Discover
This extraordinary place is famous for its amazing wildlife, stunning scenery, and superb walks. From the simple beauty of the Lady's-slipper Orchid to the shining sands of Morecambe Bay, the area is simply awe-inspiring - full of natural spectacles and a surprise around every corner.
Limestone Geology
About 330 million years ago, warm seas deposited marine sediments in layers which became compressed to form limestone rock, which when subsequently exposed, was eroded by ice and dissolved by rainwater to create the distinctive geological features we see today.
Look out for
- distinctive areas of limestone pavement, which are often covered by woodland but are sometimes open with only a scatter of ferns, herbs and stunted trees
- low cliffs, which fringe the coast between Arnside and Silverdale
- cave systems which have developed through solution-weathering of the limestone
- exposed palaeokarst formations
- extensive folding and faulting including the ‘Silverdale Disturbance’
- notable fossil assemblage sites, particularly along the coastal margin
The first of what is hoped to be a series of geotrails around the AONB can be downloaded here
