National Museums Collections Centre tour (with optional visit to Granton shore)

Location

National Museums Collection Centre, 242 West Granton Road, Granton, Edinburgh, EH5 1JA

Leaders

Dr Andrew Ross and Dr Rachel Walcott

Summary

A fantastic chance to visit both the Palaeobiology and Earth Systems collections held in the National Museums Scotland (NMS) specialist facility. We will split into 2 groups and spend around an hour in each of the sections.

A) We will meet Dr Andrew Ross and the experts of the Palaeobiology team and be taken on a guided tour of some of the most amazing fossil specimens found here in Scotland and further afield which are held in the secure stores of the NMS. Many of the specimens here have never been on show to the general public!

B) We will then have a fascinating guided tour with Dr Rachel Walcott and the team of experts in the the Earth Systems collections which covers a range of material; rocks, ores, minerals, meteorites and gems, International and Scottish, from the systematic and historical collections.

We have been specially invited to request particular items to be made available for us to view. Please send any suggestions to excursions@gsocg.org.

Guidance

This is an indoor event with disabled access and toilet facilities on site.

Difficulty

Level 1: Multiaccess. Suitable for all users including people with reduced mobility.

Travel

Own transport; please contact excursions@gsocg.org for car sharing arrangements.

By train: to Edinburgh Waverley Station, then walk to Leith Street and take the No 8 bus to West Granton Road.

By bus: Citylink service No. 900 to Waverley station then as above.

Price

£5

Granton shore 12.30 pm (optional extra)

At the end of the museum visit you can either head home; or if you would like to join us for the afternoon we will have lunch at Granton shore followed by a walk to examine the rocks and fossils on the foreshore guided by Dr Neil Clark and Dr Katie Strang. This will finish at around 3.30 pm.

Guidance

This will be a short walk on the rocky shoreline on uneven, slippery terrain; stout walking boots with good ankle support recommended. Packed lunch required.