COVID-19 information News and events BGS Shop Hosted sites About BGS Research Data Discovering Geology Home » About BGS » Our facilities » Geological Walk BGS Facilities Share this article Due to the current COVID-19 lockdown situation, the Geological Walk is closed until further notice. A walk through geological time at BGS Keyworth The Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth was officially opened on 17 May 2012 by Sir John Beddington, Government Chief Scientific Adviser. Three billion years of Earth’s history squeezed into a 130 m-long stone concourse, every step bringing you about 25 million years closer to the present day. Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth. BGS © UKRI. Download the Geological Walk leaflet 2MB pdf Visitors are welcome to pick up a guide leaflet from reception. Visiting the Geological Walk The walk is normally open from 08.30 to 15.30 Monday to Friday (except public holidays and other advertised closures) with last admission at 3pm. Check the walk is open before travelling by contacting BGS Enquiries or telephoning 0115 936 3143. Groups of 10 or more should contact BGS Enquiries to ‘book in’ in advance No dogs, except guide/assistance dogs. Pedestrian access only (no bicycles; scooters, etc.). Visitors must sign in at reception on arrival and sign out on departure. The UK’s diverse geology The geology of the UK is amongst the most varied on the planet, with every major geological interval and rock formation represented, from the ancient three-billion-year-old rocks of the Scottish Highlands to the younger sedimentary sequences of south-east England. The Geological Walk consists of natural stone paving laid out to represent the different geological time periods, with some 40 different types of rock used over the 130 m-long concourse. From ice ages to tropical seas Every step of the way tells a different story: starting from a period before life began through to the last great ice age, along the way you will encounter forbidding deserts, tropical seas and lands that dinosaurs roamed. Large boulders of archetypal rocks are situated along the walk, providing budding geologists with the opportunity to get close up to their favourite rocks, including the grandaddy of them all, the three-billion-year-old boulder of Lewisian Gneiss, weighing 15 tonnes, from the Outer Hebrides. The entrance of the James Hutton Building, lying within the Carboniferous section of the Geological Walk, features a representation of the famous unconformity at Siccar Point — the locality most synonymous with Hutton. BGS © UKRI. Geological column. BGS © UKRI. Geologically significant plants We have placed some geologically significant plants into the Geological Walk to illustrate the fascinating evolution of the terrestrial flora. A total of eight plants with long geological records (‘living fossils’) have been selected and planted in the appropriate, ascending, stratigraphical order. You may also be interested in About BGS As the national geological survey, we are the UK’s premier provider of objective and authoritative scientific data, information and knowledge to help society understand our Earth. Show more Our facilities The BGS offers a range of services and information for businesses, home-owners, policy-makers and the general public. Show more Geologically significant plants along the Geological Walk We have placed some geologically significant plants into the Geological Walk at BGS Keyworth to illustrate the fascinating evolution of the terrestrial flora. Show more Was this page helpful? Yes No Cookies policy We’ll assume you’re okay with this, but you can opt out if you wish. More information. Accept Remind me later Useful links About BGS News and events Contact us Press office Job vacancies Accessibility Sustainability COP26 Policies & legal Privacy policy Cookies policy Terms of use Freedom of information (FOI) Intellectual property rights Join the BGS Newsletter Keep up to date with all the latest research, products and events news. Register © UKRI 2021