Landscape Character Menu
List of Figures
List of Photographs
1 Introduction
1.1 The Scope and Context for this Study
1.2 Purpose of the Landscape Character Assessment
1.3 Approach and Methodology
1.4 Structure of the Report
2 The Evolution of Lancashire
2.1 Physical Influences
2.2 Human Influences
3 Lancashire's Landscape Character
3.1 Moorland Plateaux
3.2 Moorland Hills
3.3 Enclosed Uplands
3.4 Moorland Fringe
3.5 Undulating Lowland Farmland
3.6 Industrial Foothills and Valleys
3.7 Farmed Ridges
3.8 Settled Valleys
3.9 Reservoir Valleys
3.10 Wooded Rural Valleys
3.11 Valley Floodplains
3.12 Low Coastal Drumlins
3.13 Drumlin Field
3.14 Rolling Upland Farmland
3.15 Coastal Plain
3.16 Mosslands
3.17 Enclosed Coastal Marsh
3.18 Open Coastal Marsh
3.19 Coastal Dunes
3.20 Wooded Limestone Hills and Pavements
3.21 Limestone Fells
4 Lancashire's Urban Landscape Types
4.1 Historic Core (1100-1800)
4.2 Industrial Age (1800-1930)
4.3 Suburban (1930 onwards)
A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Character Assessment
Limestone Fells
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Limestone Fells Character Areas 21a Leck Fell |
Landscape Character
The high Limestone Fells on the north eastern edge of Lancashire geologically and scenically form part of the Askrigg Block in the Yorkshire Dales. Leck Fell, rising to 627m is the highest point in Lancashire. This landscape type is characterised by outstanding limestone scenery which provides important scientific interest and visual appeal. The natural features are the result of erosion by glacier ice and subsequent weathering which has produced a distinctive landscape of open moorland, rounded valleys, crags and hills. This type of landscape is particularly well known for its limestone formations such as scars, caves, gorges and limestone pavements. The dominant land use of the high fells is grazing and the landscape of dry stone walls and field barns reflects the farming traditions. Landcover is typically rough grassland and heather moor although calcareous grassland is a feature of this upland landscape. Colours are generally muted, although the heather creates striking seasonal effects. The mosaic of upland habitats are of significant nature conservation value and there is considerable evidence of settlement and land use since prehistoric times, particularly in the form of place names and field patterns.
Typical view photo 38:
Limestone outcrop, Leck Fell
Physical Influences
The Limestone Fells lie on the Askrigg Block, part of the Pennine Fault Block. The pre-Carboniferous rocks which form the block are exposed only in deeply cut valleys. The block is covered by Lower Carboniferous strata, comprising the Great Scar Limestone and sandstones and shales of the Yoredale Series.
These fells form steep sided, rounded hills with deeply incised rounded valleys. The fells are covered by shallow podzolised soils and peat generally covers higher summits (above 400m).
This limestone scenery is characterised by the virtual absence of surface drainage and an extensive subterranean drainage network which has resulted in cave systems and sink holes which provide geological and geomorphological interest.
The landcover is typically heavily grazed open moorland of rough grass and remnant patches of heather with little or no tree cover. There is strong biological interest in the vegetation associated with limestone pavements, cliffs, potholes and gorges. Plants of the limestone gorges include rigid buckler fern, limestone polypody and mossy saxifrage, whilst acid rocky ground supports species such as fur club moss, hard fern and beech fern. The base-rich flushes are important for pale forget-me-not, lesser club moss and pyrenean scurvy grass. The expanses of moorland support species of upland wader such as curlew, snipe and redshank. Heather moorland adds colour in late summer and is important for bilberry, cowberry and cloudberry. It also supports merlins and golden plovers. Leck Fell forms part of the Leck Beck Head Catchment Area SSSI
Human Influences
Traces of prehistoric and later activity can be seen across the fell sides. The higher, more exposed land has probably been used for summer pasture and hunting since prehistoric times, but there is evidence of settlement on suitable sites on the lower slopes. It seems probable that this represents the upper limit of extensive Neolithic to Romano-British settlement, the best preserved area of which is at High Park, on the lower moorland fringe to the north of Leck Beck. The pasturing of animals, along with changes in the climate in the later Bronze Age, is likely to have contributed to deforestation of the open fell sides and the development of hill peat deposits. Place name evidence points to significant Norse settlement and it is likely that they continued to use the fells for hunting and pasture. By the medieval period a routeway had been established over to Dentdale and rights of Turbary the cutting of peat or turf for fuel are recorded. The present landscape is dominated by long straight enclosure walls of later 18th or 19th century date, allowing better management of the flocks of summer-pastured sheep. More recent land management has concentrated on the heather moorland for grouse shooting, but the leisure activities of walking, climbing and potholing have also had an impact.
CHARACTER AREAS - LIMESTONE FELLS
This landscape character type occurs mainly outside Lancashire and is typical of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The county boundary of Lancashire extends onto these fells in just one place, at Leck Fell.