Britain's active volcanos are long gone. But these 7 stunning landscapes were left behind

Britain's active volcanos are long gone. But these 7 stunning landscapes were left behind

Image credit: Getty Images


With its lush fields, meandering rivers and wild forests, it's hard to imagine that the UK's geological past was at times long and violent. But the country we see today is the result of millions of years of geological activity.

Plates have collided forming new landmasses, volcanic vents have spewed out tonnes of magma and super volcanoes have exploded causing cataclysmic changes to the environment.

Right across the country from Devon to the Highlands, there are clues of this violent past in the shape of extinct volcanos and signs of volcanic activity such as lava deposits collapsed craters and volcanic vents.

1. Exeter

Remnants of Rougemont Castle in Exeter seen on the left hand side of a road.
Rougemont Castle in Exeter sits atop where an active volcanic region once was. Image credit: Getty Images

Between 280 and 290 million years ago when the continents had fused together to form the supercontinent of Pangea, Devon was a very active volcanic region.

It's hard to believe but the now peaceful Rougemont Castle in the centre of Exeter would have been at the heart of this activity. But a keen eye can spot the crop of igneous rock the castle is built upon.

In fact, builders actually utilised the rock that came from this volcanic event, with many buildings throughout Exeter being built using volcanic stone.

2. Arthur's Seat

A photo of Arthur's Seat with a view of Edinburgh in the background
Arthur's Seat, a popular walking spot, towers over Edinburgh. Image credit: Getty Images

Perhaps the most famous extinct volcano in Britain, Arthur's Seat towers 250.5m above the town of Edinburgh making it the perfect challenge for visitors.

You can still see signs of its violent past as rounded basalt rocks or volcano bombs can be found within the rock at the base of the hill.

While its history was violent, in its modern day use Arthur's Seat is one of Edinburgh's biggest tourist attractions.

3. Conwy Mountain

Conwy Mountain seen from below on a sunny day
Conwy Mountain might be small but it th remains of an ancient volcano. Image credit: Getty Images

Overlooking the town of Conwy and Conwy Bay Mynydd y Dref (or Conwy Mountain) is the remains of a 450-million-year-old volcano.

Shaped by erosion and shifting continents, the hill is home to wild Carneddau ponies which may have lived on the mountainside for a thousand years.

4. Glen Coe

Glen Coe's volcanic mountain seen from far away
Glen Coe is one of Scotland's more dramatic landscapes featuring tall peaks and a dark history. Image credit: Getty Images - Image credit: Getty Images

The region of Glen Coe, one of the most stunning in the UK, was once the site of an enormous super volcano.

During its active life, powerful blasts would have sent giant ash clouds and lava flows for miles around, devastating everything its came in contact with. The eruptions were so intense that the ground sunk by up to a kilometre as the magma was expelled.

5. Slemish Mountain

Slemish mountain seen during a summer evening as the sun sets
Slemish Mountain is famous as being the first home of Saint Patrick. Image credit: Getty Images - Image credit: Getty Images

In legend, Slemish or St Patrick's Mountain was where a young St Patrick was taken as a teenager and forced to tend to animals. It's said it was the solitude on the mountain that brought him closer to God. The mountain is a volcanic plug formed 60 million years ago.

Now, the mountain remains a popular route for hikers. Each St Patricks Day, people descend on the mountain to celebrate the saint where he supposedly became closer to God.

6. Snowdon

Snowdon seen during the setting evening sun from far away
Snowdon stands as the highest peak in Wales. Image credit: Getty Images - Image credit: Getty Images

450 million years ago, Mount Snowdon was part of a 10-kilometre volcanic caldera. Volcanic activity in a shallow sea caused the huge crater to form and resulted in a layer of ash measuring up to 500 metres deep.

Colliding continents caused this landmass to surge upwards forming the mountain which was later shaped by glaciers.

7. Scafell Pike

The sun rising over the top of Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England. Image credit: Getty Images - Image credit: Getty Images

Back in a time before the dinosaurs, Scafell Pike was part of a volcanic island chain which would have looked more like the western Pacific region than Cumbria.

Like Snowdon the mountain's present shape is mostly thanks to glacial erosion when the region lay under a thick layer of ice.

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