Interpreting the Geology of Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale, North Yorkshire
Dr Roman Soltan
10:30 - 16:00, 13th September 2025
Meet at the National Trust (NT) car park, Brimham Rocks [SE 085 460], Brimham Moor Road, Summerbridge, HG3 4DW in time for a 10.30am start (meeting point details to be provided to registrants ahead of the event). From the car park, we will visit locations along the western escarpment, whilst moving towards the visitor centre (a distance of 500–600 m), arriving there around lunch time. Either bring a packed lunch or visit the café; there is a picnic area next to the café and public toilets which are easily in reach throughout the excursion. Afterwards, further locations may be visited on the western margin, before moving back towards the car park and visiting locations towards the eastern side of Brimham Rocks, aiming to finish by 4.00pm. This excursion is suitable for people with reduced mobility. All localities are adjacent to pathways and readily accessible with care and attention; the western escarpment is likely to present greater access problems for persons with mobility, fitness and/or balance concerns. When registering please provide information if you have reduced mobility issues.
The apparent variable composition and texture of the outcrops of sandstone of Kinderscoutian age was likely exploited by weathering processes, generating a unique series of three-dimensional outcrops. Such distinctive outcrops facilitate the identification of channel, channel bar, small- largescale planar and trough cross-bedding and soft sediment deformation within an ancient braided fluvial upper-delta plain succession.