Geology of High Cup Nick

High Cup Nick is one of the most impressive landforms in England. It forms the end of High Cup Gill, a classic U-shaped valley which runs westwards from the Nick on the western edge of the Pennines. This dramatic scenery is the result of its unique geology and glacial history. This is described in the various publications of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (North Pennines AONB) Partnership, the Cumberland Geological Society and the British Geological Survey. At the winery we and the AONB have developed a new explanatory display describing the spectacular geology of this area. This is available at winery opening times.

  

  

  

  

The North Pennines Geopark

The North Pennines AONB is a UNESCO European Geopark. Each year a programme of events is organised by the North Pennines AONB Partnership as the Northern Rocks Festival. 

A Geological walk around High Cup Nick

The geology of High Cup Nick is a feature of a walking guide written by John Rodgers as a chapter in the Cumberland Geological Society publication, Exploring Lakeland. Anyone interested in the geology should follow this walk as it describes important rock outcrops, from the Triassic red sandstone of Dufton Ghyll, to the limestones and sandstones of the Carboniferous hills of the Pennines, crossing on the way the Ordovician volcanics of the Cross Fell inlier and the hard dolerite/basalt of the Whin Sill which forms the vertical cliffs at High Cup Nick. More details ....