Abstract
Whereas in Britain the erosion of peat in upland areas has been mapped and discussed widely, in Ireland there has been only brief mention of peat erosion and few attempts to map its distribution. In this paper the erosion of the peat in the uplands of Northern Ireland is mapped and classified; water erosion is of two types, anastomosing channels and parallel or sub-parallel gullies. The relationships of these two types to relief, to vegetational patterns, to the distribution of rock basins and to piping in the peat are discussed. Studies of townland boundaries cut in the peat surface have also shown that the activity of man in the recent past has contributed to the development of erosion. Finally, changes in climate towards wetter conditions are considered in relation to the other factors.