A new trail has been created to Siccar Point in the Scottish Borders, to honour the legacy of James Hutton, the father of modern geology, born in Edinburgh in June 1726. The Deep Time Trail takes visitors on a 1.5-km journey along the coast near Cockburnspath, to a stunning new viewpoint structure with a great view of Hutton’s Unconformity, one of the world’s most important geological sites. 

It was at Siccar Point in 1788 that James Hutton and his friends found evidence to support Hutton’s Theory of the Earth, containing radical ideas on how the Earth works and the timescales involved. John Playfair described the visit to Siccar Point as “looking into the abyss of time”. The new trail tells James Hutton’s story at Siccar Point through information panels, and online audio, music and poetry. It encourages everyone to contemplate deep time in the past and future. 

The trail has been commissioned by the Edinburgh Geological Society, designed by CMC Associates, and built by Callum Gray of Gray Stone Works. A successful Crowdfunder, organised by the Scottish Geology Trust in autumn 2025, raised £95,000 with over 600 donations from individuals and organisations around the world. Grants from Cockburnspath & Cove Community Fund and the Drone Hill Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund (both administered by Foundation Scotland) and NatureScot contributed to the overall budget of £175,000. 

Prof Mark Wilkinson, President of the Edinburgh Geological Society, said: 
“We are delighted to celebrate the Tercentenary of James Hutton’s birth with this new trail, which will make it easier for visitors and local people to explore the story of Siccar Point. We hope that James Hutton would have appreciated that his ideas are still being talked about 300 years later.” 

Niome Lucjan, Community Funds Advisor, Foundation Scotland noted: 
“It’s inspiring to see Edinburgh Geological Society’s iconic project take shape. As Fund administrator of both the Co'path & Cove and Drone Hill Community Funds, we get to see first-hand the impact that these awards make in East Lothian and Berwickshire and beyond. It's a privilege to have been a part of this small point in time, helping to bring James Hutton's legacy to life on the very landscape he helped us understand - a reminder that community funding can leave a lasting impression and a legacy for the world."Colin Campbell, Chief Executive of The James Hutton Institute, said: "Hutton is one of Scotland's most influential thinkers and, 300 years on from his birth, recognising his revolutionary work is more important than ever. "The new Deep Time Trail at Siccar Point provides a brilliant way to learn about and engage with Hutton and his theories. I'm immensely proud of the role the Institute has played in fundraising for this trail and send my thanks out to all those who donated."