Necropolis Tour

Leader: Margaret Greene

Necropolis Hill is one of the highest points of Glasgow. It stands proud simply because it is the outcrop of an intrusion of more resistant igneous rock into the surrounding weaker sandstone. The igneous rock is a type of basaltic lava, known as dolerite. This can be seen in the quarry at the southern side of the Necropolis. The present landscape has been extensively remodelled during the ice ages over the last 2 million years. Broad ice sheets have repeatedly moved out from the mountains to the Firth of Clyde, moving across the Glasgow area scouring the landscape and depositing sand and gravel from west to east. This gives Necropolis Hill its characteristic crag and tail shape of a steep side due to the harder rock on the side facing the Cathedral, then tapering out to the east.

This afternoon trip will explore the geology of some of the remarkable monuments in this cemetery. The architecture, sculpture, views and stories continue to amaze.

The group will meet in Wishart Street under the Bridge of Sighs at 1.00pm to start the visit to the Necropolis (there is a bit of the underlying rock there). The visit will take approx. 2hours. People might want to bring binoculars as there is a good view of the surrounding scenery from John Knox’s column.

Parking in Wishart Street is £1 for 15minutes, but there is a car park in Duke Street and also further down Duke Street there is roadside parking free. There is a station on High street for folk who can take the train.

Toilets are available in the Museum of Religion. People might want to look round that and/or the Cathedral .

Difficulty Level 2: Easy – All levels of fitness and family groups including children and the elderly

*Risk factors – uneven ground and some stairs.

Location: Necropolis, Wishart Street, Glasgow, G4 0UZ,///tested.verge.cove