The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland, and several smaller islands. Great Britain contains England, Scotland, and Wales. England is mostly low hills and plains, with mountain ranges like the Pennines and Lake District. Scotland has lowlands and highlands, with its highest peak being Ben Nevis. Wales is mountainous with ranges like Snowdonia and Snowdon. Ireland is also very green with high mountains and rivers like the Shannon. The British Isles have a mild, temperate climate that is unstable, windy, and damp.

1. Marcus Hildebrandt
British Studies
Miina Härma Grammar School
2008/9
THE BRITISH ISLES
(from Let Us Explore the British Isles, ch. 1)
consist of
1. Great Britain (the largest island)
consists of
- England
mostly low hills and plains
Pennine Chain (“backbone of England”): mountain-chain that divides northern
England into western and eastern parts
Lake District in the north-west (Scafell Pike, 978 m)

2. Peninsula of Cornwall (the sunniest and warmest; Gulf Stream)
- Scotland
Lowlands (hills, fields, wood, more densely populated)
Northern Highlands (Ben Nevis, 1,373 m)
Great Glen (lochs and canals; Loch Ness; Loch Morar (310 m))
Loch Ness

3. - Wales
many mountains (Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons; mountains of
Snowdonia: Snowdon, 1,085 m)
Snowdon
Offa’s Dyke (8th century)
Severn (322 km; longest river in the UK)
Great Britain + Northern Ireland = the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (United Kingdom; UK) capital: London
The UK:
350 miles from west to east; 600 miles from north to south
6,000 miles of coastline
man-made scenery (Lancelot Brown, 1716-1783, garden designer)

4. 2. Ireland (Republic of Ireland; capital: Dublin)
second largest island
also called the “Emerald Isle”
very green
high mountains
Liffey and Shannon are the main rivers
Cliffs of Moher (major scenic attraction)

5. famous dairy products
3. several smaller islands (the Isle of Wight; Anglesey; the Channel Islands; the Isles of
Scilly, the Isle of Man; the Inner and Outer Hebrides; the Orkney Islands; the Shetland
Islands)
Isle of Man

6. The Isle of Barra (Outer Hebrides)
The UK’s Climate
mild and temperate, but unstable
windy and damp
most rain in the west and upland parts
south-east and East Anglia much drier
October to January the wettest period
+15 - 20 C in summer
-5 - +7 in winter
sample diagram for London-Heathrow
Source: http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-bin/regframe?3&PRG=cityklima&LANG=en&WMO=03772&INFO=0&PAG=0
Videos to be presented:
http://vodpod.com/watch/850265-pbss-rick-steves-british-isles-travel-
videos?pod=britishstudies (if available)
http://vodpod.com/watch/845157-visit-britain-podcast-history?pod=britishstudies
http://vodpod.com/watch/845148-visit-britain-modern-cities-podcast?pod=britishstudies