ardnamurchan became a classic site in British geology, featured in textbooks and taught at universities worldwide.
Discuss the site’s scientific importance in understanding volcanic ring complexes and collapse structures.
Who Should Attend?
Geology students and enthusiasts interested in volcanology and igneous geology.
Outdoor explorers and photographers who love dramatic Highland landscapes.
Anyone curious about Scotland’s fiery geological past.
No previous geology experience required — just good walking boots and a sense of wonder.
Event Details
📍 Location: Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Highland
🗓️ Dates: Friday 26th June (10:00) to Sunday 28th June 2026
⏰ Duration: 2-3 days
🎟️ Price: £350pp from Glasgow or meet us there on Saturday and Sunday for £300pp includes guided tour and transport in an 7/8 seater Volkswagen transporter. Does not include accommodation that has to be booked separate in and around Kilchoan for both nights. For those who don’t mind camping there’s a campsite outside Kilchoan.
Places you will see:
The Scottish Highlands
Loch Lomond
Glencoe and Ballachullish
Strontian
Ben Haint
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
Sanna bay
Rock Units You will see:
Ardnamurchan central complex (3 different centres)
Basaltic cone sheets and ring dykes
Adrnamurchan lava formation
Vent Agglomerates and tuffs
Granophyre intrusions
Moine supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks)
Dalradian supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks)
Caledonian granites
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the expert and engaging @ScottishGeologist, this tour offers the chance to walk through the core of a long-dead volcano, read the rocks like pages in a story, and discover why Ardnamurchan is one of Europe’s geological treasures.
Book Your Ardnamurchan Volcano Tour Today!
Feel the pulse of ancient magma chambers and explore the plumbing of Scotland’s volcanic past — only at Ardnamurchan.
Inside Scotland’s Ancient Volcano: A Geology Tour to Ardnamurchan with @ScottishGeologist
Join @ScottishGeologist for a spectacular field excursion to the Ardnamurchan Peninsula — the best-preserved Palaeogene (Tertiary) volcanic complex in the UK, and one of the finest exposed volcanic ring structures in the world. This is a rare chance to step inside the heart of an ancient volcano, where lava once erupted, magma forced its way into the crust, and geological structures were frozen in time.
What to Expect
🌋 Explore a Classic Eroded Volcano
Stand inside the remains of a 60-million-year-old central volcanic complex, formed during the opening of the North Atlantic.
Learn how Ardnamurchan’s gabbroic ring structures, cone sheets, and radial dykes were formed as magma rose through the Earth’s crust.
Understand the anatomy of a volcano from the inside out: magma chambers, feeder systems, and surface eruptions — all visible in 3D.
🧭 The Famous Ring-Dyke Complex
Walk across the textbook example of a ring dyke, formed when the central magma chamber collapsed and magma injected into concentric fractures.
Observe radial dykes that radiate from the old volcanic centre like spokes on a wheel.
Understand how geologists interpret volcanic plumbing systems using these kinds of structures.
🪨 Gabbro, Basalt, and Beyond
Examine coarse-grained gabbro, crystallised slowly within the magma chamber, alongside finer-grained basaltic intrusions.
Learn how differences in cooling rate and magma chemistry affect mineral textures and rock types.
Identify minerals like plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine, common in mafic volcanic systems.
📏 Geological Structures in the Field
Measure and sketch dykes, sills, and cone sheets, and interpret how they relate to the broader volcanic structure.
Try basic field mapping and orientation exercises, guided by clear outcrop patterns in the landscape.
Discuss the link between Ardnamurchan and modern volcanoes like those in Iceland.
🌊 Wild Coastlines and Erosion
Explore how coastal erosion has cut into the volcano, exposing deep levels of its plumbing system.
Visit dramatic sea cliffs, headlands, and raised beaches, where geological processes from different eras intersect.
📚 From Volcano to Field Lab
Learn how Ardnamurchan became a classic site in British geology, featured in textbooks and taught at universities worldwide.
Discuss the site’s scientific importance in understanding volcanic ring complexes and collapse structures.
Who Should Attend?
Geology students and enthusiasts interested in volcanology and igneous geology.
Outdoor explorers and photographers who love dramatic Highland landscapes.
Anyone curious about Scotland’s fiery geological past.
No previous geology experience required — just good walking boots and a sense of wonder.
Event Details
📍 Location: Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Highland
🗓️ Dates: Friday 26th June (10:00) to Sunday 28th June 2026
⏰ Duration: 2-3 days
🎟️ Price: £350pp from Glasgow or meet us there on Saturday and Sunday for £300pp includes guided tour and transport in an 7/8 seater Volkswagen transporter. Does not include accommodation that has to be booked separate in and around Kilchoan for both nights. For those who don’t mind camping there’s a campsite outside Kilchoan.
Places you will see:
The Scottish Highlands
Loch Lomond
Glencoe and Ballachullish
Strontian
Ben Haint
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse
Sanna bay
Rock Units You will see:
Ardnamurchan central complex (3 different centres)
Basaltic cone sheets and ring dykes
Adrnamurchan lava formation
Vent Agglomerates and tuffs
Granophyre intrusions
Moine supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks)
Dalradian supergroup (meta-sedimentary rocks)
Caledonian granites
Why Join This Tour?
Led by the expert and engaging @ScottishGeologist, this tour offers the chance to walk through the core of a long-dead volcano, read the rocks like pages in a story, and discover why Ardnamurchan is one of Europe’s geological treasures.
Book Your Ardnamurchan Volcano Tour Today!
Feel the pulse of ancient magma chambers and explore the plumbing of Scotland’s volcanic past — only at Ardnamurchan.