The key characteristics of Morecambe Bay Limestones are: 

20. Morecambe Bay Limestones

The key characteristics of Morecambe Bay Limestones are:


• Wide expanses of shifting intertidal sandflats and saltmarsh, gravelly or muddy beaches, and backed by low limestone cliffs.

• Low undulating farmland of pastures divided by drystone walls, with infrequent individual windswept trees, but with areas of scrub and broadleaved woodland.

• Conspicuous limestone hills, with cliffs and scree slopes, rising above the low-lying pastures and wetlands.

• A richness of semi-natural habitats, including limestone pavements, scrub, semi-natural coppice woodland, herb-rich grasslands, peaty fenlands and mosslands.

• Inland, scrub woodland including juniper, and unimproved grasslands on gently undulating hills, divided by shallow valleys with hedgerows and damson orchards.

• Stately homes set in parkland landscapes with well maintained gardens.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.