Skirden Beck facts for kids
Skirden Beck is a small river in Lancashire, England. It used to be part of the West Riding of Yorkshire a long time ago. This little river is about 6.85 kilometers (4.26 miles) long. It gathers water from an area of about 48.88 square kilometers (18.87 square miles).
Skirden Beck starts when two smaller streams, New Gill Beck and Grunsagill Beck, join together. It then flows south, picking up more streams like Grainings Clough and Monubent Beck near a place called Forest Becks. After flowing through the village of Bolton-by-Bowland, it collects water from Bier Beck and Kirk Beck. The beck then passes Bolton Mill. Finally, it meets Holden Beck just before it flows into the larger River Ribble near Briery Bank Wood.
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Skirden Beck: A Small River's Journey
Skirden Beck is an important part of the local water system, even though it's not a huge river. It helps drain water from the surrounding hills and fields, eventually sending it into the River Ribble. This journey is important for the plants and animals that live along its banks.
Rivers and Streams Joining Skirden Beck
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into Skirden Beck, making it bigger as it travels. Each of these streams has its own path and helps to feed the main beck.
Holden Beck and Its Branches
Holden Beck starts at a place called Dugdales. Here, Threap Green Brook (which flows from Ling Hill) joins another stream near Greenwoods. Holden Beck then flows south towards Skirden Beck. As it passes through Alder House Wood and Clough Wood, between Mear Gill Top and Holden, this stream is known as Mear Gill.
- Fell Brook begins on Grindleton Fell. It flows into Mear Gill at Mear Gill Top.
- Bay Gate Brook, which starts near Higher Heights, joins Fell Brook near Bay Gate.
- Far Fields Brook joins near Harrop Gate. It also starts on Grindleton Fell, but further south.
- Black Brook starts near Bambers. It flows around the north side of Harrop Fell and joins Fell Brook close to the old medieval village of Harrop Fold.
Kirk Beck's Path
Just like Skirden Beck, Kirk Beck flows through the village of Bolton-by-Bowland. Before it reaches the village, it's known as Fox Gill Beck. Fox Ghyll is just north of Bolton-by-Bowland. Fox Gill Beck starts near Monubent.
- Gill Bottom Beck starts near Small Field Plantation. It joins Fox Gill Beck at Ghyll Bottom.
Bier Beck's Journey
Bier Beck begins just above Big Holme.
- Hungrill Beck starts between Anna Lane Head and Mear Gill Farm.
- Higher Syke joins Hungrill Beck near Wycongill. Higher Syke itself is formed when Bleara Syke (from New Barn) and Varleys Syke (from near Knotts) meet.
- Cuddy Syke starts near Lodge Farm.
Monubent Beck's Flow
'Monubent Beck flows west and then north. It joins Skirden Beck at Forest Becks. It gets bigger when Hen Gill Beck flows into it. Hen Gill Beck also picks up Agden Beck, which is known as Mere Syke above Mere Syke Bridge.
Grunsagill Beck and New Gill Beck
Grunsagill Beck and New Gill Beck are the two streams that meet to form Skirden Beck. They join near Brackenhurst.
Before it reaches Grunsagill, Grunsagill Beck is called Tosside Beck. Tosside Beck flows south from Bent House. Before that, it's known as Holden Beck or Moor End Beck.
New Gill Beck flows from Beckfoot. Above Beckfoot, it's known as Bond Beck. Bond Beck starts in Skirden Hall Plantation. It flows south-southeast past Ghylls.
- Walkers Clough is a short stream that runs east from Knotts to meet New Gill Beck at Beckfoot.
- Little Beck flows east from Stephen Moor to Butter Fields, where it joins Bond Beck.
- Sandy Syke starts at Black Hill in Gisburn Forest.
