List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Cumbria

Blea Tarn from Lingmoor Fell

The following is a list of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in Cumbria, England, United Kingdom. In England the body responsible for designating SSSIs is Natural England, which chooses a site because of its fauna, flora, geological or physiographical features.^[1]

As of July 2012 there were 278 SSSIs within Cumbria. Of these, 70 are listed purely for their geological interest and 170 for their biological interest. A further 38 have both geological and biological interest.^[2]

The county includes the whole of the Lake District National Park, as well as three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: the Solway Coast, part of Arnside and Silverdale, and part of the North Pennines.

For SSSIs in other counties, see List of SSSIs by Area of Search.

Sites[]

Site name	Reason for designation		Area[A]		Coordinates & Grid ref[B]	Year in which notified	Other designations	Map[C] & Citation
	Biological interest	Geological interest	Hectares	Acres
			18.3	45.2	NY715449	1968	GCR, SAC	Map [3]
Annaside			17.3	42.7	SD081875	1989		Map [4]
			23.8	58.9	SD092852	1998	GCR, NP	Map [5]
Appleby Fells			10,693.0	26,423.0	NY758242	1951	AONB, SAC, GCR, MoD, NCR, SAC	Map [6]
			28.1	69.4	NY847137	1985	WT,	Map [7]
			2,346.6	5,798.7	NY287166	1975	GCR, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [8]
Arnside Knott			167.9	415.0	SD446771	1962	AONB, NT, NCR,	Map [9]
			548.3	1,355.0	NY736060	1988		Map [10]
			7.6	18.9	NY734048	1984	GCR	Map [11]
			160.4	396.4	SD276957	1954	GCR	Map [12]
			2.9	7.2	NY816146	1990		Map [13]
			6.4	15.8	SD696985	1954	GCR	Map [14]
			23.4	57.7	NY217265	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [15]
			17.6	43.4	SD336777	1985	GCR	Map [16]
Bassenthwaite Lake			676.1	1,670.8	NY218286	1994	NCR, SAC	Map [17]
			48.9	120.8	NY314046	1985		Map [18]
			1.8	4.5	NY164003	1985	GCR, NP,	Map [19]
			30.3	74.9	NY502017	1984		Map [20]
			49.1	121.4	NY838105	2000		Map [21]
			11.6	28.6	NY258537	1984	WT, NCR	Map [22]
			265.6	656.2	NY404180	1987	NP, NCR, SAC	Map [23]
			2.1	5.1	NY292015	1997		Map [24]
			57.8	142.8	NY792074	1988		Map [25]
			2.1	5.3	NY589753	1990	GCR	Map [26]
			16.3	40.3	NY029107	1986		Map [27]
			29.8	73.5	NY423676	1993		Map [28]
			9.5	23.4	NY407232	1983		Map [29]
			0.7	1.7	NY741473	1990	GCR	Map [30]
Blea Tarn			3.7	9.2	NY293044	1989	GCR	Map [31]
Blea Water			102.7	253.8	NY445107	1985	NP, NCR,	Map [32]
Blelham Tarn & Bog			51.4	127.1	NY365004	1985	GCR, NNR, NCR	Map [33]
			978.15		NY486688	2015		Map [34]
			7.6	18.7	NY546041	1988	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [35]
			0.2	0.4	NY186371	1989	GCR	Map [36]
			20.6	50.9	NY737033	1987	SAC	Map [37]
			803.3	1,985.0	NY214601	1983	AONB, NNR, NCR, RSPB, SAC	Map [38]
Bowness Knott			40.2	99.4	NY110155	1985	GCR	Map [39]
			33.9	83.7	NY237248	2000	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [40]
			46.6	115.2	NY322221	1990	GCR	Map [41]
			120.3	297.3	SD156969	1986		Map [42]
			25.3	62.4	NY356016	1987	GCR	Map [43]
			11.6	28.7	NY586043	1987	SAC	Map [44]
			15.9	39.3	NY254523	1992		Map [45]
Brothers Water			34.0	83.9	NY402126	1986	ESA, NP,	Map [46]
			26.5	65.5	NY489057	1987	GCR	Map [47]
			2.0	4.9	SD136909	1997	GCR	Map [48]
			20.4	50.3	SD593878	1985		Map [49]
			0.7	1.8	NY676180	1987	GCR	Map [50]
			401.4	991.8	NY672763	1984	NCR, Ramsar site, SAC	Map [51]
Buttermere			93.3	230.4	NY181159	1983	NCR	Map [52]
			6,144.2	15,182.7	NY204193	1989	GCR, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [53]
			10.1	24.9	NY508192	1994	ESA, NP,	Map [54]
			2.4	5.9	NY506541	1985		Map [55]
			8.2	20.2	NY269227	1984	NP, NT, NCR,	Map [56]
			456.7	1,128.6	NY588727	1986	NCR, SAC	Map [57]
			48.2	119.1	SD697955	1989	GCR, NP, SAC	Map [58]
			2.7	6.6	NY230192	1989		Map [59]
			147.8	365.2	SD373970	1985	NT	Map [60]
Cliburn Moss			36.8	90.8	NY577256	1985	NCR	Map [61]
Clints Crags, Blindcrake			5.2	12.8	NY163354	1988		Map [62]
			13.8	34.1	NY007123	1987	GCR, WT	Map [63]
			12.6	31.0	NY160357	1997	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [64]
			0.5	1.2	NY182149	1996	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [65]
			21.4	53.0	SD678875	1994	ESA, NP	Map [66]
			127.9	316.1	SD296984	1997	GCR, NP	Map [67]
			9.9	24.4	NY465517	1985		Map [68]
			5.2	12.9	NY542309	1987	GCR	Map [69]
			9.5	23.4	SD131975	1985		Map [70]
			122.3	302.3	NY613113	1983	NCR, SAC	Map [71]
			1,546.6	3,821.6	NY597075	1991	SAC	Map [72]
			4.0	9.9	SD784976	1998	GCR	Map [73]
			43.6	107.6	NY514519	1987	NCR	Map [74]
			13.8	34.1	SD714854	1989	NP, SAC	Map [75]
			128.4	317.2	SD301927	1986	NP, NT,	Map [76]
			1,400.0	3,459.5	SD075956	1986	LNR, WT, MoD, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [77]
			9.0	22.2	SD075989	1987		Map [78]
			187.0	462.2	NY254584	1986	WT, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [79]
Duddon Estuary			6,786.0	16,768.6	SD169777	1991	SAC, NNR, NP, NT, NCR, Ramsar site, RSPB, SAC	Map [80]
			355.2	877.8	SD223852	1987	ESA, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [81]
			361.1	892.3	SD222965	1994	NP, NT	Map [82]
Dungeon Ghyll			9.8	24.3	NY285069	1986	NT	Map [83]
			141.8	350.4	NY523429	1986		Map [84]
			4.2	10.3	NY543762	1998	GCR	Map [85]
			1.4	3.5	SD224747	1986	GCR,	Map [86]
Elterwater			36.2	89.4	NY333041	1984	NT	Map [87]
Ennerdale			338.5	836.3	NY107150	1984	NT	Map [88]
Esthwaite Water			158.5	391.7	SD361963	1987	NNR, NCR, Ramsar site	Map [89]
			32.2	79.5	NY697067	2000	SAC	Map [90]
			125.4	309.9	NY388296	1988	GCR	Map [91]
Far Arnside			2.1	5.2	SD450761	1986	AONB	Map [92]
			290.7	718.3	SD543799	1988	GCR, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [93]
			97.1	239.9	NY275566	1985	NNR, NCR	Map [94]
			27.1	67.0	NY021105	1996	GCR	Map [95]
Force Crag Mine			53.2	131.4	NY196215	1999	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [96]
Foulshaw Moss			346.9	857.1	SD455825	1996	NP, SAC	Map [97]
			28.9	71.3	NY526587	1985		Map [98]
Geltsdale & Glendue Fells			8,059.1	19,914.3	NY606545	1984	SAC, NCR, RSPB, SPA	Map [99]
George Gill			6.6	16.2	NY718188	1997	SAM, GCR,	Map [100]
			3.4	8.3	NY149343	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [101]
			225.4	556.9	NY237601	1986	AONB, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [102]
			30.7	75.9	NY385178	1986	NP, SAC	Map [103]
			53.3	131.8	NY417208	1986	NP, NT, NCR,	Map [104]
			15.1	37.2	NY679739	1985	NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [105]
Great Asby Scar			350.5	866.1	NY655098	1986	GCR, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [106]
			8.0	19.7	NY459327	1990		Map [107]
			48.7	120.2	NY274211	1984	NP, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [108]
			84.8	209.5	NY149056	1985	NP,	Map [109]
			4.3	10.7	NY221558	1986		Map [110]
			2.2	5.4	NY767451	2000	SAC	Map [111]
			31.6	78.0	NY036096	1985		Map [112]
			2.8	7.0	SD510777	1992		Map [113]
			22.4	55.3	SD499771	1991	AONB, GCR	Map [114]
			15.9	39.2	NY429200	1984	NP, SAC	Map [115]
			30.0	74.2	NY068005	1986	NNR, NCR,	Map [116]
			1.5	3.7	NY704246	1986	GCR	Map [117]
			91.1	225.1	NY786162	1984	NCR, SAC	Map [118]
			1.3	3.3	SD786969	1985	GCR, NP	Map [119]
			2,488.6	6,149.5	NY359140	1989	ESA, GCR, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [120]
High Leys			9.5	23.4	NY062180	1985	NNR, NCR	Map [121]
High Lickbarrow Mires and Pastures			19.5	48.2	SD423971	1988		Map [122]
			4.5	11.0	NY592050	1988		Map [123]
			2.3	5.8	NY248170	1987	GCR, NT	Map [124]
Honister Crag			302.9	748.4	NY208140	1988	GCR, NT, SAC	Map [125]
Humphrey Head			28.7	70.9	SD390738	1984	GCR, NCR	Map [126]
Hutton Roof Crags			396.6	979.9	SD554774	1988	GCR, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [127]
			1.2	3.0	SD310785	1994	GCR,	Map [128]
			44.5	110.0	NY634685	1984	NCR	Map [129]
			1.0	2.4	NY782036	1985	GCR	Map [130]
			0.8	2.0	SD462954	1990		Map [131]
			3.3	8.2	NY423756	1994	GCR,	Map [132]
			36.3	89.6	NY251143	1984	NP, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [133]
			1.6	3.9	NY448073	1994	GCR, NP	Map [134]
			7.8	19.2	NY714238	1986	GCR	Map [135]
			5.8	14.4	NY499833	1984	GCR	Map [136]
			4,801.4	11,864.5	NY568899	1995	NNR, Ramsar site, SAC	Map [137]
Kingwater			1.2	2.9	NY609697	1985	GCR	Map [138]
Kirkby Moor			779.9	1,927.2	SD251822	1991		Map [139]
			5.7	14.0	SD426943	1987	ESA, NP	Map [140]
			13.5	33.3	NY397352	1985		Map [141]
Langdale Pikes			473.2	1,169.3	NY286074	1998	GCR, NP	Map [142]
			1,775.9	4,388.3	SD675996	1997	GCR, NP	Map [143]
			329.4	814.0	NY515393	1984	NCR	Map [144]
Leck Beck Head Catchment Area			691.9	1,709.6	SD669793	1986	GCR	Map [145]
			12.1	30.0	NY698102	1985		Map [146]
Little Langdale Tarn			36.8	91.0	NY308031	1986	NP	Map [147]
			0.1	0.3	NY429239	1996	GCR, NP	Map [148]
			367.4	907.8	NY261171	1986	NP, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [149]
			21.6	53.3	NY506024	1984	NP	Map [150]
			13.5	33.4	NY365043	1993		Map [151]
			2.3	5.6	NY365292	1994	ESA	Map [152]
			5.0	12.4	NY015056	1984		Map [153]
			76.9	190.1	NY396122	1986	ESA, NP, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [154]
			4.0	9.8	NY376012	1998	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [155]
			142.7	352.6	SD403927	1991	ESA, NP	Map [156]
			142.4	351.8	NY455698	1986	NCR,	Map [157]
			6,234.8	15,406.4	NY836017	1992	SAC, NCR, SAC	Map [158]
			43.1	106.5	SD498782	1997	AONB, SAC	Map [159]
			3.4	8.4	NY029366	1989		Map [160]
Meathop Moss			68.1	168.3	SD441816	1985	WT, NCR, SAC	Map [161]
			39.1	96.6	SD437796	1984	GCR, NP	Map [162]
			0.1	0.3	NY622383	1985	GCR	Map [163]
			18.1	44.8	SD462764	1997	AONB, SAC	Map [164]
			46.0	113.7	NY400409	1988	SAC	Map [165]
			13.7	33.9	SD153996	1986	NP,	Map [166]
			2.1	5.2	NY377354	1987		Map [167]
			3.2	8.0	NY164027	1985	NP,	Map [168]
			28.1	69.4	NY562708	1987		Map [169]
Moorhouse and Cross Fell			13,817.2	34,143.0	NY721357	1990	SAC, GCR, NNR, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [170]
			12.2	30.2	NY511510	1986	NCR	Map [171]
Morecambe Bay			25,665.2	63,420.2	SD363682	1990	AONB, SAC, NP, NCR, Ramsar site, RSPB, SAC	Map [172]
			8.0	19.8	NY829126	1986	GCR	Map [173]
			108.0	266.8	NY372302	1999	ESA, NP	Map [174]
			20.3	50.2	SD710982	1985		Map [175]
			5.0	12.3	NY173012	1997	GCR, NP,	Map [176]
			518.7	1,281.6	NY494139	1986	GCR, NP, NCR, RSPB, SAC	Map [177]
			13.2	32.5	NY477309	1985	WT, NCR	Map [178]
Nichols Moss			93.7	231.5	SD431826	1986	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [179]
			6.4	15.8	NY509760	1997	GCR	Map [180]
Orton Moss			64.1	158.3	NY342547	1986	WT, NCR	Map [181]
			15.5	38.3	NY626093	1985	NCR	Map [182]
			24.5	60.5	NY253513	1982		Map [183]
			33.6	83.0	SD362819	1994	NP	Map [184]
Over Water			30.0	74.2	NY251350	1985	NP	Map [185]
			4.3	10.5	NY433773	1986	GCR,	Map [186]
			1.5	3.6	NY390070	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [187]
Pillar and Ennerdale Fells			1,499.0	3,704.0	NY122129	1992	NCR, SAC	Map [188]
			0.5	1.3	NY698038	1989	GCR	Map [189]
			0.8	1.9	NY464243	1990	GCR	Map [190]
			2.4	6.0	NY699259	1986	GCR	Map [191]
			13.7	33.8	NY635068	1983	SAC	Map [192]
			147.1	363.6	NY250045	1998	GCR, NP	Map [193]
			0.6	1.4	NY068116	1987	GCR, NP	Map [194]
			1,209.8	2,989.4	NY260195	1997	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [195]
River Eden and Tributaries			2,448.7	6,050.8	NY574320	1997	ESA, GCR, NP, SAC	Map [196]
			23.3	57.6	NY050158	1997	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [197]
			99.7	246.4	SD497967	2000	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [198]
			9.0	22.3	NY742468	2000	GCR, SAC	Map [199]
			43.6	107.8	SD711989	1997	GCR, NP	Map [200]
			16.9	41.7	NY738420	1990	GCR	Map [201]
Rosthwaite Fell			228.7	565.0	NY258124	1985	GCR, NT	Map [202]
			482.7	1,192.8	SD347803	1989	SAC, ESA, NNR, NP, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC	Map [203]
			94.2	232.8	SD334883	1986	NNR, NCR	Map [204]
Salta Moss			45.6	112.7	NY085452	1982		Map [205]
			0.4	1.0	NY134268	1985	SAC	Map [206]
			1,118.6	2,764.2	NY213066	1988	NT, SAC	Map [207]
			68.2	168.6	NY429634	1986	GCR	Map [208]
			54.1	133.7	NY165164	1986	ESA, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [209]
			12.7	31.4	NY719050	1987	GCR	Map [210]
			0.1	0.1	NY742024	1987	GCR	Map [211]
			14.7	36.4	NY179254	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [212]
Scout and Cunswick Scars			373.1	922.0	SD491910	1989	NT, NCR, SAC	Map [213]
			26.6	65.7	SD293734	1984		Map [214]
			1.4	3.5	SD265994	1997	GCR, NP	Map [215]
			137.9	340.7	NY233128	1985	ESA, GCR, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [216]
			17.3	42.7	NY556053	1992	GCR	Map [217]
			2,143.9	5,297.8	NY535095	1988	GCR, SAC	Map [218]
			8.8	21.7	SD123808	1989	NP,	Map [219]
			35.4	87.4	SD669846	1986	GCR	Map [220]
			22.4	55.4	NY001303	1984	LNR	Map [221]
Side Pike			10.3	25.4	NY290052	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [222]
			189.9	469.3	NY101522	1991		Map [223]
			5.3	13.2	NX998068	1986		Map [224]
			3.8	9.3	NY396032	1987	GCR, NT	Map [225]
			3.6	8.8	SD533967	1984	ESA	Map [226]
			11.9	29.3	NY437379	1990	SAC	Map [227]
			2.8	6.9	SD331807	1985	GCR	Map [228]
Skiddaw Group			10,384.6	25,660.9	NY299313	1990	GCR, NCR, SAC	Map [229]
			5.1	12.6	NY787429	1994	GCR	Map [230]
Smardale Gill			116.8	288.6	NY723062	1986	WT, NCR	Map [231]
			2,329.9	5,757.2	SD209648	1997	SAC, GCR, WT, NCR, Ramsar site, SAC	Map [232]
			1,135.9	2,807.0	NY648716	1993	SAC	Map [233]
St. Bees Head			157.2	388.5	NX952118	1995	GCR, HC, RSPB,	Map [234]
			7.9	19.5	NY737122	1992		Map [235]
			7.8	19.2	SD174997	1986	NP,	Map [236]
			5.9	14.6	NY473050	1998	GCR, NP	Map [237]
			100.6	248.7	NY267139	1987	ESA, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [238]
Subberthwaite, Blawith and Torver Low Commons			1,862.6	4,602.6	SD268904	1994	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [239]
Sunbiggin Tarn & Moors and Little Asby Scar			999.8	2,470.6	NY700084	1994	GCR, WT, NCR, SAC	Map [240]
Swindale Beck			0.9	2.2	NY688275	1986	GCR	Map [241]
			8.3	20.4	NY511127	1985	ESA, NP, SAC	Map [242]
			45.9	113.3	NY806161	1985	NCR, SAC	Map [243]
Tarn Hows			190.3	470.3	NY330001	1984	NT	Map [244]
			17.0	42.0	NY399274	1985	NNR, NCR	Map [245]
			9.7	24.0	NY608017	1992	GCR	Map [246]
			6.5	16.0	NY615270	1985		Map [247]
			106.7	263.7	NY739000	1986	GCR, SAC	Map [248]
			5.7	14.0	NY268221	1984	NP, NT, NCR,	Map [249]
			46.0	113.6	NY313190	1987	NP, NCR,	Map [250]
			24.4	60.2	NY181489	1986	NNR, NCR	Map [251]
			97.9	242.0	NY356242	1998	GCR, NP	Map [252]
			2.8	6.9	NY234291	1996	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [253]
Thurstonfield Lough			17.9	44.3	NY319562	1984		Map [254]
			6.6	16.2	NY302006	1987	NT	Map [255]
			10.8	26.7	NY706103	1988	SAC	Map [256]
			784.1	1,937.4	NY424082	1990	NT	Map [257]
			17.4	43.1	NY581301	1989		Map [258]
			106.6	263.4	SD484790	1997	AONB, SAC	Map [259]
			10.5	25.9	NY528590	1984		Map [260]
			61.1	150.9	SD739864	1998	GCR, NP,	Map [261]
			14,097.7	34,836.2	NY112603	1988	AONB, SAC, GCR, NCR, Ramsar site, RSPB, SAC	Map [262]
			3.7	9.2	SD112943	1985	GCR	Map [263]
			305.0	753.7	NY524363	1984	NCR	Map [264]
			25.9	64.1	SD393767	1987		Map [265]
			343.1	847.7	NY157046	1987	ESA, GCR, NP, NT, NCR, SAC	Map [266]
Wast Water			297.3	734.7	NY163061	1987	GCR, NP, NCR, SAC	Map [267]
Water Crag			3.6	8.9	SD153973	1997	GCR, NP,	Map [268]
			781.8	1,931.8	NY217527	1986	NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [269]
			4.2	10.4	NY553119	1985	SAC	Map [270]
Whitbarrow			1,179.4	2,914.3	SD445871	1990	LNR, WT, NNR, NCR, SAC	Map [271]
			0.9	2.3	NY521740	1996	GCR,	Map [272]
			38.0	94.0	NY461606	1986		Map [273]
			8.2	20.4	NY769426	2000		Map [274]
Wilson Place Meadows			8.9	21.9	NY316031	1989	SAC	Map [275]
			40.5	100.0	SD422937	1992	ESA, NP	Map [276]
			5.3	13.1	NY043168	1990	GCR	Map [277]
			114.2	282.1	SD349868	1989	SAC	Map [278]
Yewdale Beck			0.7	1.6	SD307985	1997	ESA, GCR, NP	Map [279]

Notes[]

^A Data rounded to one decimal place.

^B Grid reference is based on the British national grid reference system, also known as OSGB36, and is the system used by the Ordnance Survey.^[280]

^C Link to maps using the Nature on the Map service provided by Natural England.

See also[]

• List of Regionally Important Geological / Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) in Cumbria

References[]