Plan to upgrade viewpoint studied by 'father of modern geology'

James Hutton visited Siccar Point in the 1780s

A Scottish viewpoint regarded by some as the world's most important geological site could be upgraded to mark the 300th anniversary of James Hutton's birth.

Hutton - described as the father of modern geology - visited Siccar Point in the Scottish Borders in 1788.

His evidence from rock formations led to a profound change in the way the history of the Earth is understood.

Now the Edinburgh Geological Society is applying for permission to upgrade a path to the viewpoint and rebrand it the Siccar Point Deep Time Discovery Trail.

James Hutton depicted following a painting by Sir Henry Raeburn

In a document submitted to Scottish Borders Council, the society described Hutton, who was born in Edinburgh in 1726, as a "man ahead of his time".

They said he used evidence from Siccar Point to "decode Earth processes and to argue for a much greater length of geological time than was popularly accepted".

"A concept of 'deep time' emerged with the recognition that the geological processes occurring around us today have operated over a long period and will continue to do so into the future," they added.

There are plans to upgrade features at Siccar Point

Edinburgh Geological Society said it had discussed its plans with local residents of Cockburnspath and the landowner Dunglass Estate.

It said the proposals also have the support of a "broad coalition" of organisations including the James Hutton Institute, Scottish Borders Council and VisitScotland.

They want to remove and replace the existing signage and information panels along the existing path to the viewpoint from the Berwickshire Coastal Path.

At the Siccar Point viewpoint they want to add a 1.3m (4ft) stone shelter, and a curved stone seat at the East viewpoint.

They said the works will be "small-scale and sensitively designed, using natural materials wherever possible".