| Beacon Fell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 267 m (876 ft) |
| Coordinates | 53°52′47″N2°39′36″W / 53.8796°N 2.6601°W /53.8796; -2.6601 |
| Geography | |
  Beacon Fell Location in Lancashire Show map of Lancashire Beacon Fell Location in the Forest of Bowland Show map of the Forest of Bowland Beacon Fell Location in the City of Preston district Show map of the City of Preston district | |
| Location | Lancashire, England |
| OS grid | SD567428 |
Beacon Fell is afell in thecivil parish ofGoosnargh inLancashire, England. The high ground, which rises to 267 m (876 ft), has been acountry park since 1970. It is situated within the south westerly part of theForest of Bowland, anArea of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is atrig point on the most-visited summit at 266 metres (873 ft), but another summit in the coniferous woodland 250m to the east reaches 267 metres (876 ft).[1]
Beacon Fell is an isolated hill 2 miles (3 km) south of the main range of hills in theForest of Bowland. Although, at 267 metres (876 ft) above sea level, it is small compared with the neighbouring fells, its position offers commanding views over the flat plain ofthe Fylde andMorecambe Bay to the west, as well as theRibble valley to the south.
From the most-visited summit of Beacon Fell there are extensive views
On a clear day the Welsh hills, theLake District hills and theIsle of Man may be visible.[2]
The high visibility of the fell made it an ideal location for a beacon. A beacon on the fell has been recorded as early as 1002.[3] The fell formed part of a chain of beacons to warn of the approach of theSpanish Armada in 1588,[3][4] and of French forces between 1795 and 1815.[4] More recently, beacon chains have been lit in celebration of coronations and jubilees.[3]
In 1909,Fulwood Urban District Council bought the fell, which until then had been farmland, as a water supply. Under the provisions of the Fulwood and Whittingham Water Act of 1882,[5] water from the fell was collected in the existing Barnsfold Reservoirs, 1 mile (2 km) to the south-west, and from there piped toFulwood andWhittingham Asylum via Horns Dam Reservoir inGoosnargh parish and a small covered reservoir inHaighton. Conifer woodland was planted on the fell to help manage drainage. From 1959, the fell was no longer required for water, and was left to fall into disrepair.[6] The reservoirs at Barnsfold are now used for angling.[7]
Lancashire County Council acquired the site in 1969 and opened it, in October 1970, as one in the first tranche ofcountry parks in the United Kingdom. A new road was built connecting the existing single-track roads on the fell to form a circular route around the fell, to be operated as aone-way system. Car parks were added, and on the site of a farmhouse a visitor centre was built.[6]
The park is popular with visitors. It has a network of well-maintained footpaths through largelyconiferous woodland. The Bowland Visitor Centre provides information about the fell and the Forest of Bowland, and serves refreshments. Wildlife that may be observed on the fell includesrabbit,hare,roe deer,stoat,weasel,red fox,badger,hedgehog,mole,grey squirrel and theotter. Eleven species ofdragonflies anddamselflies have been found around the fell'starn.
Charges were introduced in the car parks nearest to the visitor centre in 2011.[8]
The fell features a number of sculptures by local artistThompson Dagnall,Black Tiger and Kissing Seat (2006),Walking Snake (1998),Spruced up Heron (1996) andOrme Sight (1996) however theOwl (2013) which replacedHanging Bat (1998) was not carved by Thompson Dagnall.[9]Lancaster artistRichard Shilling is artist in residence who creates short-lasting sculptures from surrounding materials.[10]
Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese, named after the Fell, and currently manufactured inLongridge[11] andGarstang,[12] hasProtected Designation of Origin status. Only cheeses made with milk fromthe Fylde or thePreston area, and conforming to the published method of production, may use this name.[13]
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