Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS: Site of Special Scientific Interest (flora)
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTICT: Leeds
OS GRID REF. SE 377 424
OS 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS 1:25,000 EXPLORER 289 Leeds
BGS 1:50,000 SHEET 70 Leeds
FIRST DESIGNATED West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1997
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY December 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology Group
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Hetchell Crags are an exposure of the Upper Carboniferous East Carlton
Grit approximately 200m long and up to 10m high. This rock is part
of the Namurian (Millstone Grit) Series.
It displays superb cross bedding which runs in a variety of different
directions. The rock is a coarse gritstone with several pebble layers
and in places shows good graded bedding. Differential weathering has
picked out joints and bedding planes. Some faces have honeycomb weathering
patterns.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
The exposure may not be entirely natural as the rock has been worked
in overgrown quarries that lie adjacent to the site. Extensive spoil
heaps, also overgrown, can be seen in the adjacent fields and examples
of the worked stone can be seen in the remains of the nearby railway
bridge that carried the track over a lane.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
This site is suitable for students and interested adults at all levels
and is a good place to measure true and apparent dips and to interpret
current directions. The overhanging rocks do not have a weathered surface
so that it is easy to study their textures and small scale features.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are good views to the west across typical Millstone Grit country.
Gritstone beds form prominent east-west ridges and shale forms the
lower ground between them. The woodland walks are pleasant.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
The approach to the crags is by footpaths through Hetchell Wood from
the car park, or along the old railway line from either Scarcroft Hill
or Bardsey or from the A58. The footpaths are wide and give access
to the area below the crags, although a wheelchair could not reach
the base of the crags for a closer view.
The rock face is stable but care is needed if working on the top of the
cliff or beneath the vertical faces. The crags are used by rock climbers.
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