The geographical peculiarities of the British Isles.

[Feek]

Norwich is further north than Birmingham.
Edinburgh is further west than Bristol.

Both of these are true statements due to the shape and tilt of the British Isles but both feel wrong.

What other geographical peculiarities are there?

 

[Feek]

Brits are quick to mock the lack of geographical knowledge sometimes shown by our friends from across the pond, yet in my experience it seems that few Brits actually know (readily) the name of the island that London, Edinburgh and Cardiff are all located on.

… not sure if that’s strictly a ‘geographical’ peculiarity, mind

I used British Isles on purpose because I’m including all the other associated bits, not just England, Scotland and Wales.

 

[Feek]

That aspect throws me quite a bit, the other one, though not so much about the UK as such, is just how much further north the UK is than many parts of Canada which get very cold winters and you'd think were further north.

Agreed, this is an odd one, especially considering that only about 150 people live in the north of Canada, the rest live smuggling against the border for warmth.

 

[Feek]

I’ve always liked the Robinson projection.

 

[Feek]

The most southerly point of Scotland is almost as far south as Middlesbrough

Well, it's quite a distance.
However, parts of Newcastle upon Tyne are further north than the most southerly point of Scotland.

 

[Feek]

This is one of the maps I have in my shack.

Why do I have a great circle map with the bearings written on so they're actually readable?

Because I need to know which way to point the aerial. If I want to talk to people in North America, I point it at 300° rather than the 270° that would be suggested by a Mercator map projection. New Zealand is between North and 40°, not the 120° or so that a Mercator map would suggest and Alaska is 340°, not 280°.