in the footsteps of William Smith, in the countryside around Bath, Saturday and Sunday 5 and 6 April 2025

Leader: Professor Alan R Butcher, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-r-butcher-b2538919/?originalSubdomain=uk) who lives in the same area near Bath where William Smith lived and worked and has researched the local geology and history associated with one of geology’s most famous characters.

Times and meeting point: 11.00 am Saturday 5 April,  Finish approx. 4.30 pm Sunday 6 April. Join for just one day if that suits..

Aim: to explore some of the geology that inspired and helped William Smith to make his famous geological map of the Britain, the first detailed geology map of any country, and visit some of the historical locations in the area where he lived near Bath.

Food: bring packed lunch

What to wear: be ready with warm weatherproof clothing, walking boots, wellies, or stout shoes and sunhat/sun cream and a hard hat. .

Participants with all levels of geological knowledge are welcome,  under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult on the day time trips and there are no arrangements to supervise young people for the overnight stay so over 18s only for that please.

RGSC members – free, non-members – £5 per day, please bring in a sealed labelled envelope. (Why not join, membership is just £15),

Please register by email to Beatrice Kerno (beatricekerno@yahoo.co.uk) with names of attendees, contact telephone numbers and an emergency contact number for each participant, and if you would like to borrow a hard hat. The deadline for registration is 15 February (at the AGM).

Directions to meeting points: tbc for registered participants

Accommodation: own arrangements  in the Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, Hinton Charterhouse, Tucking Mill (nr Bath), Laverton, Norton St Philip, Iford Manor (Iford) areas. We will see if we can make a group booking for Dinner on Saturday. Here are some suggestions of local hotels advertising rooms available at the beginning of April:

The Moonraker Hotel £100 per night for a double room

The Barge Inn £104

Premier Inn Trowbridge £118

Travelodge in Beckington., BA11 6SF, £100/2 nights