Shore spring, Silverdale

[Lankyman]

On our final walk of 2025 we opted for the old favourite of a tootle along the Silverdale shore. For those who haven't been it hosts Lancashire's biggest sea cliffs (although that's not saying much - Pembroke it isn't). There are a few small documented caves scattered along the shore and also a few springs that can pump out considerable quantities of fresh/brackish water at times. I've often wondered about the sources of the water. I very much doubt there's much, if any penetrable cave to be discovered but you never know? In particular, yesterday we were in Silverdale Cove (where the very obvious Silverdale Shore Cave is located). It seems like the turf there is eroding back towards the rocks and quite a big spring was draining into a gully. Directly behind the spring is a (now very obvious) small cave. In the past it has been much less obvious and possibly concealed altogether by turf or shingle. It isn't listed in either Northern Caves or Underground in Furness (1967). I've been in about a body length but not written it off altogether. The spring itself seems to be listed in UiF as 'Anion Spring' on page 67 by Holland who speculates that the water may come from Burton Well (which we also visited later on). Does anyone know if any actual testing has been done?

 

[Lankyman]

Interestingly, I've just noticed that there is a 'Cove Well' shown on the 1:25 000 OS map towards the back of the cove. That would be above and behind the figure in my picture. I can say for sure that if there ever was a well/spring in that location then it isn't there now and I've never seen any indication of one over several decades.

 

[mikem]

A.I. says it was a spring rather than a well, as such.

Cove Well, The Cove, Silverdale shore © Karl and Ali

The "well" (visible as the pale pool within the dark rocks) is actually a fresh water spring emerging from the shingle of The Cove. At low tide the outflowing water forms a gully in the mud. Not too many years ago this whole area used to be carpeted with fine saltmarsh turf which extended out...

www.geograph.org.uk

These maps may be useful:

The Wells of Silverdale

There’s something very satisfying about a hand drawn map, don’t you think? This one is from a leaflet; one from my collection of leaflets detailing local walks, which I have acquired ov…

beatingthebounds.wordpress.com

There are several other blogs touring the wells.

 

[Lankyman]

Ha! That geograph photo in your link is one of mine. The pool is in the same location as the spring in my photo from NY Eve (which is not where OS have the 'Cove Well' located).
I wouldn't put too much faith in the efficacy of AI here. Not so long ago it seemed to suggest that Washfold Pot drains to Chapel-le-Dale ...

 

[Andy C]

It looks a bit like an adit. There was haematite mining in the area just south of your location, for example Red Rake Mine. It might be worth checking this source:.

 

[Lankyman]

It looks a bit like an adit. There was haematite mining in the area just south of your location, for example Red Rake Mine. It might be worth checking this source:.

Yes, the Red Rake working is off to the right of my photo. It's in a cleft, the walls of which are covered with evidence of the haematite that they were looking for:

Beech tree roots in Red Rake © Karl and Ali

A large beech tree grows right on the undercut lip of the rake and has sents its roots deep into the cleft. The red staining of iron is obvious on the sides of the rake which was once mined for haematite.

www.geograph.org.uk

There is some very nice crystallization

Mineralisation at Red Rake © Karl and Ali

Iron ore was once mined at Red Rake on a very small scale and the walls of the resulting cleft are stained red and coated with crystals in a few places. Before anyone rushes off to view this 'wonder' of geology, the crystals and filaments are tiny and the camera was held very close (on macro...

www.geograph.org.uk

The underground part (mentioned in UiF) seems to have become covered up or infilled. I've never seen any opening there. I'm fairly sure the small cave in my photo is a natural feature, similar to the nearby Silverdale Cove Cave but a lot smaller.

 

[Prof. Warthog]

Hi Lankyman
Great to see Anion Spring is reappearing now vegetation is getting re-established around the Cove. Cove well was a separate site up by the gate - nothing to see now as the stone trough was removed by a local some time ago - there is some discussion about it with photos in past issues of Keer to Kent.
I have published some info on the areas hydrology:
Murphy P J 2023. The geohydrology of Silverdale revisited. Craven Pothole Club Record 150 pp16&17
Murphy P and Cordingley JN 2022. The hydrogeology of Silverdale. Keer to Kent 107 pp13 & 14

There is an article in the latest NMRS publication reassessing the mineralisation in the area by one of my students which includes a detailed survey of Red Rake mine workings (Max Moseley's survey - not mine)

Phil

 

[Lankyman]

Hi Lankyman
Great to see Anion Spring is reappearing now vegetation is getting re-established around the Cove. Cove well was a separate site up by the gate - nothing to see now as the stone trough was removed by a local some time ago - there is some discussion about it with photos in past issues of Keer to Kent.
I have published some info on the areas hydrology:
Murphy P J 2023. The geohydrology of Silverdale revisited. Craven Pothole Club Record 150 pp16&17
Murphy P and Cordingley JN 2022. The hydrogeology of Silverdale. Keer to Kent 107 pp13 & 14

There is an article in the latest NMRS publication reassessing the mineralisation in the area by one of my students which includes a detailed survey of Red Rake mine workings (Max Moseley's survey - not mine)

Phil

Thanks, Phil. I wonder if the Keer to Kent issue is kept in Lancaster library. I'll check when I'm next in town. I used to get out doing conservation work with the Landscape Trust and should have signed up for Keer to Kent when I lived in Warton. I wonder where the stone trough you mention got its water from? I've never noticed any seepage from the cliff or out of the ground?
Reading my copy of In and Around Silverdale (David Peter, 1984) I notice there's another 'well' (Bard Well or Battling Stones Well) mentioned where the shore car park is now. I can't say I've seen water coming out there.

 

[Prof. Warthog]

I am sure there is a copy of the keer to kent article in my office - i will send you a scan when i get back into work next week. The source of the water for the trough is no longer visible but i am told could be found in the 1960s near the wall by the gate. Bard/Battlestones is no longer visible - i think it was lost when work was done on the ramp down tp]o the car park. I have a list of hydrologically interesting sites around the area somewhere - i will try and dig out a copy for you next week.#
Maybe 20206 will be the year i finally finish the bcra guidebook to the area i wrote quite some time ago...........

 

[Lankyman]

Thanks once again, Phil - I look forward to getting the scan. Let me know when the book comes out - could be the catalyst for a new wave of big finds ...

 

[Pitlamp]

Prof Warthog is your man for this area; he knows it very well.

If you’ve yet to visit the Burton Well area, to amplify on your comments above the sink that is suspected (but not proven) to drain to one or more springs in the vicinity of the Cove is Burton Well Cave. It was called that by Red Rose members who found it in the mid 60s because it takes water from Burton Well itself further up the valley. (The wording in current guide book descriptions is slightly ambiguous and could be taken to mean that BWC drains to BW, which is wrong.

A few years ago I entered into negotiations with the family which has the land where Burton Well Cave is, just over the wall from Lambert’s Pasture. I wanted to reopen the cave as it’s probably not been looked at for a very long time. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful, so I didn’t interfere with the site. But I’d love to have a look in there, so if anyone happens to notice that others have reopened it, I’d appreciate a PM.

I only skim read posts above but in case it’s yet to be mentioned there is a very useful article on the general hydrology of the Silverdale area in one of the LUSS journals. From memory there were only four of them and they’re available online, if you want to rummage. But beware, those journals are excellent and you may get sidetracked…..

 

[langcliffe]

I only skim read posts above but in case it’s yet to be mentioned there is a very useful article on the general hydrology of the Silverdale area in one of the LUSS journals. From memory there were only four of them and they’re available online, if you want to rummage. But beware, those journals are excellent and you may get sidetracked…..

The LUSS article may be found here.

 

[Lankyman]

Prof Warthog is your man for this area; he knows it very well.

If you’ve yet to visit the Burton Well area, to amplify on your comments above the sink that is suspected (but not proven) to drain to one or more springs in the vicinity of the Cove is Burton Well Cave. It was called that by Red Rose members who found it in the mid 60s because it takes water from Burton Well itself further up the valley. (The wording in current guide book descriptions is slightly ambiguous and could be taken to mean that BWC drains to BW, which is wrong.

A few years ago I entered into negotiations with the family which has the land where Burton Well Cave is, just over the wall from Lambert’s Pasture. I wanted to reopen the cave as it’s probably not been looked at for a very long time. Unfortunately I wasn’t successful, so I didn’t interfere with the site. But I’d love to have a look in there, so if anyone happens to notice that others have reopened it, I’d appreciate a PM.

I only skim read posts above but in case it’s yet to be mentioned there is a very useful article on the general hydrology of the Silverdale area in one of the LUSS journals. From memory there were only four of them and they’re available online, if you want to rummage. But beware, those journals are excellent and you may get sidetracked…..

Thanks, Pitlamp. Yes, I've had a few ratches about in Lambert's Meadow looking at where the water sinks. On NY Eve I was looking at the place close to the footbridge that looks like a very immature outlet. You could hear the water flowing off somewhere. I think I've also looked at the place you mention 'over the wall' but it was a few years ago (I think I nipped across from the FP that runs through the field close by). In wet weather Lambert's turns into a lake but it always drains away eventually. It was nicely frozen the other day so no wet feet!

 

[Lankyman]

The LUSS article may be found here.

Excellent, thanks langcliffe. I shall have a look!

 

[Tribal Chestnut]

On our final walk of 2025 we opted for the old favourite of a tootle along the Silverdale shore. For those who haven't been it hosts Lancashire's biggest sea cliffs (although that's not saying much - Pembroke it isn't). There are a few small documented caves scattered along the shore and also a few springs that can pump out considerable quantities of fresh/brackish water at times. I've often wondered about the sources of the water. I very much doubt there's much, if any penetrable cave to be discovered but you never know? In particular, yesterday we were in Silverdale Cove (where the very obvious Silverdale Shore Cave is located). It seems like the turf there is eroding back towards the rocks and quite a big spring was draining into a gully. Directly behind the spring is a (now very obvious) small cave. In the past it has been much less obvious and possibly concealed altogether by turf or shingle. It isn't listed in either Northern Caves or Underground in Furness (1967). I've been in about a body length but not written it off altogether. The spring itself seems to be listed in UiF as 'Anion Spring' on page 67 by Holland who speculates that the water may come from Burton Well (which we also visited later on). Does anyone know if any actual testing has been done?

If you were there on 31/12, you didn’t happen to spot an idiot sink past his knees into the mud, did you?

 

[Lankyman]

If you were there on 31/12, you didn’t happen to spot an idiot sink past his knees into the mud, did you?

We got onto the shore at Jack Scout but it was very slutchy so we headed north on top of the little cliffs towards the car park. Saw a few people out on the 'sands' but didn't notice anyone having problems. As you may know conditions can vary greatly from one tide to the next.

 

[mrodoc]

One of the first caves I ever explored was round there. My grandparents lived on the side of Arnside Knott and we eventually located the cave on the hill - presumably a relict cave. I was probably only 11 or 12 then and hadn't started proper caving. Arnside beach used to be good for fossils. Nothing relevant to the current discussion of course - just waffling as usual. Worth mentioning for those interested that the UBSS connection may be because the late Dr. Peter Standing (UBSS) retired to Silverdale. He was on the first Ghar Parau trip and was an inveterate traveller.

 

[Lankyman]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a good waffle! I've tried locating the cave I think you mention (Arnside Cave or Heathwaite Cave in the guide?). It's all dense scrub and woodland, or it was a few years ago when I last went looking. I don't have a GPS so was relying on the standard OS map and Mark II eyeballs. There are some excellent fossils by the beach below the caravan park at Far Arnside

Fossil at Far Arnside (1) © Karl and Ali cc-by-sa/2.0

When coastal erosion uncovered a large, smoothed slab from under the saltmarsh turf many fossils were revealed. Over the years these have become more and more obscured as sand and shingle wash over them. This evening it was difficult to locate any and there were many surface scratches on the...

www.geograph.org.uk

Fossil at Far Arnside (2) © Karl and Ali

When coastal erosion uncovered a large, smoothed slab from under the saltmarsh turf many fossils were revealed. Over the years these have become more and more obscured as sand and shingle wash over them. This evening it was difficult to locate any and there were many surface scratches on the...

www.geograph.org.uk

They appear and disappear given how sand and mud is/isn't being deposited or salt marsh growing. Talking of Peter Standing, I met him on a few occasions through my involvement with the AONB management team at the old railway station building. He had produced a series of geology leaflets and notice boards around the area and geological trails. The last time I recall seeing him was in the old railway cutting at Sandside which is one of the places on his trail

Sandside Cutting © Karl and Ali

Now a permissive path, the railway used to run from Arnside to the main west coast line near Hincaster. This rock cutting is quite an engineering feat.

www.geograph.org.uk

We were part of a volunteer group removing scrub from the sides to reveal more of the geology. It may well have been Peter who provided the information for those fossils on the shore. I was not aware that he'd been a caver in the UBSS or out to Ghar Parau - I'd certainly have talked about it with him.

 

[mrodoc]

Quite nice to chat about Arnside. I remember the sound of the trains rumbling across the viaduct in the early hours. Pete Standing did some cave diving as well I think. I saw once lecturing, I think at an expedition seminar about 40 years ago. His drug list was the basis for mine when I acted as MO for the Iran '77 trip written up in my book Iran '77 available currently exclusively from me. Have to plug the book as want to clear the stock as I won't reprint. Only 100 copies left.

 

[Lankyman]

Here's a link to the Storth Geotrail which Peter Standing described in 2013. It's in the north of Arnside/Silverdale. As well as providing interesting information about the geology it offers fabulous views in places over the Kent estuary to the Lakes and Dales.

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/Geocon%20files/Leaflets/storth_geotrail%202013.pdf