The 2026 Winter Newsletter is available in the members area of the website:
Newsletters
The 2026 Winter Newsletter is available in the members area of the website:
Newsletters
Cockermouth U3A have spaces on their field trip to Sale Fell on September 21st and would be happy for CGS members to join them. This is a repeat of an earlier CGS trip in 2022.
If you’re interested in attending please contact Phil Davies at email hidden; JavaScript is required.
Further details below:
Members are welcome to attend Westmorland Geological Society field trips.
Saturday 12th September  Â
Shap Pink Quarry
Visit to Shap Pink Quarry to view the current workings, granite petrology, features and minerals. The foreman Steve Elliott will meet us in the car park to tell us briefly about the current extraction plan and will accompany us along our route through the quarry.
Further details and booking at:
Saturday, 5 September, 2026 starts at 11:15 - 16:30
Braystones Station
Pathway off unnamed lane
Braystones
CA21 2YW
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.
Saturday, 5 September, 2026 starts at 11:15 - 16:30
Braystones Station
Pathway off unnamed lane
Braystones
CA21 2YW
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.
Please book via the website at https://www.cumberland-geol-soc.org.uk/events/binsey/
When
Wednesday, 5 August, 2026
12:00 – 16:00
Bewaldeth Road End
NY 23549 35104 / W3W factoring.pulps.salon, Bassenthwaite
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.