HGS Field Trip Excursion to the Isle of Wight

Numbers and arrangements now finalised for this excursion.

Wednesday 24 September arrive on island

Embark from Southampton @ 1 pm on Red Funnel Ferries arriving East Cowes 2 pm. Please check in at least 30 mins prior to sailing.
3 pm check-in at Wight Hotel, Sandown PO36 8BN

Evening meal at hotel where we will be joined by our field trip leader Andy Gale.

Thursday 25 September Day 1
Sandown to Whitecliff Bay, seeing almost the whole stratigraphy exposed.

Morning:  Sandown to Culver, along the sandy beach (Wealden-Chalk groups).
Lunch: Culver Haven pub.
Afternoon: Whitecliff Bay, Chalk to Bembridge Limestone, the whole Paleogene succession. This traverse illustrates much of the Cretaceous-Paleogene geological history of southern England (GA Guide Chapters 2 pg 27 & Chapter 3 pg 33).

Friday 26 September Day 2
Southwest Wight (high tide 14:11)

Morning: Wealden dinosaur habitat at Brook Chine and Chilton Chine. Dinosaur footprints at Hanover Point.
Lunch: Wight Mouse pub
Afternoon: Compton Bay for Wealden, Lower Greensand and Chalk groups (GA Guide Chapters 11 pg 56 & Chapter 12 pg 59).

Saturday 27 September Day 3
Northwest Wight

Alum Bay, the Needles, Chalk, through to Headon Hill Formation.
Lunch in Red Lion, Freshwater
Afternoon, Solent Group (Eocene sands and clays, very fossiliferous) in Thorness Bay.

Most of the beach going is pretty easy, sand/shingle. Although tides are not ideal they are manageable. However if there is an onshore wind, we may have to modify the afternoon itineraries (GA Guide Chapter 9 pg 50).

Evening meal at hotel where we will be joined by our field trip leader Andy Gale.

Sunday 28 September depart island
Hotel check-out by 10 am (high tide 15:30)
Depart from East Cowes @ 2:30 pm on Red Funnel Ferries arriving Southampton 3:30 pm.