The distribution and structural setting of Tertiary sediments in the British Isles and adjacent areas of NW Europe largely re?ects tectonic elements (basins and highs) inherited from the major Mesozoic rifting accompanying the inception and opening of the North Atlantic, separating the North American and Eurasian plates. General aspects of Tertiary palaeogeography, basin development, tectonics and igneous activity, both in the British Isles and in wider NW European contexts, have been documented in many publications, including Ziegler (1990), Knox (2002), Evans et al. (2003), Stoker et al. (2005a, b, c), King (2006), Anell et al. (2009), Knox et al. (2010a, b), Ritchie et al. (2011), Brunstad et al. (2013) and Hitchen et al. (2013). Only a brief summary is given here based largely on these sources.