Leck Fell

Leck Beck Head Catchment Area
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of Search Cumbria, Lancashire
Grid reference SD669797
Interest Geological
Area 703.1 hectare
Notification 1959[1]
Location map English Nature

Leck Fell is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Lancashire. An area of typically heavily grazed open moorland of rough grass and remnant patches of heather with little or no tree cover, it is characterised by the virtual absence of surface drainage and an extensive subterranean drainage network resulting in cave systems and numerous sink holes.[2] It surrounds the high point of Gragareth (627 metres) between Leck Beck and Kingsdale.

Since 1 August 2016 Leck Fell has been part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.[3]

History

The pasturing of animals, along with changes in the climate in the later Bronze Age, contributed to deforestation of the open fell sides and the development of hill peat deposits.[2] The present landscape is dominated by long straight enclosure walls of later 18th or 19th century date.[2]

Cave systems

The 87 kilometres (54 mi) Three Counties System which extends from Kingsdale to Barbondale, includes a number of important cave systems lying beneath Leck Fell.These include:

A formal permitting system operates for access to most of the caves, with no caving allowed in April, May and June.[4]

References

Coordinates: 54°12′43″N 2°30′33″W / 54.21196°N 2.50903°W / 54.21196; -2.50903

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.