Landslide case studies

The Landslides Team at BGS has studied numerous landslides. This work informs our geological maps, memoirs and sheet explanations and provides data for our National Landslide Database.

Please note the 'See Also' list on the right of all these pages. This is where you will find photographs, PDF reports, papers, useful references and other links.

To view information about a landslide, click on one of the icons on the map below.

Browse Case Studies

Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire Aldbrough, East Riding of Yorkshire

Images and information of the rapidly eroding coast at Aldbrough. Terrestrial LiDAR.


Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

Report on a rockfall on the south side of Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, in the early hours of 28 February 2007.


Beachy Head, Sussex Beachy Head, Sussex

Images and information of our monitoring study at Beach Head using Terrestrial LiDAR.


Beachy Head, Sussex Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire

The BGS Landslide Response Team made a visit to the landslide on 30 September 2010 to investigate using BGS SIGMA·mobile.


Cayton Bay, Knipe Point, North Yorkshire Cayton Bay, Knipe Point, North Yorkshire

Landslide at Knipe Point where a large landslide is affecting homes at the top of the cliff.


Chesterfield area Chesterfield area

Report on the geology and landslides of the area around Chesterfield, Geological Sheet 112.


Chesterfield area Cyprus

Geological overview of landslides in the Paphos District in Cyprus.


Derbyshire area Derbyshire area

Report on the geology and landslides of the area north of Derby, Geological Sheet 125.


Fenny Bentley B5065, Derbyshire Fenny Bentley B5065, Derbyshire

Images and information about the landslide


Folkestone Warren, Kent Folkestone Warren, Kent

Information and photographs of the landslide at Folkestone Warren.


Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead, Stirlingshire Glen Ogle, Lochearnhead, Stirlingshire

Detailed geological report on two landslides which blocked the A85 road in August 2004. Fifty-seven people were trapped in their cars and either escaped on foot or by helicopter.


Happisburgh, Norfolk Happisburgh, Norfolk

Images and information on the coastal erosion monitoring using terrestrial LiDAR at Happisburgh in Norfolk.


Holbeck Hall, Scarborough, North Yorkshire Holbeck Hall, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

The Holbeck Hall Hotel was destroyed in 1993. Information and photographs of the landslide.


Hell's Mouth, Cornwall Hell's Mouth, Cornwall

This landslide occurred in September 2011.
Information and photographs of the landslide.


Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire

Notes, information, photographs and links on several of the landslides found in the Ironbridge Gorge.


Isle of Wight Isle of Wight

Information on how we have mapped landslides on the Isle of Wight.


Japan Japan

Selected photographs and information of landslides from a recent visit to Japan.


Little Hey, West Yorkshire Little Hey, West Yorkshire

Detailed geological report on a landslide which caused the closure of the A6024 road between Holmfirth and Woodhead Reservoir in November 2004.


Lockerbie Scroggs Cleuch landslide, Dumfries and Galloway Lockerbie Scroggs Cleuch landslide, Dumfries and Galloway

Detailed geological report on a landslide which caused a bank to collapse and road closure in December 2006.


Lyme Regis, Dorset Lyme Regis, Dorset

A small landslide on the coast near Lyme Regis.


Mam Tor, Derbyshire Mam Tor, Derbyshire

The famous Mam Tor landslide, Derbyshire. Photographs, information and references on the site.


Nefyn Bay, North Wales Nefyn Bay, North Wales

On 2 January 2001, a fatal landslide occurred in the coastal village of Nefyn on the Lleyn Peninsula.


Landslide at Oxwich Bay, Gower Peninsula Oxwich Bay, Gower Peninsula

Information and photographs of the rockfall which occurred on the Gower Peninsula in December 2009.


Penicuik, Midlothian Penicuik, Midlothian

Detailed geological report on a landslide on a former mill landfill site in January 2007.


Pennington Point, Devon Pennington Point, south-east Devon coast

Rare photographs of a rock fall in action as witnessed and photographed by local resident, Eve Mathews.


Porthkerry rockfall Rock fall Porthkerry, Barry, South Wales, 31 October 2011 *NEW*

A rock fall occurred on the sea cliff at the Porthkerry Leisure Park on Monday 31 October 2011.


Rest-and-be-Thankful pass, A83, near Arrochar, Argyll Rest-and-be-Thankful pass, A83, near Arrochar, Argyll, 2009

On 8 September 2009 a landslide blocked the A83 road, known as the Rest and Be Thankful pass, causing the closure of the road. The BGS Landslide Response Team made a visit to the landslide.


Rest-and-be-Thankful pass, A83, near Arrochar, Argyll Rest-and-be-Thankful pass, A83, near Arrochar, Argyll, 2007

In October 2007, the A83 trunk road between Arrochar and Lochgoilhead was blocked by a debris flow near the head of the Rest-and-be-Thankful pass. Poster of the study.


Sidestrand, Norfolk Sidestrand, Norfolk

Images and information on the large landslide at Sidestrand in Norfolk. The Landslides Team has been monitoring this landslide using terrestrial LiDAR.


Snake Pass, Derbyshire Snake Pass, Derbyshire

Detailed geological report of a landslide that blocked the A57 (Snake Pass) road between Glossop and the Ladybower Reservoir, in January 2008.


Stonebarrow Hill, Dorset Stonebarrow Hill, Dorset

Images and information on the landslide. Terrestrial LiDAR.


Whitehaven, Cumbria Whitehaven, Cumbria

Detailed geological report on a landslide at South Beach in Whitehaven which resulted in a fatality, January 2007.


York District York District

A report on the geology and landslides of the area covered by the 1:50 000 scale BGS map of York (Sheet 63).


Contact the Landslide Response Team

British Geological Survey
Keyworth
Nottingham
NG12 5GG
E-mail: Landslides team
Telephone: 0115 936 3143
Fax: 0115 936 3276