The Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde is a classic location to introduce beginners to field geology because of the richness and variety of over 600 million years of history packed into its tiny area. This book breaks the mould of ‘excursion guides’ by teaching the basic skills needed by any beginner when dealing with rocks in situ. It leads the student through a series of problem-solving exercises which include step-by-step instructions on what observations to make in order to find a solution. They increase in difficulty and cover the spectrum of field skills that a first/second year undergraduate or A-level student needs to master. The exercises include many of the more interesting aspects of Arran’s geological history and also introduce some of the fundamental concepts behind the science and the people responsible for them, such as James Hutton and Charles Lyell. This approach injects greater flexibility into teaching and assessing progress in learning. Above all, it shows that the subject is dynamic, thought provoking and fun.