Bedrock geology of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Cartography by Dr. Adam Stinton, Earth Heritage Trust. Based upon information in the BGS DiGMapGB-625 Geological Map of Great Britain. Data reproduced by permission of the British Geological Surey © NERC. All Rights Reserved. Reference IPR/99-21CA.

The solid (or bedrock) geology of Herefordshire and Worcestershire covers a significant amount of geological time (see Geological timescale below) from the Precambrian gniess and schists of the Malvern hills through to the Jurassic limestones in the Broadway area (SE Worcestershire). As shown on the map above, the geology on the individuals counties differ from each other. Worcestershire is dominated by the sandstones and mudstones of the Mercia Mudstones Group that underlie the Severn Vale. Herefordshire, on the other hand, is dominated by the Devonian Old Red sandstones. This difference has a significant impact on the landscape of the two counties. The River Severn valley covers much of the county and is surrounded by low, rolling hills, including the Malvern Hills. Herefordshire is characterised by more upland topogrpahy including the Bromyard downs area and the eastern edge of the Black Mountains, in the west of the county.

To read more about the geology of the individual Counties, click here for Herefordshire or here for Worcestershire.