Edinburgh & West Lothian: a landscape fashioned by geology

Like Rome, Edinburgh was built on seven hills. What links all these hills is their volcanic origins – they are all made of hard, long-lasting rock that has resisted erosion over millions of years. But there are also ridges and hollows, gorges and plains. Edinburgh’s landscape took more than 400 million years to reach its present shape. This booklet explains how. You can also follow in the footsteps of James Hutton, the father of modern geology. See what he saw, and learn about the processes that formed Edinburgh’s dramatic landscape. The booklet takes you on a journey from today’s familiar hills and valleys to the icy wastes of 2 million years ago. Even further back, there were volcanoes and swamps, and Edinburgh lay on the equator! Written by experts and beautifully illustrated, this booklet contains clear explanations, simple diagrams and useful information on where to visit.