Geologists' Association – South Wales Group
Cymdeithas y Daearegwyr – Grŵp De Cymru
The colourful rocks of Penarth were formed over 200 million years ago. They tell a fascinating story of changes in climate and sea-level. You can download an information sheet here to help you understand the things that you can find
The cliffs are very unstable so it is important to keep well away from them, and not to hammer at them.
In many places in the South Wales Coalfield we find the remains of the plants which made the coal. For many of us these are fragments that we struggle to understand as part of a whole organism, but with the help of Rhian Kendall (Geologist, Artist and former president) you do not need to imagine any more you can see them reconstructed in full colour
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is an extract from a book partly compiled during the 1990s. The text and photographs reflect the geological knowledge of that time as well as the accessibility of the locations.
Please ensure that you ask permission from landowners to visit any of the locations mentioned in this text, which are on private property and that you are suitably equipped for rough terrain and fickle local weather.
Geological Time is put into named ages so that geologists all over the world can share information and compare that with others.
Here is a summary of the Geological Timescale in both English and Welsh
