Beacon Fell, Lancashire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beacon Fell |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 266 m (873 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Beacon Fell
Location in Lancashire
Beacon Fell
Location in the Forest of Bowland
Beacon Fell
Location in the City of Preston district
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| Location | Lancashire, England |
| OS grid | SD567428 |
Beacon Fell is a small hill in Lancashire, England. It's located in the civil parish of Goosnargh. The hill is 266 meters (about 873 feet) high. Since 1970, it has been a popular country park. Beacon Fell is found in the southwestern part of the Forest of Bowland. This area is known for its amazing natural beauty.
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Where is Beacon Fell?
Beacon Fell is a hill that stands alone. It is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the main hills in the Forest of Bowland. Even though it's not the tallest hill, its spot gives amazing views. You can see the flat land of the Fylde and Morecambe Bay to the west. You can also see the River Ribble valley to the south.
From Beacon Fell, you can see many places:
- To the west, you can see the whole of the Fylde, including Blackpool Tower.
- To the north-west, you can see the southern part of Morecambe Bay.
- To the north and north-east, you can see the hills of the Forest of Bowland. These include Fair Snape Fell and Parlick.
- To the east, you can see Chipping, Pendle Hill, Longridge Fell, and Longridge.
- To the south, you can see the city of Preston.
On a clear day, you might even see the hills of Wales, the Lake District, and the Isle of Man.
History of Beacon Fell
Because you can see Beacon Fell from far away, it was a perfect place for a beacon (a warning fire). People have lit beacons here since at least the year 1002!
Beacon Fell was part of a chain of beacons used to warn England. These beacons were lit to signal danger from the Spanish Armada in 1588. They were also used to warn of French forces between 1795 and 1815. More recently, beacons have been lit to celebrate special events. These include coronations and jubilees for the royal family.
In 1909, a local council bought Beacon Fell. Before that, it was farmland. They bought it to use as a water supply for nearby towns. Water from the fell was collected in reservoirs. Then it was piped to places like Fulwood and a hospital. Pine trees were planted on the fell to help manage the water flow. After 1959, the fell was no longer needed for water. The old reservoirs are now used for fishing.
Beacon Fell Country Park
Lancashire County Council took over the site in 1969. They opened it as a country park in October 1970. It was one of the first country parks in the United Kingdom. A new road was built to create a circular route around the fell. This road is now a one-way system. Car parks were added, and a visitor center was built where an old farmhouse used to be.
The park is very popular with visitors. It has many well-kept footpaths. These paths go through mostly pine tree forests. The Bowland Visitor Centre gives information about the fell and the Forest of Bowland. It also serves snacks and drinks.
You can see lots of wildlife at Beacon Fell. Animals like rabbits, hares, roe deer, stoats, weasels, red foxes, and badgers live here. You might also spot hedgehogs, moles, and grey squirrels. Sometimes, even otters are seen. Around the fell's tarn (a small mountain lake), 11 different kinds of dragonflies and damselflies have been found.
Since 2011, there have been charges to park in the car parks closest to the visitor center.
Art at the Park
Beacon Fell has several cool sculptures by a local artist named Thompson Dagnall. These include Black Tiger and Kissing Seat (2006), Walking Snake (1998), Spruced up Heron (1996), and Orme Sight (1996). There is also an Owl sculpture (2013), which was not made by Thompson Dagnall.
Another artist, Richard Shilling, works at the park. He creates temporary sculptures using natural materials found around the fell.
Beacon Fell Cheese
There's a special cheese named after the fell! It's called Beacon Fell Traditional Lancashire Cheese. This cheese is made in Longridge and Garstang. It has a special status called "Protected Designation of Origin." This means only cheeses made with milk from the Fylde or Preston area can use this name. They also have to follow a specific way of making the cheese.
