White Gill Moss

Downs, Moorland in Lancashire South Lakeland

England

White Gill Moss

Irish Cottages, Coppermines Valley Irish Cottages in the valley of Church Beck is a terrace of houses above Coniston; two of them together form a climbing hut of the Yorkshire Mountaineering Club. The gravel flats through the centre of the image are where the Church Beck flows and winds. — Irish Cottages, Coppermines Valley Credit: Trevor Littlewood

White Gill Moss is a picturesque area located in Lancashire, England, known for its stunning scenery and diverse natural habitats. Situated amidst the Downs and Moorlands, it covers an extensive area of approximately 100 acres. The moss is characterized by its marshy and peaty terrain, making it an ideal environment for a wide range of plant and animal species.

The vegetation in White Gill Moss is incredibly diverse, with an abundance of mosses, heather, and grasses covering the landscape. The moss acts as a natural water filter, providing a habitat for various wetland plants such as sphagnum moss and cotton grass. These plants contribute to the unique beauty of the area, creating a carpet of vibrant colors during the flowering season.

The moss is also home to numerous bird species, including the iconic curlew and lapwing. These birds rely on the moss as a breeding ground and a source of food. The area attracts birdwatchers from all over, who come to observe and study the rich avian life.

In addition to its natural beauty, White Gill Moss is an important site for conservation efforts. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) to protect its unique ecosystems. Conservationists work tirelessly to preserve the delicate balance of the moss and its surrounding habitats, ensuring the longevity of this natural treasure.

Visitors to White Gill Moss can enjoy walking trails that wind through the area, allowing them to immerse themselves in the peaceful and unspoiled nature. The moss offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, providing a space for reflection and connection with the natural world.

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White Gill Moss Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.387611/-3.0712506 or Grid Reference SD3099. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Irish Cottages, Coppermines Valley

Irish Cottages in the valley of Church Beck is a terrace of houses above Coniston; two of them together form a climbing hut of the Yorkshire Mountaineering Club. The gravel flats through the centre of the image are where the Church Beck flows and winds.

Trevor Littlewood

Road heading for Coppermines Valley

The valley is actually that of Church Beck but is popularly known as the Coppermines Valley because of the extensive disused mine workings there. The road is private but is used to access accommodation in the valley including houses, a youth hostel and two climbing club huts. The road is also a public footpath. Coniston Old Man is the mountain seen against the sky.

Trevor Littlewood

Slope with minor rock outcrops

The near slope is close to the feature named on OS maps as Flat Bield and is separated from the camera location by a steep stream groove. The valley beyond it is Red Dell. The sunlit rockface at the centre of the image and beyond Red Dell is Kennel Crag, sometimes known as Kernel Crag.

Trevor Littlewood

Shallow pool on ridge rising to Wetherlam

A broad, lengthy ridge which in its higher reach is fairly featureless rises generally northwards to the Wetherlam summit. There are minor knolls and a tarn or two; this is the more attractive of them. Helvellyn and Fairfield and their satellite mountains are in the distance.

Trevor Littlewood

Settling tanks at Bonsor upper mill

The series of shallow depressions near to the Coppermines Youth Hostel is named as 'tanks' in the 1969 volume, 'Industrial Archaeology of the Lake Counties' - Marshall & Davies-Shiel. It's supposed that they were settling tanks in which small particles of rock etc. would be allowed to fall to the bottom before the then clearer water would be allowed to flow down to Coniston in the valley below.

Trevor Littlewood

Coppermines Cottage

In the past, when copper was being mined, the cottage was occupied by a mine official, presumably the site manager. In 1958 it was acquired by the Barrow Mountaineering and Ski Club which still uses it as a club hut.

Trevor Littlewood

Irish Cottages, Coppermine Valley

In 2022, the foreground buildings, Irish Cottages, were the property of the Yorkshire Mountaineering Club. I am unsure of their status in January 1973 when this image was taken. Mine workings can be seen in the background.

Julian Paren

The head of Coppermine Valley, Coniston

In January 1973 the white building was the Youth Hostel. A track continues beyond here into the Coniston Fells.

Julian Paren

The Air Ambulance on Wetherlam

The Coniston Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) were training at base when the call came for a fell-runner who had slipped on descent, injured his ankle, and could no longer stand. The team attended and carried him down below the cloud. Fortunately a helicopter was available to transport the casualty to Furness General Hospital.

Michael Earnshaw