Theme 1

• Landscapes


  Made up of different features and landforms that give a landscape its special or distinctive appearance
• Examples of distinctive landscapes in the UK

  • Upland and lowland areas
  • River and coastal landscapes
• Upland landscape


  A landscape that is hilly or mountainous
• Upland landscape


  • Snowdonia, Llanberis Pass
• Lowland landscape


  An area of land that is lower than the land around it
• Lowland landscape


  • Gwent Levels
• River landscape


  • River Conwy near Betws-y-Coed
  • River Severn at Minsterworth, near Gloucester
• Coastal landscape


  • Ynyslas sand dunes
  • Stair Hole, Dorset
• Main types of landscapes in the UK

  • Mountain and valley landscapes
  • Plates and valley landscapes
• Snowdonia


  Example of a distinctive landscape
• Geology of Snowdonia


  • Diverse upland landscape shaped by volcanic eruptions and extensive glaciation
  • Numerous glacial features such as corries, U-shaped valleys and arêtes
  • Mountain range that drops quickly to the sea
  • Contains the highest mountain in Wales - Snowdon, 1085 m
• Land use in Snowdonia

  • The landscape in many areas has been shaped by slate mining
  • Large areas of agriculture (mainly pastoral) and forestry
  • National Park status-attracts thousands of tourists each year, which has led to the growth of B&Bs, camp sites and other tourist facilities
• Vegetation in Snowdonia


  • Diverse range of both plant and animal life due to the varied physical environments and habitats found
  • Unique and rare species such as the Snowdon lily and the Snowdon beetle
  • Large areas of natural mixed deciduous forests including species such as Welsh oak and birch; and planted coniferous trees which are often harvested
• People and culture in Snowdonia

  • Snowdonia has a rich cultural history with many World Heritage sites including Celtic shrines and fortresses
  • Welsh language widely spoken
• When asked to consider factors that make landscapes distinctive, remember to discuss physical and human features such as: geology, people and culture, vegetation, land use.
• Human activity can have both positive and negative impacts on the natural environment
• Positive impacts of human activity


  • Benefits to rural economies through the money they spend
• Negative impacts of human activity

  • Visitor pressure may adversely affect the landscape and local communities
• Honeypot site


  A place of special interest that attracts tourists
• Carrying capacity


  The maximum population size that an environment can sustain
• Environmental challenges


  Problems caused by human use of the natural landscape or resources
• National Park


  An area which is protected because of its beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage
• Snowdonia National Park has a population of about 25,000 and receives nearly 4.3 million visitors each year, spending 96 million
• Positive impacts of tourism in Snowdonia National Park

  • Provides income and creates jobs
  • Helps to define a farming economy
• Negative impacts of tourism in Snowdonia National Park

  • House prices increase due to rise in second-home ownership
  • Welsh-speaking community became diluted due to increasing non-Welsh speakers
  • Shops providing essential goods are replaced by investors
  • Increased visitor numbers cause congestion on narrow roads
  • Disused slate quarries can be a visual scar on the landscape
  • Footpath erosion, litter and car parking resulting from the large number of visitors are a concern to the local area
• Honeypot sites may help to ease visitor pressure in surrounding parts of the distinctive landscapes
• Visitor pressure


  The increased impact on the landscape, resources and services of an increased number of people due to tourism
• Managing visitor impacts in the Gower AONB

  1. Designated footpaths provide access for visitors but also protect sensitive areas

  2. Detailed information boards at popular visitor sites inform visitors of the unique features of the location

  3. Clearly marked car parks reduce parking on grass verges, which can damage hedgerows and cause congestion on narrow roads

  4. Strict control over planning and building within the area ensures that new developments are restricted, and that extensions or changes to land use do not spoil the natural beauty of an area
• Footpath maintenance in the Brecon Beacons National Park

  1. Volunteer recruitment, for example local environmental groups or ecotourists help National Park wardens to repair footpaths and walls that have been damaged

  2. Logistical operations, for example a helicopter is used to carry footpath material due to the remote location and weight of the materials used

  3. Footpaths are replaced with hard-wearing materials such as stone

  4. Once the footpath has been rebuilt, vegetation can be restored on either side of the path to maintain the unique flora of the area
• Visitors can have impacts such as damage to the natural landscape, resources and services
• Strategies to manage visitor impacts include providing designated footpaths, information boards, car parks, and controlling development
• Increased tourism can benefit a natural landscape by providing income and jobs, and helping to support a local economy
• Advantages and disadvantages of managing visitors in a distinctive landscape

  • Advantages: Protects sensitive areas, reduces damage to landscape, informs visitors, supports local economy
  • Disadvantages: Costs of maintenance, potential loss of natural character, limits access for visitors
• Fluvial processes


  1. Erosion

  2. Transportation

  3. Deposition
• Fluvial erosion


  The wearing away of the land by river processes
• Fluvial erosional processes


  • Abrasion
  • Hydraulic action
  • Solution
• Erosional processes of river bed load

  • Attrition
  • Abrasion
• Fluvial transportation


  The movement of material by the flow of water
• Ways rivers transport material

  • Solution
  • Suspension
  • Saltation
  • Traction
• Fluvial deposition


  The dropping of the material carried by the river