Edinburgh's startling scenery is the result of volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago, which created the tough rock of the city hills. Unusually, there have been two completely separate and contrasting episodes of volcanic activity here. Volcanoes created the site of Edinburgh castle – the original focus of the city, and the reason it became the capital of Scotland – and strongly contribute to the character of the city that is much loved by today’s residents and visitors.
Dr Angus Miller is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. He is passionate about all aspects of Scotland's geology, particularly in the often under-appreciated links between geology, landscape and people: “Our geology is messy, complicated and very diverse; and it contributes in many different ways to how people have lived in Scotland in the past, our modern society, and our future prosperity”.