The objective of this study was to determine the net shortwave solar radiation (K*) on a plateau and the bottom of a canyon in the southern part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. Its significant diurnal and annual variability was expressed as hourly, daily, monthly, seasonal and annual totals of K*. The great diversity of the terrain, varied forms, expositions and slopes, considerable denivelations, and also the diversity of the land cover and land use make this small area very diversified as far as radiation conditions are concerned. On the basis of the actinometrical study, the differences of radiation were assessed on two distinct morphological terrain forms: on the plateau and on the bottom of the canyon. The mean daily value of the total of K* amounted to 10.8 MJ m^–2 on the plateau, and to 9.1 MJ m^–2 on the bottom of the canyon in the analysed period.