Providing a wealth of information and relevant new case study material, Rural Settlement and Urban Impact on the Countryside encourages students to focus in on the highly topical geographical issues that have changed the countryside through urbanisation and counter-urbanisation. Geographical influences upon settlement location, hierarchy and morphology are studied in relation to the context of continuity and change. Economic conditions which lead to rural depopuoation are considered as are those that have led to the repopulation of some rural areas. The impact of the current cirsis in the countryside and the concept of the 'post-rural' society are also examined in relation to rural settlement. The text is illustrated with examples and case studies from Britain, Italy and a number of LEDCs. Applicable to AQA, OCR and Edexcel exam boards, this book is ideal for any student studying this topic.