About GeoWorld Travel
GeoWorld Travel is a geology-focused travel company, established in 2012 and based in Wales, operating internationally. The company designs geology-led holidays for adults who are interested in geology, with no prior knowledge required, and trips are structured to work equally well for complete beginners and experienced specialists. Destinations are selected for their geological significance, with itineraries built around the world’s most important and revealing geosites, using geology as the main framework for understanding a country or region. Trips are not technical field courses, but operate at a big-picture, country scale, combining carefully planned itineraries, professional geological guiding pitched to be accessible, with scope for deeper discussion, and a comfortable standard of travel to allow guests to see and understand a large amount of a place in a limited time.
Wales Based Team
James Cresswell - Founder & Director/ Lead GEOLOGIST
James at Siccar Point, Scotland
James is the director and founder of GeoWorld Travel, and personally guides most of GeoWorld Travel's trips. He is a geologist, having gained an undergraduate degree in Geology from the University of Bristol, and a Masters in Oceanography from the University of Southampton. Before setting up GeoWorld Travel, James travelled to around 100 different countries and worked as the geologist guide aboard expedition cruise ships. Countries and areas he guided in, before establishing GeoWorld Travel, include: Antarctica, Svalbard, Canada (Arctic and Rockies) Greenland, Russian Arctic & Geographical North Pole, Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Botswana, Mozambique, Madagascar, Seychelles, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Caribbean, the South Pacific, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha. James' passion for communicating geosciences began when he started his career working in the television documentary industry. He was the researcher on a Discovery Channel geological series, and was part of the BBC’s ‘Blue Planet’ series.
Abby Cresswell - Operations & Fianance Manager / Archaeologist Guide
Abby at Herculaneum, Italy
Abby is both James's wife and a qualified archaeologist. At GeoWorld Travel she is Operations Manager, responsible for logistics and hotel bookings. In addition to her work at GeoWorld Travel, Abby works as a Field Surveyor for the Ordnance Survey. Abby gained a Class I MA (Hons) degree in Medieval History & Archaeology at the University of St Andrews, and she gained a Distinction in her Masters in Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bristol. From time to time she accompanies James on tours or day trips adding an extra dimension to the guiding with her archaeological knowledge and landscape history background.
Gill Casey - Administration support
Gill in the Brecon Beacons, Wales
Gill is a part-time Administrator who helps us with our growing administrative workload. If you enquire about a trip or are signed up for a trip with us, you will most likely get an email from Gill at some point! As well, as having extensive experience in administration in the printing and IT industries, Gill enjoys travelling and walking (usually with her dog!) She has also competed for Great Britain in the Duathlon and Triathlon, and has run 12 marathons, with a best time of 3 hours 17 minutes...!
Additional GeoWorld Travel Guides
Nicole Grünert - Namibia
Nicole at Tsaobis, Namibia
Nicole leads our Namibia trips. She holds a Masters degree in Geology from the Technical University in Aachen, Germany. She immigrated to Namibia in 1994 and since then has been leading geological tours and safaris. She is the author of the books: Namibia – Fascination of Geology and Namibia – Geological Wonderland. Nicole is a registered Namibian tour guide and travel agent.
Angus Miller - Scotland
Angus in Holyrood Park, Scotland
Angus Miller, one of Scotland’s best known geology guides, will be leading the second of GeoWorld Travel's scheduled Scotland tours in 2026, with plans to repeat in 2027.
Angus is already well-know through Geowalks, the geological guiding business he has run since the late nineties. He has spent more than twenty five years helping people explore Scotland’s landscapes, telling the story of the rocks beneath our feet in a way that feels warm, clear and very human. His passion for Scotland began on childhood holidays in the Highlands and islands, and it carried him all the way through geology studies in Edinburgh, work with conservation projects in the Highlands, research on Icelandic volcanoes and even time with the Montserrat Volcano Observatory during its major eruption in the mid nineties.
Since founding Geowalks in 1998, Angus has introduced thousands of people to Scotland’s geological story. His walks on Arthur’s Seat have become something of a local tradition, and his work with organisations such as the Edinburgh Science Festival, Dynamic Earth, Historic Environment Scotland and schools across the city has made him a familiar name to many. Alongside guiding he also teaches adult education courses at the University of Edinburgh and has played a leading role in promoting Scottish geodiversity, including chairing the Scottish Geodiversity Forum and helping to establish the Scottish Geology Trust.
RObina Barton - Shetland
Robina in Shetland
Robina leads our Shetland trip. Robina was born in Sunderland and grew up in North Yorkshire. She has family connections in Shetland and spent many childhood summers in Yell before moving permanently to the islands in 2006 to work for Shetland Amenity Trust archaeology department. She has an MA in Archaeology and Ancient Hebrew from Glasgow University. In 2008 she became Geology Project Officer at the Trust, responsible for coordinating the activities of Geopark Shetland. This role involved interpretation, education, promotion and conservation as well as organisation and delivery of the annual Shetland Nature Festival. Robina was a member of the European Geoparks Network Coordination Committee and the UK Geoparks Forum for several years. In 2013 she became the Chair of the Scottish Geoparks Partnership and worked closely with the Scottish Geodiversity Forum to conserve, interpret and promote Scotland’s incredible geo-heritage until 2015. In 2016 she began a tour guiding business, Selkie Ventures, with a focus on Geology. She currently works for Shetland Islands Council as a Transport Policy Officer whilst continuing to run geological tours events and activities, most recently for the Scottish Geology Trust. She enjoys sea swimming, reading, dancing, climbing and is involved with a number of local heritage and tourism related groups.
International Field Partners
Youssef Nomada - Morocco
Youssef (centre) with his team in the Erg Chebbi Dunes, Morocco
Youssef is GeoWorld Travel’s senior field partner in Morocco and is based in Ouarzazate. He comes from the fossil-rich regions of southern Morocco, where GeoWorld Travel spends much of its time during its Morocco itineraries. Together with his brothers, Youssef runs an established and well-regarded tourism operation across Morocco, providing vehicles, drivers, accommodation coordination, field logistics, and practical on-the-ground support throughout the journey. He and his team also contribute local knowledge and cultural context, working in close collaboration with GeoWorld Travel’s Morocco geological guide.
Abulgani - Oman
Abby and James with Abulgani at the World Travel Market in London
Abulgani is GeoWorld Travel’s senior field partner in Oman and has worked closely with the company over many years. He provides on-the-ground support for GeoWorld Travel’s Oman itineraries, including driving, accommodation coordination, access to sites, and practical field logistics throughout the journey. He has extensive experience supporting geology-focused travel, including university geology field trips, and plays a key role in ensuring that trips run smoothly and efficiently in the field, working in close collaboration with GeoWorld Travel’s geological guides.
Thobela Roloma - South Africa
Tobz on the Barberton Geotrail, South Africa
Thobela, known as Tobz, grew up in the coastal village of Chintsa in the Eastern Cape. He possesses the reputable FGASA certification as a nature guide, and has obtained national accreditation as a cultural guide. Tobz has also been awarded with the title of "South Africa Specialist" by the South African Tourism Board (SAT).
In 2018, Tobz was a First Runner-up on prestigious Lilizela tourism award and was recognised as one of the best cultural guides in South Africa. With over a decade of industry experience, Tobz founded his own general interest South African tour guide business – one of the most exciting journeys in his life.