On-demand, virtual fieldwork
Virtual field trips to both present-day glacial environments and deglaciated ones – whenever you want! And all for free!
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Supporting, not replacing, 'real' fieldwork
Virtual fieldwork has a role to play in supporting class- and lab-based learning, teaching and assessment. It can be used in many ways, including the support of ‘real’ fieldwork – for which there is no substitute.
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Easy to use
It will run on most mobile devices (including iPads), as well as PCs and Macs. All you need is internet access and a browser. No need to install software or browser plug-ins.
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Flexible use for schools, colleges and universities
Core resources are provided without interpretation, so they can be used flexibly at a range of academic levels.
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Welcome to VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes!

Our virtual field trips allow you to explore the fascinating and often spectacular world of glaciers and glaciated landscapes. Look all around and zoom-in on features of interest – rather like Google Streetview © – and see how the landscape changes from one location to the next.

Sure, there is no substitute for real fieldwork, but this is not always possible. Through virtual fieldwork, VR Glaciers and Glaciated Landscapes supports class- and lab-based teaching. It can also be used by anyone wishing to explore these environments for themselves.

This site complements rather than replaces existing resources. So, if you want to learn all about glacial processes, landforms, and landscapes, start by looking at some of the excellent websites, textbooks, and journal articles out there (see the Resources section for some recommendations).


I took early retirement from the University of Worcester in September 2025. In the next two years or so, I plan to develop these virtual field trip resources. This work includes developing some guided virtual tours (all the resources on this site are currently self-guided i.e. no guidance is provided). This will likely include creating a new website to host these resources.

Des McDougall
Worcester, UK.

July 2026

Switzerland

Arolla Valley, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip

• alpine landscapes • glacier retreat • paraglacial reworking • Little Ice Age • moraines • supraglacial environment and processes • glacial erosion • weathering and mass wasting • human impacts •
Virtual field trips from 2006, 2018/19, and 2023!).
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2006 - 2026

Col du Sanetsch, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip

• alpine landscapes • tourism • settlements • geology and landscape • slope failure • hazards • fluvial landforms • weathering • glaciation •
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2019

Ferpècle Valley, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip

• alpine landscapes • proglacial environment (rivers, sediment, lake) • human impacts • Little Ice Age • moraines • proglacial meltwater channel • paraglacial reworking • glacier terminus •
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2017 - 2024
Gornergrat, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip
• cirques • glaciers • moraines • alpine landscapes • tourism
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2025
Grande Dixence, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip
• HEP • dam • alpine landscapes •
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2018

Lötschental Valley, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip

• alpine landscapes • meadows • glaciers • moraines • Little Ice Age • debris cones • snow avalanche tracks and deposits • river • rock slope deformation • cirques • glacial troughs • forests • Little Ice Age •
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2018
Moiry Valley, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip
• alpine landscapes • glacier retreat • Little Ice Age • moraines • paraglacial reworking • talus • debris cones • icefall • supraglacial sediment and ablation • supraglacial meltwater • striae • ice-moulded bedrock • HEP scheme •
** WORKSHEET AVAILABLE **
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2017 - 2026
Roseg Valley, Switzerland: Virtual Field Trip
• alpine landscapes • braided river • moraines • debris cones • alluvial fans • glacier • talus • avalanche tracks • slope failure • Little Ice Age •
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2008

California, USA

Big Pine (Owens Valley, California): Virtual Field Trip
• semi-arid / arid climate • till • moraines • talus • talus cones • snow avalanche (evidence for) • ice-moulded bedrock • rock glacier •
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2013

Lyell Canyon (Yosemite NP, California): Virtual Field Trip

• forests • floodplain meadows • river • glacially-transported boulders • glacial trough • talus • snow avalanche tracks • bedrock (granite) • bedrock joints • unloading and exfoliation • ice-moulded bedrock • Matthes glaciation / Little Ice Age • moraines • cirques • glacier • striae • chattermarks •
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2013
Tuolumne Meadows (Yosemite NP, California): Virtual Field Trip
• granite landscapes • roche moutonnée • meadows • meandering river • bars • islands • bank erosion • point bars • scroll bars • cutoff meanders •
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2013

Lake District, NW England (UK)

Deepdale (English Lake District): Virtual Field Trip

• cirques • glacial trough • moraines • gullies • Younger Dryas • talus • debris cones •
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2014

Helvellyn Range (English Lake District): Virtual Field Trip

• cirques • glacial trough • rock slope failures • moraines • gullies • Younger Dryas • talus • blockfields • debris cones • human impacts •
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2014 - 2017

Keskadale, Newlands Valley (English Lake District): Virtual Field Trip

• moraine • headwall • Younger Dryas • solifluction
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2017

Mosedale, Wasdale Head (English Lake District): Virtual Field Trip

• rivers • talus • debris flow tracks • debris cones • moraines • Younger Dryas • glacial troughs •
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2017

Scotland (UK)

Coire Ardair, Creag Meagaidh (Scotland): Virtual Field Trip

• cirque • moraines • talus • rockfall • debris cones • Younger Dryas
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2022

Glen Roy (Scotland): Virtual Field Trip

• glacial lake shorelines • moraines • slope failures • fans • rivers • terraces •
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2022

Wales (UK)

Cwm Idwal and the Glyderau (Wales): Virtual Field Trip

• cirque • glacial trough • moraines • talus • blockfield • tors • rockfall • Younger Dryas • Late Devensian
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2021
Picture of Dr Des McDougall (BSc, PhD, SFHEA)

Dr Des McDougall (BSc, PhD, SFHEA)

I'm a Physical Geographer based in Worcester, UK. My interests include mountain glaciers, mountain geomorphology and Quaternary environmental change. I'm also interested in the use of virtual reality in teaching.