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UK Physical Landscapes

The UK has a varied physical landscape with upland areas in the north and west, and lowland areas in the south and east. The landscape is shaped by different rock types, rivers, coasts and glacial processes.

The UK's main upland areas (orange and red on the map) tend to be in the north and west of the country. These areas (e.g. the Scottish Highlands and northern Wales) are formed of hard, igneous (e.g. granite) and metamorphic (e.g. slate and schist) rocks that are resistant to erosion. The UK's main lowland areas (green on the map) to the south and east are formed of softer, sedimentary rocks (e.g. chalk, clay and clays) that erode more easily. Most cities are in lowland areas and often on the UK's main rivers -- such as London (on the Thames), Liverpool (on the Mersey) and Cardiff (on the Severn Estuary).

Key Terms

Upland areas — Areas of higher ground, typically found in the north and west of the UK, formed of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks resistant to erosion.
Lowland areas — Areas of lower ground, typically found in the south and east of the UK, formed of softer sedimentary rocks that erode more easily.
Igneous rock — Hard rock formed from cooled magma or lava, e.g. granite. Resistant to erosion.
Metamorphic rock — Hard rock that has been changed by heat and pressure, e.g. slate and schist. Resistant to erosion.
Sedimentary rock — Softer rock formed from layers of deposited material, e.g. chalk, clay and clays. Erodes more easily.

Map of UK Physical Landscapes

A map of the UK showing upland areas (in orange/red) in the north and west, and lowland areas (in green) in the south and east. Major rivers are marked including the Spey, Tay, Tweed, Clyde, Tyne, Trent, Great Ouse, Severn, Wye, Thames, and Mersey. Mountain ranges and upland areas are labelled.

Grampian MountainsRiver Clyde Lower ValleyLake DistrictMourne MountainsPenninesSnowdoniaThe FensHolderness CoastDorset CoastSpeyTayTweedClydeTyneTrentGreat OuseSevernWyeThamesMersey

Exam Tips

  • •You'll find that the UK physical portrait is much easier to fit on a page... This is a lovely little introduction to the rest of the UK physical landscapes section. You can actually revise it by looking through your holiday snaps or out the window on a long journey. Or by gazing at a lovely map...
  • •Remember, you only need to learn two from Coastal, River and Glacial Landscapes in the UK -- if this is not one of your chosen themes, you can skip straight to the next topic.