The key characterisitcs of the Bowland Fells are:

34. Bowland Fells

The key characterisitcs of the Bowland Fells are:


• Large-scale sweeping landform incised by narrow wooded valleys and intimate cloughs which drain the moorland heights creating an attractive mosaic of woodland, unimproved meadows, pasture, marshes and streams.

• Expanses of open rolling heather moorland and blanket bog with areas of reclaimed moorland pasture at the periphery defined by dry stone walling.

• Steeply sloping sculptural escarpments link the exposed moorland tops with the surrounding lush green valleys of the Lune, Ribble, Hodder and Wyre.

• Scattered settlement pattern of picturesque stone villages and isolated stone built farmhouses, commonly backed by a small copse, typically with a barn under the same roof line.

• Extensive coniferous plantations to the south-east of the area.

• High quality species-rich meadows in limestone areas to the east.

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.