• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Map
• Reference and further resources

The site was identified as important in 2007 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):

Species	Current IUCN Red List Category	Season	Year(s)	Population estimate at site	IBA criteria met
Black Grouse Lyrurus tetrix	LC	breeding	2006	979 males	B2
Eurasian Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria	LC	breeding	2007	4,171 breeding pairs	B3, C2, C6
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata	NT	breeding	2007	5,454 breeding pairs	A4i, B1i, C3
Dunlin Calidris alpina	LC	breeding	2006-2007	186 breeding pairs	B1i, C2, C6
Common Redshank Tringa totanus	LC	breeding	2007	522 breeding pairs	B2, C3
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus	LC	resident	2005-2007	3 breeding pairs	C6
Merlin Falco columbarius	LC	resident	1996	168 breeding pairs	C6
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus	LC	breeding	1996	20 breeding pairs	B2, C6

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2007).

State (condition of the trigger species' populations)
Scientific name	Common name	Reference population	Actual population	Units	% of population remaining	Result
Circus cyaneus		5	2	breeding pairs	40	unfavourable

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Agricultural expansion and intensification	livestock farming and ranching (includes forest grazing) - small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Biological resource use	hunting & collecting terrestrial animals - persecution/control	happening now	whole area/population (>90%)	moderate to rapid deterioration	very high
Natural system modifications	dams & water management/use - abstraction of ground water (agricultural use)	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium
Natural system modifications	fire & fire suppression - increase in fire frequency/intensity	happening now	some of area/population (10-49%)	slow but significant deterioration	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Protected-area designation	Management planning	Other conservation action	Result
Most of site (50-90%) covered (including the most critical parts for important bird species)	A management plan exists but it is out of date or not comprehensive	Substantive conservation measures are being implemented but these are not comprehensive and are limited by resources and capacity	medium

For more information about IBA conservation status, please click here

Protected area (PA)	PA designation	PA area (ha)	Relationship of PA with IBA	Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Yorkshire Dales	National Park	218,642	protected area overlaps with site	176,900
Yockenthwaite Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	11	protected area contained by site	0
Winskill Stones	Nature Reserve	30	protected area contained by site	0
Williamston River Shingle	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Whitfield Moor, Plenmeller and Asholme Commons	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7,096	protected area contained by site	0
Whitfield Gill and Mill Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	19	protected area contained by site	0
Whitesike Mine and Flinty Fell	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	8	protected area contained by site	0
White Ridge Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Whernside	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3,859	protected area contained by site	0
Westernhope Burn Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	11	protected area contained by site	0
West Rigg Open Cutting	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
West Park Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
West Nidderdale, Barden and Blubberhouses Moors	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13,432	protected area contained by site	13,419
West Newlandside Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13	protected area contained by site	0
West End Meadow, Lunds	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Wanlass Grasslands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	69	protected area contained by site	0
Walden Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	12	protected area contained by site	0
Upper Wharfedale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,126	protected area contained by site	0
Upper Teesdale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14,376	protected area contained by site	14,365
Upper Dentdale Cave System	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	61	protected area contained by site	0
Tyne And Nent	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	38	protected area contained by site	0
Tyne And Allen River Gravels	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	37	protected area overlaps with site	0
Thwaite Stones	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	18	protected area contained by site	0
Thornton and Twisleton Glens	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	59	protected area contained by site	0
The Bog	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Teesdale Allotments	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,312	protected area contained by site	0
Swineley Meadow, Widdale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9	protected area contained by site	0
Swinden Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	112	protected area contained by site	0
Swindale Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	46	protected area contained by site	0
Swindale Beck	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Swarth Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	35	protected area contained by site	0
Stump Cross Caves	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	56	protected area contained by site	0
Strid Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	59	protected area contained by site	0
Stran's Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	8	protected area contained by site	0
Stephen Ings, Crackpot	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Stawardpeel Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	41	protected area contained by site	0
Smallcleugh Mine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Slit Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Sleightholme Beck Gorge `The Troughs'	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Short Gill Cave System	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	35	protected area overlaps with site	0
Shaw Beck Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	30	protected area contained by site	0
Semerwater	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	101	protected area contained by site	0
Seato Pastures	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10	protected area contained by site	0
Scoska Wood	National Nature Reserve	11	protected area contained by site	0
Scoska Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	70	protected area contained by site	0
School Share Section	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Scar Closes, Kisdon Side	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Salt Lake Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Rogerley Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area is adjacent to site	0
River Wharfe	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	25	protected area contained by site	0
River West Allen At Blackett Bridge	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
River Ure Grasslands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	15	protected area overlaps with site	0
River South Tyne and Tynebottom Mine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	17	protected area contained by site	0
River Rawthey, Wandale Beck and Sally Beck	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	44	protected area overlaps with site	0
River Nent At Blagill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9	protected area contained by site	0
River Eden and Tributaries	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2,450	protected area is adjacent to site	0
River Eden	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	2,430	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Rigg Farm and Stake Hill Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	15	protected area contained by site	0
Pus Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Pry and Bottom Meadows, Mid-Mossdale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Pow Hill Bog	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Pikedaw Calamine Caverns	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	27	protected area contained by site	0
Pen-Y-Ghent	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,495	protected area contained by site	0
Pen Y Ghent Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	218	protected area contained by site	0
Peckriding Top Lot	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Peckriding Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Park Hall Meadows, Healaugh	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Park End Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10	protected area contained by site	0
Oxenber and Wharfe Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	89	protected area contained by site	0
Ox Close	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	141	protected area contained by site	0
Ox Close	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	142	protected area contained by site	0
Oughtershaw and Beckermonds	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	77	protected area contained by site	0
Old Moss Lead Vein	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
North Pennines	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	198,662	protected area contained by site	198,300
North Pennine Moors	Special Protection Area (Birds Directive)	147,276	protected area contained by site	147,246
North Pennine Moors	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	103,014	protected area contained by site	0
North Pennine Dales Meadows	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	482	protected area overlaps with site	0
Ninebanks River Shingle	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Nidderdale	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	60,162	protected area overlaps with site	60,300
New House Meadows, Malham	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10	protected area contained by site	0
New House Farm, Malham	National Nature Reserve	26	protected area contained by site	0
New Close, Calvert Houses	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Muker Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Muggleswick,Stanhope & Edmundbyes Commons & Blanchland Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9,127	protected area contained by site	9,120
Moorhouse and Cross Fell	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13,827	protected area contained by site	13,804
Moor House - Upper Teesdale	National Nature Reserve	8,676	protected area contained by site	0
Moor House - Upper Teesdale	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	38,803	protected area contained by site	0
Monk Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	19	protected area contained by site	0
Mill Holme Meadow, Thwaite	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Middleton Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Middle Side & Stonygill Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	17	protected area contained by site	0
Middle Crossthwaite	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	24	protected area contained by site	0
Mere Beck Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Melmerby Road Section	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	0	protected area contained by site	0
Meal Bank Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Meadow Croft, Skythorns	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	0	protected area contained by site	0
Marsett Rigg	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9	protected area contained by site	0
Mallerstang-Swaledale Head	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6,239	protected area contained by site	0
Malham-Arncliffe ( Cool Pasture )	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Malham-Arncliffe	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4,980	protected area contained by site	0
Malham Tarn Estate	Nature Reserve	1,582	protected area contained by site	0
Malham Tarn	Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance	286	protected area contained by site	0
Malham Tarn	National Nature Reserve	147	protected area contained by site	0
Lune Forest	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6,334	protected area contained by site	0
Lower Swaledale Woods and Grasslands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	267	protected area overlaps with site	0
Low Gill Moor Wetlands	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	64	protected area contained by site	0
Lovely Seat - Stainton Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10,140	protected area contained by site	10,131
Lord's Wood and Pasture	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Ling Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Ling Gill	National Nature Reserve	5	protected area contained by site	0
Len Pastures, Crackpot	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Langdale, Bowderdale and Carlin Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1,777	protected area overlaps with site	0
Langcliffe Scars and Jubilee, Albert and Victoria Caves	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	704	protected area contained by site	0
Langcliffe & Attermire	Local Nature Reserve	50	protected area contained by site	0
Lambley River Shingles	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Knarsdale Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Kisdon Force Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	39	protected area contained by site	0
Kilnsey Flush	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Kettlewell Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13	protected area contained by site	0
Keisley Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	8	protected area contained by site	0
Ingleborough Complex	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	5,770	protected area contained by site	0
Ingleborough	National Nature Reserve	1,025	protected area contained by site	0
Ingleborough	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5,213	protected area contained by site	0
Hunder Beck Juniper	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Hudswell Woods	Nature Reserve	45	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hisehope Burn Valley	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
High Knock Shield Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Hexhamshire Moors	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9,444	protected area contained by site	9,434
Helbeck Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	91	protected area contained by site	0
Helbeck And Swindale Woods	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	137	protected area contained by site	0
Heatheryburn Bank	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Hawkswick Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	12	protected area contained by site	0
Haw Crag Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9	protected area overlaps with site	0
Hartley Cleugh	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Harthwaite Sike	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Harker's House Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Hannah's Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7	protected area contained by site	0
Haggs Bank	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Haggburn Gate	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Greenfoot Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area overlaps with site	0
Greenfield Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	15	protected area contained by site	0
Grassington Hospital Grounds	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Grass Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	79	protected area contained by site	0
Grains O'th' Beck Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13	protected area contained by site	0
God's Bridge	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	9	protected area contained by site	0
Giggleswick Scar and Kinsey Cave	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	43	protected area overlaps with site	0
Geltsdale & Glendue Fells	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	8,065	protected area contained by site	8,060
Geltsdale	Nature Reserve	2,694	protected area overlaps with site	0
Freeholders Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Freeholder's Wood & Ridding's Field	Local Nature Reserve	18	protected area contained by site	0
Fothering Holme	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10	protected area contained by site	0
Foster's Hush	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Forest of Bowland	Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty	80,631	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Foredale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Feetham Holme	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Far Mains and Far Limekiln Close Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Far High House Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Fairy Holes Cave	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	214	protected area overlaps with site	0
East Nidderdale Moors (Flamstone Pin - High Ruckles)	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10,779	protected area overlaps with site	10,772
Dow Cave System	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	82	protected area contained by site	0
Derwent Gorge & Muggleswick Woods	National Nature Reserve	69	protected area contained by site	0
Derwent Gorge & Horsleyhope Ravine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	83	protected area contained by site	0
Deepdale Meadows, Langstrothdale	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	13	protected area contained by site	0
Deepdale Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Craven Limestone Complex	Site of Community Importance (Habitats Directive)	5,326	protected area contained by site	0
Crag Gill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Cracoe Reef Knolls	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	142	protected area contained by site	0
Cotherstone Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2,451	protected area contained by site	0
Cornriggs Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	15	protected area contained by site	0
Conistone Old Pasture	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	298	protected area contained by site	0
Combe Scar	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	21	protected area contained by site	0
Cockerham Meadows, Thorpe	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Close House Mine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Clints Quarry	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Cliff Force Cave	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	98	protected area contained by site	0
Cliff Beck Meadow, Buttertubs	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Cleatop Park	Local Nature Reserve	14	protected area contained by site	0
Chris's Pasture	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Cautley Thwaite Meadows and Ecker Secker Beck	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	48	protected area contained by site	0
Catton Lea Meadow	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	2	protected area contained by site	0
Burnhope Burn	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Briarwood Banks	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	24	protected area contained by site	0
Brants Gill Catchment	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	495	protected area contained by site	0
Braithwaite Hall	Nature Reserve	102	protected area contained by site	0
Bowlees and Friar House Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	6	protected area contained by site	0
Bowes Moor	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4,493	protected area contained by site	0
Botany Hill	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	4	protected area contained by site	0
Boreham Cave	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	153	protected area contained by site	0
Bollihope, Pikestone, Eggleston and Woodland Fells	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7,953	protected area contained by site	7,947
Blagill Mine	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	1	protected area contained by site	0
Black Keld Catchment	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	698	protected area contained by site	0
Birkwith Caves and Fell	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	179	protected area contained by site	0
Birks Fell Caves	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	86	protected area contained by site	0
Birkett Hill and High Out Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	58	protected area contained by site	0
Bellister	Nature Reserve	162	protected area overlaps with site	0
Belah Woods and Pastures	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	49	protected area contained by site	0
Bastow Wood	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	53	protected area contained by site	0
Ballowfield	Local Nature Reserve	1	protected area contained by site	0
Backstone Bank and Baal Hill Woods	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	38	protected area contained by site	0
Aysgarth	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	18	protected area contained by site	0
Aules Hill Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	12	protected area contained by site	0
Augill Valley Pasture	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Augill Pasture	Nature Reserve	3	protected area contained by site	0
Attermire	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	58	protected area contained by site	0
Askrigg Bottoms	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	3	protected area contained by site	0
Ashes Pasture and Meadows	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	14	protected area contained by site	0
Arkle Beck Meadows, Whaw	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	8	protected area contained by site	0
Arkengarthdale, Gunnerside and Reeth Moors	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	7,640	protected area contained by site	7,634
Appleby Fells	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10,701	protected area contained by site	10,688
Angram Bottoms	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	10	protected area contained by site	0
Alston Shingle Banks	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	17	protected area contained by site	0
Allendale Moors	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5,293	protected area contained by site	0
Allen Confluence Gravels	Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK)	5	protected area contained by site	0
Allen Banks and Staward Gorge	Nature Reserve	195	protected area contained by site	0

Habitat (IUCN level 1)	Habitat detail	Extent (% of site)
Forest	Broadleaved deciduous woodland, Mixed woodland	-
Shrubland	Scrub, Heathland	-
Grassland		-
Wetlands (inland)	Standing freshwater, Rivers and streams, Blanket bogs, Fens, transition mires and springs	-

For more information about the IUCN Habitat classification, please click here.

Land-use	Extent (% of site)
agriculture	-
forestry	-
military	-
nature conservation and research	-

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: North Pennine Moors. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/north-pennine-moors-iba-united-kingdom on 28/11/2023.