List of volcanoes in the United Kingdom facts for kids
There are no active volcanoes in the United Kingdom today. However, some British Overseas Territories do have active volcanoes. These include Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha, Soufrière Hills volcano on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, and Mount Belinda and Mount Michael in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
The last time volcanoes were active in what is now the United Kingdom was over 50 million years ago. This was during the early Palaeogene period, when the Atlantic Ocean began to open up. Many hills and mountains in the UK that people call "extinct volcanoes" are actually the very old, deeply worn-down roots of volcanoes that were active long, long ago. Some places, like The Wrekin, are sometimes thought to be volcanoes, but they are actually areas where volcanic material settled down, not volcanoes themselves.
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Exploring the UK's Ancient Volcanoes
Even though they are no longer active, the United Kingdom has many fascinating sites that were once powerful volcanoes. These ancient giants have been shaped by time and weather, leaving behind clues about Earth's fiery past. Below is a list of some of these extinct volcanoes across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
Ancient Volcanoes in England
England is home to several ancient volcanic sites. These places show us how much the landscape has changed over millions of years.
| Name | Elevation | Location | Last eruption | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| metres | feet | Coordinates | Traditional county | ||
| Bardon Hill | 276 | 912 | 52°42′52″N 1°19′14″W / 52.7145°N 1.3206°W | Leicestershire | 570 Ma |
| Barrow Hill | - | - | 52°30′22″N 2°07′34″W / 52.506°N 2.126°W | Staffordshire | 311 Ma |
| Calton Hill | - | - | 53°14′25″N 1°49′23″W / 53.240395°N 1.823151°W | Derbyshire | 330 Ma |
| Cawsand volcano | - | - | 50°19′52″N 4°12′08″W / 50.3311°N 4.2021°W | Cornwall | 280 Ma |
| The Cheviot | 815 | 2674 | 55°28′42″N 2°08′44″W / 55.47823°N 2.14553°W | Northumberland | 390 Ma |
| Gurnard's Head | - | - | 50°11′30″N 5°35′57″W / 50.19160°N 5.59922°W | Cornwall | 400 Ma |
| Haweswater caldera | - | - | 54°31′08″N 2°48′17″W / 54.51889°N 2.80472°W | Westmorland | - |
| Helvellyn | 950 | 3118 | 54°31′38″N 3°00′58″W / 54.527232°N 3.016054°W | Westmorland | - |
| Langdale caldera | - | - | 54°27′N 3°04′E / 54.45°N 3.07°E | Lancashire | Ordovician |
| Lundy (?) | 143 | 369 | 51°10′48″N 04°40′12″W / 51.18000°N 4.67000°W | Devon | 50 Ma |
| Scafells (including Scafell Pike) | 978 | 3209 | 54°27′15.2″N 3°12′41.5″W / 54.454222°N 3.211528°W | Cumberland | 430 Ma |
| Speedwell vent | - | - | 53°20′29″N 1°47′32″W / 53.3414°N 1.7921°W | Derbyshire | Carboniferous |
| Warboys | - | - | 52°24′N 0°04′W / 52.4°N 0.07°W | Huntingdonshire | Hercynian orogeny |
Ancient Volcanoes in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland also has a rich volcanic history. Many of its famous landscapes were formed by ancient eruptions.
| Name | Elevation | Location | Last eruption | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| metres | feet | Coordinates | ||
| Carrickarede | - | - | 60 Ma | |
| Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland | - | - | 55°15′00″N 6°29′07″W / 55.25000°N 6.48528°W | Palaeogene |
| Scawt Hill | 378 | 1240 | 54°54′38″N 5°54′55″W / 54.9105°N 5.9154°W | - |
| Slemish | 437 | 1434 | 54°52′55″N 6°5′49″W / 54.88194°N 6.09694°W | Palaeogene |
| Slieve Gallion | 528 | 1732 | 54°44′N 6°46′W / 54.73°N 6.76°W | - |
| Slieve Gullion | 573 | 1880 | 54°08′N 6°26′W / 54.133°N 6.433°W | Palaeocene |
| Tievebulliagh | 402 | 1319 | 55°04′27″N 6°07′59″W / 55.07419°N 6.13302°W | - |
Ancient Volcanoes in Scotland
Scotland's rugged landscape was also shaped by powerful volcanic activity long ago. Many of its famous hills and islands are the remains of these ancient volcanoes.
| Name | Elevation | Location | Last eruption | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| metres | feet | Coordinates | ||
| Anton Dohrn Seamount | - | - | 57°30′N 11°00′W / 57.500°N 11.000°W | 40-70 Ma |
| Ardnamurchan | - | - | 56°44′00″N 5°59′00″W / 56.73333°N 5.98333°W | early Eocene: c.55 Ma |
| Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh | 251 | 824 | 55°56′39″N 3°09′43″W / 55.94417°N 3.16194°W | 298.9 Ma |
| Ben Nevis | 1345 | 4411 | 56°47′49″N 5°00′13″W | 298.9 Ma |
| Cuillin Hills (on Isle of Skye) | 992 | 3,255 | 57°12′N 6°12′W / 57.20°N 6.2°W | 43 Ma |
| Dundee Law extinct volcano in Dundee | 500 | 56°28′11″N 2°59′22″W / 56.4698°N 2.9894°W | 443.8 | |
| Elie Ness | - | - | 56°11′24″N 2°49′24″W / 56.18988°N 2.82334°W | - |
| Erlend | - | - | 61°00′N 0°18′W / 61.00°N 0.30°W | 58 Ma |
| Eshaness stratovolcano | - | - | 60°29′N 1°35′W / 60.49°N 1.59°W | - |
| Glen Coe Caldera | - | - | 56°40′08″N 5°01′34″W / 56.669°N 5.026°W | 416.0 Ma |
| Hebrides Terrace Seamount | - | - | 56°28′N 10°17′W / 56.467°N 10.283°W | 48 Ma |
| North Berwick Law | 187 | 613 | 56°03′05″N 2°42′58″W / 56.05139°N 2.71611°W | 298.9 Ma |
| Peniel Heugh | 237 | 778 | 55°31′45″N 2°33′03″W / 55.5292°N 2.5508°W | - |
| Buchan-Glenn Fissure System (Rattray) | - | - | - | 165 Ma |
| Rockall | 17 | 56 | 57°35′46.7″N 13°41′14.3″W / 57.596306°N 13.687306°W | - |
| Rùm volcano | 812 | 2,664 | 56°59′38″N 6°20′38″W / 56.994°N 6.344°W | - |
Ancient Volcanoes in Wales
Wales, with its dramatic mountains, also has a history of volcanic activity. These ancient sites tell a story of powerful geological forces.
| Name | Elevation | Location | Last eruption | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| metres | feet | Coordinates | Traditional county | ||
| Deganwy Castle volcano | 110 | 631 | 53°17′51″N 3°49′44″W / 53.2975°N 3.8290°W | Caernarfonshire | - |
| Mynydd y Dref | 244 | 801 | 53°16′59″N 3°51′45″W / 53.2831°N 3.8624°W | Caernarfonshire | 450 Ma |
| Rhobell Fawr | 734 | 2408 | 52°48′50″N 3°48′07″W / 52.814°N 3.802°W | Merionethshire | - |
| Snowdon | 1085 | 3560 | Caernarfonshire | - | |
| Treffgarne Rocks | - | - | 51°52′27″N 4°58′10″W / 51.8742°N 4.9694°W | Pembrokeshire | Ordovician |
See also
- List of volcanoes in Montserrat
- List of volcanoes in South Sandwich Islands
