Geology and Scenery of Snowdonia (Eryri)

Snowdonia can truly be said to be a landscape shaped by the contrasting forces of fire and ice. We will visit rock exposures ranging in age from Pre-Cambrian to Upper Palaeozoic, set in some of the most spectacular scenery in Britain. Snowdonia can truly be said to be a landscape shaped by the contrasting forces of fire and ice. This geology course visits the site of a disappearing ocean and observes sediments laid down in an ocean basin. We will see lavas produced both on the sea bed and as a result of erupting volcanoes. Add to this the contortions caused by mountain building, widespread mineralisation and massive glaciation, and the diversity of Snowdonia’s geological past becomes apparent.

David Cronshaw

David Cronshaw is a former Geology Tutor at Preston Montford Field Centre. He has led Geology courses for Field Studies Council for over 30 years to many areas of the UK including Shropshire, The Lake District and The Yorkshire Dales. He enjoys all aspects of Geology but is particularly interested in the impact that Geology has on the landscape around us and how rocks have been altered in the millions of years since they were formed. David undertook his PhD research on the Geology of Snowdonia. He has recently retired from teaching in a Lancashire School.

Example Timetable

Day 1

The Capel Curig area. A classic viewpoint to pick out the geography and topography of the area. Stand on an extinct volcano, sample the ash it produced and possibly find some fossils. If time permits we will examine one of the massive dolerite intrusions that can be found in the area.

Day 2

The Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve. We will park alongside the A5 and work our way through the Ordovician sediments and volcanics of the area. These were produced when this area experienced some of the most violent volcanic episodes present in the geological record. The Cwm also offers some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the UK. We will also investigate aspects of the structural geology of the area whilst surrounded by the evidence of past glaciations.

Day 3

The Llyn Peninsula, Morfa Nefyn, Aberdaron and the far west. Depending on the tides we will start at Morfa Nefyn golf course and stand on a spectacular ancient sea bed made of textbook pillow lavas. We will then head to the very tip of the Llyn Peninsula to see a “fossil” subduction zone. We will then do a spot of beach combing on Aberdaron Beach whilst looking at some of the glacial deposits and intriguing solid geology.

Day 4

The Llanberis area. Today we are going to follow a transect through the Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian rocks of the district ending at the start of the Ordovician at the entrance to the dramatic Llanberis Pass. We will follow the shore of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris looking initially at Pre-Cambrian volcanics and then the range of sediments deposited in the Cambrian Welsh Basin. Also included is an examination of the fascinating Slate Belt rock that “roofed the world”.

Day 5

Either a walk down the Classic glacial trough of the Nant Ffrancon Valley crossing the Ordovician/Cambrian boundary and looking at a variety of glacial and recent landforms and features or a trip into the heart of the Gwyder Forest above the Conwy Valley to look at the old lead mining district to imagine what this delightful spot was once like when it vibrated to the sound of heavy industry.

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  Expert Tuition
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  Free Wi-Fi
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  Full Board Accommodation
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  Hot and Cold Drinks
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  Picnic Lunch