From the carboniferous limestone reef-knolls of the Lancashire area, the single most important example of limestone paving in Britain at Silverdale, the drumlins around the mouth of the River Wyre to the dramatic screes at Wasdale, Cumbria, the region is one of truly diverse natural features.

This diversity means that almost all types of landscape and water feature can be found in the Northwest.

The meres of Cheshire provide a unique landscape in this country – formed as a result of the solution of halite beds beneath the ground.
The North Pennines AONB is of international importance for its geology and was the first area in the UK to be awarded the status of European Geopark in June 2003.

It has 23 Sites of Special Scientific Interest because of its geological importance and was created when the massive Alston Block was uplifted. This resulted in major faults – the Eden Scarp to the west and the Tyne Gap to the north.