Key Terms: Physical Landscapes of the UK (AQA GCSE Geography): Revision Note

Physical landscapes of the UK - key terms glossary

Boulder clay – A soft, easily eroded material deposited by glaciers; found along parts of the UK coast such as the Holderness Coast.

Character (of a landscape) – The visible features of an area shaped by the combination of natural elements like geology and relief, and human activity such as land use and settlement.

Coastline features – Landforms like arches, stacks, and spits created by erosion and deposition along the coast; seen in places like the Dorset coast.

Estuary – The tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream. Examples include the River Severn estuary (Bristol) and the River Mersey (Liverpool).

Fens – Flat, low-lying marshlands found in eastern England; originally wetlands that have been extensively drained for agriculture.

Glaciated uplands – Mountainous regions shaped by glacial processes; includes areas like Snowdonia and the Lake District.

Grampian Mountains – Part of the Scottish Highlands, home to Ben Nevis. Known for steep, rocky terrain and sparse population.

Holderness Coast – A coastline on the east of England made mainly of soft boulder clay, which erodes rapidly.

Lake District – An upland area in north-west England with prominent glacial features.

Landscape – An area’s appearance shaped by the interaction of physical (natural) and human elements.

Lowlands – Gently sloping or flat areas of land found mainly in the south and east of the UK, including regions like Norfolk and the South Downs.

Relief – The shape of the land in terms of elevation and slope. It is determined by geology and glacial history.

Rugged – A descriptive term meaning rocky and uneven, often used to describe upland landscapes like the Highlands or Snowdonia.

Snowdonia – A glaciated upland area in North Wales formed from ancient volcanic rock; known for steep valleys and mountainous terrain.

South Downs – A range of chalk hills forming a lowland landscape in southern England.

Upland areas – High elevation regions with steep relief, usually found in northern and western UK (e.g., Grampians, Lake District, Snowdonia).