Howick - Storm and Stress

Wednesday 14^th August, 2:00 pm to 5:00pm. The walk is run as part of the Northumberland Coast AONB series of geo-diversity walks.

Walk summary: The massive forces unleashed as the earth's continental crust moves around driven by mantle convection are made all too obvious when events such as the Nepal earthquake or that around Amatrice in central Italy happen. These forces do seem rather distant on the geologically quiet and beautiful coast around Howick with not even the smallest earth tremor to disturb the butterflies feeding on the sea campion. The evidence in the cliff face here at Howick tells a different story though, with massive slabs of rock moving many tens of meters and igneous rock being injected into the cracks between them. Signs that in the Carboniferous period some 300 million years ago that the Northumberland coast was in closer proximity to continents colliding. 

This walk will explore the sequence of sedimentary and igneous rock which make up this beautiful coastline and paint a picture of what was going on here about 300 million years ago.

Do I need to book? This event has to be booked in advance. The walks are “pay-what-you-feel”. I respectfully suggest £15 for this half day event. If this is not affordable for you – pay less – no questions asked. Equally, if you are able to pay more, this will help me to ensure the walks are sustainable. As before, family members under 16 are very welcome and can come for free. The walk will be limted to 20 people. To book a place on this walk please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and telephone number and I will send you bank details for Northumbrian Earth. Once you have made the payment I will confrm your place. If you aren't able to come on the walk for whatever reason please let me know, send me your bank details and I will refund the cost of the walk. Refunds will only be given if you get in touch prior to the walk.

Where do we meet? We meet at the parking spot on the bend by Sea Houses Farm just south of Howick - head past the entrance to Howick Hall, east towards the coast and after about 800m the road takes a right-angle bend to the left, the parking spaces are on the right by this bend. Grid reference NU258173. 

How long is the walk? This walk will be approximately 5 km and will involve a short steep scramble to the foreshore and some scrambling across rocks on the foreshore. Strong boots are recommended and some may find walking poles helpful. 

What else do I need to know? Full details will be sent out on email to everyone who books.