Paper 1 > Section C > Physical landscapes in the UK

• Physical landscapes in the UK

  The UK has a varied landscape as the relief of the land changes in different parts of the country.
• Relief refers to the way the landscape changes in height. 

  Upland areas are high above sea level. 

  Lowland areas are not very high above sea level. 
• Upland areas = sections of the UK with high relief above sea level, these are mountainous or hilly
• Lowland areas = sections of the UK with low relief above sea level, often close to a coastline and referred to as ‘low lying’
• River systems = every part of a river from its source to its mouth
• Upland areas are mainly found in:

  • Scotland - The Northwest Highlands, the Cairngorm Mountains, the Grampian Mountains and the Southern Uplands. Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak and is found in the Grampian Mountains.
  • England - The Pennines, Lake District, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and is found in the Lake District.
  • Wales - Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and is found in Snowdonia.
• Lowland areas can be found in the following places:

  • around The Wash (East Anglia and Lincolnshire)
  • Lincolnshire
  • the Fens in East Anglia - the lowest place in the UK
  • the Midlands
  • the London Basin
  • the Vale of York
• Upland areas

  Example: The Grampian mountains

  • Located in the north west of the UK, in Scotland.
  • Home to Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in the UK)
  • The land here is steep, rocky and at a high elevation.
  • The landscape is harsh so the area is sparsely populated
• Lowland areas

  Example: The Holderness coastline

  • Located in the east of the UK, on the coastline of the North Sea.
  • Contains many coastal towns and villages.
  • The land here is very flat, and the cliffs are made of soft boulder clay so they erode quickly.
  • The landscape has good conditions for living so is relatively densely populated.
• Rivers shaping our land  

  The UK consists of a number of river basins. These are large areas of land drained by a river and its tributaries. At 220 miles the longest river in the UK is the River Severn.
• River systems

  Example: The River Clyde

  • Located in the north of the UK, in Scotland.
  • The upper course is a steep, mountainous area with low population density.
  • The middle and lower course have much flatter relief with a much higher population density.
  • Glasgow is located on the flood plain
• Physical landscapes in the UK

  The UK has a varied landscape as the relief of the land changes in different parts of the country.
• Relief

  Relief refers to the way the landscape changes in height. 
• Upland areas = sections of the UK with high relief above sea level, these are mountainous or hilly
• Lowland areas = sections of the UK with low relief above sea level, often close to a coastline and referred to as ‘low lying’
• River systems = every part of a river from its source to its mouth
• Upland areas are mainly found in:

  • Scotland - The Northwest Highlands, the Cairngorm Mountains, the Grampian Mountains and the Southern Uplands. Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak and is found in the Grampian Mountains.
  • England - The Pennines, Lake District, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and is found in the Lake District.
  • Wales - Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and is found in Snowdonia.
• Upland areas are mainly found in:

  • Scotland - The Northwest Highlands, the Cairngorm Mountains, the Grampian Mountains and the Southern Uplands. Ben Nevis is the UK's highest peak and is found in the Grampian Mountains.
  • England - The Pennines, Lake District, Dartmoor and Exmoor. Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and is found in the Lake District.
  • Wales - Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons. Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and is found in Snowdonia.
• Lowland areas can be found in the following places:

  • around The Wash (East Anglia and Lincolnshire)
  • Lincolnshire
  • the Fens in East Anglia - the lowest place in the UK
  • the Midlands
  • the London Basin
  • the Vale of York
• Upland areas

  Example: The Grampian mountains

  • Located in the north west of the UK, in Scotland.
  • Home to Ben Nevis (the highest mountain in the UK)
  • The land here is steep, rocky and at a high elevation.
  • The landscape is harsh so the area is sparsely populated
• Lowland areas

  Example: The Holderness coastline

  • Located in the east of the UK, on the coastline of the North Sea.
  • Contains many coastal towns and villages.
  • The land here is very flat, and the cliffs are made of soft boulder clay so erode quickly.
  • The landscape has good conditions for living so is relatively densely populated.
• River systems

  Example: The River Clyde

  • Located in the north of the UK, in Scotland.
  • The upper course is a steep, mountainous area with low population density.
  • The middle and lower course have much flatter relief with a much higher population density.
  • Glasgow is located on the flood plain
• Describe the relief of the UK [4 marks].

  Point: Overall, the relief of the UK is varied. 

  Evidence: The main upland areas are located in the north and west of the UK (1 mark)

  Examples of upland areas are the grampian mountains, Ben Nevis(1 mark) 

  Evidence: The lowland areas are found in the south and east of the UK (1 mark)

  An example of a lowland area is the holderness coastline (1 mark)