The 2026 Winter Newsletter is available in the members area of the website:
Newsletters
Event reminder: Braystones to St Bees: A walk along the coastal path to view the legacy of glacial readvances.
WHEN
Saturday, 5 September, 2026 starts at 11:15 - 16:30
WHERE
Braystones Station
Pathway off unnamed lane
Braystones
CA21 2YW
DETAILS
Leader: Jon Merritt
The coastal path allows easy access to view glacial landforms and to study sediments at several localities between Braystones and St Bees. These provide an insight into subglacial and ice-marginal processes that operated during the latter stages of the last glaciation in the region. The excursion is planned to start at c.11.10 am at Braystones Station [NY 0010 0597], joining up with participants who have taken the train from St Bees at 11.00 am. The first stop will be a degraded cliff section beside the River Ehen at Warborough Nook [NY 0085 0494], a quiet locality good for a picnic. The route then follows the coastal path through Lowside Quarter to Nethertown Beach [NX 9881 0734], where we can examine a raised beach and cliff sections around the promontory. The coastal path is then followed back to St Bees stopping at several small sections and scrapes at the back of some large, but stable, landslips. The excursion ends at the southern end of the St Bees Moraine at Sea Mill [NX 9695 1074] where there is parking for cars only. The route is c.10 km over gently undulating ground, but includes walking on a bouldery shingle beach at Nethertown.
There are trains back to Braystones from St Bees at 16.30 and 18.30 pm calling also at Nethertown (by request only).
Participants are advised to buy rail tickets in advance.
Proceedings 2010-11 Part 1
These proceedings ran from 1962 to 2019 before being replaced by our newest publication The Cumberland Geologist. Each Proceedings has been digitized and made searchable.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed within the Proceedings are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website or its affiliates. Localities visited may no longer be accessible. Rules regarding collection of fossil and mineral samples mentioned in the publication may have changed.
Contents
| EDITORIAL | 3 |
| LANDMARKS IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY 1962-2012 Alan Smith | 4 |
| THE FIRST 50 YEARS’ FIELD EXCURSIONS OF THE CUMBERLAND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. Mervyn Dodd | 22 |
| NOTES ON MISSISSIPPIAN (LOWER CARBONIFEROUS) CRINOIDS FROM NORTHERN ENGLAND Stephen K. Donovan | 29 |
| HOW DO TOPOGRAPHY AND AVAILABILITY OF TILL INFLUENCE DRUMLINS EAST OF KENDAL, CUMBRIA? Arthur Robinson | 34 |
| A SUB-LATERAL BOULDER MORAINE IN DUNNERDALE, SW LAKE DISTRICT Peter Wilson and Alan Smith | 70 |
| THE DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOLOGY OF PINGO SCARS 81 IN THE WHICHAM VALLEY, SOUTH WEST CUMBRIA. Hannah Thomason | 81 |
| THE RUSKIN ROCKS PROJECT Bobbie Millar | 92 |
| SHETLAND ‘CAP CARBONATE’ LIMESTONES AND ‘SNOWBALL EARTH’ GLACIATION Sylvia Woodhead | 108 |
| A RECENT, CLIFF EDGE SLUMP AT ST. BEES Mervyn Dodd | 122 |
| EXCURSION REPORTS 2010 | 123 |
| EXCURSION REPORTS 2011 | 153 |
| OBITUARY | 172 |
| LECTURE MEETINGS 2010-2011 | 174 |
| ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2011 | 175 |
| OFFICERS AND COUNCIL 2011 | 176 |
Proceedings 2016-17 Part 4
These proceedings ran from 1962 to 2019 before being replaced by our newest publication The Cumberland Geologist. Each Proceedings has been digitized and made searchable.
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed within the Proceedings are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the website or its affiliates. Localities visited may no longer be accessible. Rules regarding collection of fossil and mineral samples mentioned in the publication may have changed.
Contents
| EDITORIAL | 407 |
| STORMDESMOND: DECEMBER 2015 | 408 |
| SOME OBSERVATIONSON COLUMNAR JOINTING IN THE ROCKS OF THE BORROWDALE VOLCANIC GROUPOF THE CENTRAL LAKE DISTRICT Alan Smith | 417 |
| THE FOSSIL CARVINGS AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, WREAY – A GEOLOGICAL INSIGHT Chris Thompson | 437 |
| WALKS IN THE WESTMORLAND DALES ASPECTS OF THE GEOLOGY OF THE YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK INTO CUMBRIA Noel Pearson | 449 |
| DRY STONEWALLS AS SEDIMENT TRAPS: EXAMPLE FROM RYDAL Peter Wilson and Tom Lord | 477 |
| THOMAS HAY AND PLOUGHING BLOCKS Peter Wilson | 492 |
| FIELD RESEARCH PROJECT GAWTHWAITE Leader: Clive Boulter | 496 |
| FIELD TRIP ISLE OF MAN 2016 | 501 |
| FIELD TRIP ALGARVE 2017 | 513 |
| EXCURSION REPORTS 2016 | 521 |
| EXCURSION REPORTS2017 | 541 |
| LECTURE MEETINGS 2016/17 | 559 |
| LECTURE MEETINGS 2017/2018 | 560 |
| OFFICERSAND COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY | 561 |
| OBITUARIES | 562 |
Braystones to St Bees: A walk along the coastal path to view the legacy of glacial readvances – Field Trip booking opened
WHEN
Saturday, 5 September, 2026 starts at 11:15 - 16:30
WHERE
Braystones Station
Pathway off unnamed lane
Braystones
CA21 2YW
DETAILS
Leader: Jon Merritt
The coastal path allows easy access to view glacial landforms and to study sediments at several localities between Braystones and St Bees. These provide an insight into subglacial and ice-marginal processes that operated during the latter stages of the last glaciation in the region. The excursion is planned to start at c.11.10 am at Braystones Station [NY 0010 0597], joining up with participants who have taken the train from St Bees at 11.00 am. The first stop will be a degraded cliff section beside the River Ehen at Warborough Nook [NY 0085 0494], a quiet locality good for a picnic. The route then follows the coastal path through Lowside Quarter to Nethertown Beach [NX 9881 0734], where we can examine a raised beach and cliff sections around the promontory. The coastal path is then followed back to St Bees stopping at several small sections and scrapes at the back of some large, but stable, landslips. The excursion ends at the southern end of the St Bees Moraine at Sea Mill [NX 9695 1074] where there is parking for cars only. The route is c.10 km over gently undulating ground, but includes walking on a bouldery shingle beach at Nethertown.
There are trains back to Braystones from St Bees at 16.30 and 18.30 pm calling also at Nethertown (by request only).
Participants are advised to buy rail tickets in advance.
Binsey – field trip booking opened
Please book via the website at https://www.cumberland-geol-soc.org.uk/events/binsey/
When
Wednesday, 5 August, 2026
12:00 – 16:00
WHERE
Bewaldeth Road End
NY 23549 35104 / W3W factoring.pulps.salon, Bassenthwaite
DETAILS
Leader: Ian Francis
Afternoon excursion to explore the Eycott Volcanic Group on Binsey, and its relationship to the underlying Skiddaw Group. Starting point: 12 Noon at roadside carparking at Bewaldeth road end, Bassenthwaite NY 23549 35104 (W3W factoring.pulps.salon).
If there are no spaces to Bewaldeth road end there is a wide grass verge on the east side of the road that leads south from the road end (towards Whitefield cottage/Overwater) at NY 23638 35087 (W3W rebounder.bronzes.daring).
The route will take us around the southwestern foot of Binsey then steeply up the western flank of the fell to West Crag, returning to start point via Binsey top.
Please note: A moderate level of fitness and leg strength is required. Participants are advised to carry walking poles if they feel uncertain. Stout footwear required.
Car parking is limited so please consider car-sharing.