Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Bradford
OS GRID REF: SE 131 467
OS SHEET 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS SHEET: 1:25 000 Explorer 297 Lower Wharfedale & Washburn Valley
BGS 1:50 000 SHEET 69, Bradford (Solid & Drift Edition)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY Visited November 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology
Trust
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION produced by Neil Aitkenhead
 SITE DESCRIPTION:
Prominent natural cliff and quarry face exposures of the Addingham Edge
Grit illustrate a variety of sedimentary structures including large
scale cross bedding and well preserved ripple marks. The latter are
only seen at one point on the left of the entrance to the quarry where
they lie below the main face and are associated with trace fossils
indicating an upwards change from peri-marine to fluvial environments
of deposition.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Many of the Victorian buildings of Ilkley were constructed with stone
quarried from this site. The site contains the remains of a tramway
constructed to transport stone down to the road for its removal.
EDUCATIONAL
VALUE:
This is an excellent site for educational use at all levels. The
site demonstrates sedimentation, weathering and faulting. In addition,
the
evidence of glaciation will be of interest. The Geology Trail leaflet
produced by the Wharfedale Naturalists' Society in 1994 introduces
additional sites which can be visited in a 2-hour walk. The glacial
moraine at Lanshaw
Delves lies 2km to the south of the Cow and Calf Rocks and is easily
reached by footpath.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are excellent views overlooking the glaciated Wharfe Valley and
Guiseley Gap where a branch of the Wharfedale ice stream flowed south
eastwards, as indicated by a small drumlin field, to join the Airedale
ice stream.
 ACCESS
AND SAFETY:
Bus or train to Ben Rhydding (1km) or Ilkley (2km), or park off Hanging
Stone Road (SE 133 467), adjacent to the Cow and Calf Rocks. There
are no public toilets. All localities are easily reached by footpath.
There are potential hazards at this site, especially at the top of
unfenced quarry faces and from falling stones at the foot of such faces.
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