Bowland Fells

Bowland Fells
Blisco 19:48, 24 May 2006 (UTC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Bowland Fells
Location	Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, England
Coordinates	54.155°N 2.618°W
Area	ca. 800 km²
Highest	Ward's Stone (nearby)
Designation	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Bowland Fells The Bowland Fells form a remote upland tract in the Forest of Bowland, noted for heather moorland, blanket bog, peat domes and rugged escarpments. The district sits amid Lancashire and North Yorkshire and is surrounded by towns, estates and transport routes that include historic lanes and modern highways. Influential nearby institutions, estates and conservation agencies have shaped land management, archaeological research and public access in the area.

Geography and Topography

The uplands lie within the Forest of Bowland AONB near the Pennines, bordered by the Ribble Valley, Fylde, Wyre, and Ribble Estuary landscapes. Prominent summits and plateaus include elevations comparable to Ward's Stone, Bleasdale Tarn environs and ridges that drain toward the River Ribble, River Hodder, River Calder (Lancashire), Langden Brook and Whitewell Brook. The terrain contains peat-covered plateaux, craggy gritstone edges like those of the Trough of Bowland and steep valley sides similar to those in the Lune Valley. Nearby settlements and landmarks include Clitheroe, Garstang, Brockholes and estates such as Ramsgreave Hall and historic manors connected to the Earl of Lancaster.

Geology and Soils

Underlain by the Carboniferous Millstone Grit and shales associated with the northern Pennine Coal Measures and the Craven Group, the geology reflects former deltaic sequences preserved as gritstone escarpments and grit tors. Glacial action during the Last Glacial Period sculpted corries, moraines and peat basins; periglacial processes produced patterned ground near tors analogous to those on the Howgill Fells and Yorkshire Dales. Soils are predominantly peat soils (Histosols) and podzolic brown earths developed on gritstone, with localized gleys and alluvial deposits in valley bottoms adjacent to sites like Slaidburn and Newton-in-Bowland.

Climate and Hydrology

The fells experience a cool, wet upland maritime climate influenced by the Irish Sea and westerly Atlantic systems tracked by the Met Office climatology. High precipitation supports blanket bog formation and headwater catchments feeding reservoirs and river systems including the Ribble Reservoirs and tributaries monitored by the Environment Agency. Peatland hydrology governs flow regimes, groundwater interactions and downstream turbidity affecting water supply infrastructure, conservation partnerships such as those coordinated by Natural England and flood risk planning used by Lancashire County Council.

Flora and Fauna

Vegetation is dominated by heather moorland with Calluna vulgaris, Erica tetralix and sphagnum-dominated bog communities also including Juncus effusus and bog cotton formerly recorded near Abbeystead. Faunal assemblages feature upland passerines and raptors such as Red Grouse, Hen Harrier, Merlin and occasional Peregrine Falcon; mammals include Red Fox, European Hare, Red Deer and small mammals like Field Vole. Invertebrates and specialist peatland assemblages include Large Heath records and bog-associated dragonflies and moths catalogued by regional wildlife trusts such as the Lancashire Wildlife Trust. Adjacent rivers support fish populations including Atlantic Salmon and Brown Trout noted by angling clubs and fisheries scientists.

Human History and Archaeology

Human presence dates to prehistoric times with evidence of Mesolithic flint scatters, Neolithic ritual landscapes and Bronze Age cairns comparable to those in the Cumbrian Mountains and Bowes Moor. Romano-British and medieval features include transhumance evidence, droveways, peat-cutting remains and boundary stones similar to documented features in Ribble Valley parish records. Historic estates, manorial records tied to the Duchy of Lancaster and industrial-era sites such as former lead mining and peat-cutting operations reflect changing land tenure and resource use. Archaeological projects involving the University of Manchester, local archaeological societies and national bodies have recorded stone circles, shielings and medieval settlement remains.

Land Use and Conservation

Traditional land use combines extensive grazing—managed by local commoners and estates—with managed grouse moor operations, forestry plantations by bodies such as the Forestry Commission and peat extraction legacies. Conservation designations include the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status and SSSIs designated by Natural England for peatlands and breeding bird habitats. Collaborative initiatives by organizations like the RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, Environment Agency and local parish councils pursue peatland restoration, predator management, rewilding pilot projects and water quality programmes linked to national biodiversity targets set under frameworks involving the UK Government and international conventions such as the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Recreation and Access Rights

The fells provide recreational opportunities for walkers, birdwatchers, anglers and climbers accessing rights of way established under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 and managed paths linked to routes like the Pennine Way and local long-distance paths toward Ingleborough and Pendle Hill. Outdoor organisations including the Ramblers Association, local mountain rescue teams and angling clubs maintain access infrastructure, waymarking and safety guidance. Visitor management is coordinated with landowners, estate managers and conservation NGOs to balance recreational use with peatland restoration, grouse management and biodiversity protection.

Category:Forest of Bowland