James Hutton’s Edinburgh Leader: Beverly Bergman Join our James Hutton boffin to visit key sites associated with Hutton's life. We will see where he lived as a child, follow his route to school, then visit his final resting place in Greyfriars Kirkyard. The excursion then visits the site of Hutton’s house on St John's Hill, […]
Inspired by In Time, Annie Cattrell RSA's curated element of the 200th Annual Exhibition, we invite you to join a walking tour led by local geologist Dr Angus Miller. Starting at the Royal Scottish Academy, we will reflect on the dynamic geology around our building at the Mound, Princes Street Gardens and the Old Town as we follow […]
Join us on the Eyemouth Rib for a trip to Hutton's Unconformity at Siccar Point, the famous site in the history of geology that was found in 1788, which James Hutton regarded as conclusive proof of his uniformitarian theory of geological development. Book now: www.eyemouthribtrips.co.uk/booking
Where Deep Time Began: James Hutton, Siccar Point, and Scotland’s Geological Heritage 28 May - 5 June 2026 Celebrate the 300th birthday of James Hutton, the Father of Modern Geology, with an immersive international field experience in Scotland. This special program coincides with the opening of the Deep Time Trail and the Scottish Geology Festival, […]
James Hutton, known as the ‘Father of Geological Time’, lived and farmed in East Berwickshire for some years, developing his ideas about landscape and processes through time. Interpretation boards, exhibits and displays tell his story, culminating in his visit to Siccar Point on the coast near Cockburnspath, where the new Deep Time Trail gives access […]
Siccar Point on the Scottish Borders coast is one of the most significant locations in the history of geology. It was here in 1788 that James Hutton predicted, and then found, an unconformity - a geological feature that represents a significant gap in the geological record, and shows how the Earth's surface is continually recycled […]
See up close the rock formations that inspired James Hutton to re-think the formation of the Earth and kickstart the science of geology! The southern section of the Radical Road will be open each day, giving access to Hutton's Section and Hutton's Rock. There will be HES rangers on duty. You need to book in […]
Soapbox sessions. 30 artists, writers and performers. 10 minutes each. The Revelator in partnership with The Royal Scottish Academy. Contributing artists include : Sam Ainsley, Annie Cattrell, Ilana halperin, Gareth Fisher, Paul Stallan, Dave Sherry, Louise Welsh, Suky Best, Kenny Hunter, Chris Dolan, Katie Houston, Edward Summerton, Shauna McMullan, Leena Namari, Gair Dunlop, Joseph De […]
The James Hutton Cycle Trail will be officially opened at the James Hutton and Deep Time exhibition in Cockburnspath Village Hall on Saturday 30th May 2026 at 11am We’d be delighted if you could join us on the day This 51km cycle trail starts and ends at Cockburnspath and links James Hutton’s two farms in […]
Scottish Geology Festival 1-30 June 2026 We hope that you will join us for the Scottish Geology Festival 2026, which will take place in June to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the birth of James Hutton - the father of modern geology and one of Scotland's most important enlightenment figures. The theme of the […]
To celebrate 300 years since the birth of Scottish geologist James Hutton on 3 June 1726, a manuscript of his groundbreaking book 'Theory of the Earth' (1795) will be on display in the Geological Society of London Library at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London. James Hutton (1726–1797) was a Scottish geologist, agriculturalist, chemical manufacturer, naturalist and […]
Step into the shadows of Greyfriars Kirkyard to walk the path of the man who redefined the age of the Earth. Join us for an exclusive Royal Society of Edinburgh & Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard historical tour tracing the life, burial, and enduring legacy of James Hutton. We will explore the resting places of the […]
Join the Scottish Geology Trust and partners at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh to launch the Scottish Geology Festival on the evening of Monday 1st June. We’re hosting the Deep Time Gala, a geological party open to all: Meet geoscientists Learn how we date rocks Hands-on activities Geo-cocktails Exclusive planetarium show Shop geology arts, crafts, and […]
Join Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive, The James Hutton Institute while he traces James Hutton’s life and intellectual development. James Hutton, physician, chemist, farmer and natural philosopher, is best known as the founder of modern geology that is the basis of the “Deep Time” of our Earth. Yet his contribution reaches far beyond the rocks […]
This exhibition will explore James Hutton’s influence on the processes leading to the formation of rocks and on the concept of geological time in a series of interpretation panels, which tell of Hutton's life in Edinburgh during the period of the Scottish Enlightenment as well as the development of his Theory of the Earth. His […]
Three hundred years ago, during the Scottish Enlightenment, James Hutton transformed how we understand the Earth. At a time when many believed the planet was only a few thousand years old, he proposed that landscapes are shaped gradually over deep time by processes still observable today. This daytime symposium at the Royal Society of Edinburgh […]
In order to help celebrate Hutton's Tercentenary, a group of church bell ringers from various parts of England and Scotland will meet on Wednesday 3rd June to ring the eight bells at Haddington church, East Lothian. The ringing will start at about 10.30am and continue without a break for three hours. This special type of […]
On the 300th anniversary of James Hutton’s birth, learn about this unsung hero of the Scottish Enlightenment with a talk and guided walk within Holyrood Park, where he made several observations leading to his groundbreaking Theory of the Earth. The event will start with a talk on Hutton’s life, the observation’s leading to his Theory […]
How can James Hutton’s approach to understanding Earth inform the decisions we make about its future today? Three hundred years on from the birth of James Hutton, how can his approach to understanding Earth inform the decisions we make about its future? Join renowned Professor Iain Stewart FRSE and expert panellists in this evening exploration […]
Discover the legacy of James Hutton, the ‘Father of Modern Geology’. Celebrate his Tercentenary with free, drop-in short talks, mini tours and object handling. Learn about ‘deep time’, Hutton’s greatest contribution to science and philosophy. Dr Rachel Walcott, our Principal Curator of Earth Systems will present short talks in the Auditorium. As part of the celebrations […]