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List of volcanoes in the United Kingdom facts for kids

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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.

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Even though they are no longer active, the United Kingdom has many fascinating sites that were once powerful volcanoes.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 / 52.7145; -1.3206 (Bardon Hill) Leicestershire 570 Ma
Barrow Hill - - 52°30′22″N 2°07′34″W / 52.506°N 2.126°W / 52.506; -2.126 (Barrow Hill) Staffordshire 311 Ma
Calton Hill - - 53°14′25″N 1°49′23″W / 53.240395°N 1.823151°W / 53.240395; -1.823151 (Calton Hill) Derbyshire 330 Ma
Cawsand volcano - - 50°19′52″N 4°12′08″W / 50.3311°N 4.2021°W / 50.3311; -4.2021 (Cawsand) Cornwall 280 Ma
The Cheviot 815 2674 55°28′42″N 2°08′44″W / 55.47823°N 2.14553°W / 55.47823; -2.14553 (The Cheviot) Northumberland 390 Ma
Gurnard's Head - - 50°11′30″N 5°35′57″W / 50.19160°N 5.59922°W / 50.19160; -5.59922 (Gurnards Head) Cornwall 400 Ma
Haweswater caldera - - 54°31′08″N 2°48′17″W / 54.51889°N 2.80472°W / 54.51889; -2.80472 (Haweswater caldera) Westmorland -
Helvellyn 950 3118 54°31′38″N 3°00′58″W / 54.527232°N 3.016054°W / 54.527232; -3.016054 (Helvellyn) Westmorland -
Langdale caldera - - 54°27′N 3°04′E / 54.45°N 3.07°E / 54.45; 3.07 (Warboys) Lancashire Ordovician
Lundy (?) 143 369 51°10′48″N 04°40′12″W / 51.18000°N 4.67000°W / 51.18000; -4.67000 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 / 54.454222; -3.211528 (Scafells) Cumberland 430 Ma
Speedwell vent - - 53°20′29″N 1°47′32″W / 53.3414°N 1.7921°W / 53.3414; -1.7921 (Speedwell) Derbyshire Carboniferous
Warboys - - 52°24′N 0°04′W / 52.4°N 0.07°W / 52.4; -0.07 (Warboys) 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 / 55.25000; -6.48528 (Giant's Causeway) Palaeogene
Scawt Hill 378 1240 54°54′38″N 5°54′55″W / 54.9105°N 5.9154°W / 54.9105; -5.9154 (Scawt Hill) -
Slemish 437 1434 54°52′55″N 6°5′49″W / 54.88194°N 6.09694°W / 54.88194; -6.09694 (Slemish) Palaeogene
Slieve Gallion 528 1732 54°44′N 6°46′W / 54.73°N 6.76°W / 54.73; -6.76 (Slieve Gallion) -
Slieve Gullion 573 1880 54°08′N 6°26′W / 54.133°N 6.433°W / 54.133; -6.433 (Slieve Gullion) Palaeocene
Tievebulliagh 402 1319 55°04′27″N 6°07′59″W / 55.07419°N 6.13302°W / 55.07419; -6.13302 (Tievebulliagh) -

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 / 57.500; -11.000 (Anton Dohrn Seamount) 40-70 Ma
Ardnamurchan - - 56°44′00″N 5°59′00″W / 56.73333°N 5.98333°W / 56.73333; -5.98333 (Ardnamurchan) 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 / 55.94417; -3.16194 (Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh) 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 / 57.20; -6.2 (Cuillin Hills) 43 Ma
Dundee Law extinct volcano in Dundee 500 56°28′11″N 2°59′22″W / 56.4698°N 2.9894°W / 56.4698; -2.9894 (Dundee Law) 443.8
Elie Ness - - 56°11′24″N 2°49′24″W / 56.18988°N 2.82334°W / 56.18988; -2.82334 -
Erlend - - 61°00′N 0°18′W / 61.00°N 0.30°W / 61.00; -0.30 (Erlend) 58 Ma
Eshaness stratovolcano - - 60°29′N 1°35′W / 60.49°N 1.59°W / 60.49; -1.59 (Eshaness stratovolcano) -
Glen Coe Caldera - - 56°40′08″N 5°01′34″W / 56.669°N 5.026°W / 56.669; -5.026 (Glen Coe Caldera) 416.0 Ma
Hebrides Terrace Seamount - - 56°28′N 10°17′W / 56.467°N 10.283°W / 56.467; -10.283 (Hebrides Terrace Seamount) 48 Ma
North Berwick Law 187 613 56°03′05″N 2°42′58″W / 56.05139°N 2.71611°W / 56.05139; -2.71611 (Berwick Law, North Berwick) 298.9 Ma
Peniel Heugh 237 778 55°31′45″N 2°33′03″W / 55.5292°N 2.5508°W / 55.5292; -2.5508 (Peniel Heugh) -
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 / 57.596306; -13.687306 (Rockall) -
Rùm volcano 812 2,664 56°59′38″N 6°20′38″W / 56.994°N 6.344°W / 56.994; -6.344 (Rum) -

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 / 53.2975; -3.8290 (Deganwy Castle) Caernarfonshire -
Mynydd y Dref 244 801 53°16′59″N 3°51′45″W / 53.2831°N 3.8624°W / 53.2831; -3.8624 (Mynydd y Dref) Caernarfonshire 450 Ma
Rhobell Fawr 734 2408 52°48′50″N 3°48′07″W / 52.814°N 3.802°W / 52.814; -3.802 (Rhobell Fawr) Merionethshire -
Snowdon 1085 3560 Caernarfonshire -
Treffgarne Rocks - - 51°52′27″N 4°58′10″W / 51.8742°N 4.9694°W / 51.8742; -4.9694 (Treffgarne) Pembrokeshire Ordovician

See also

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List of volcanoes in the United Kingdom Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.