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Wildlife at Crosscliff Dalby Forest
North Yorkshire
England
Thornton-le-Dale is the nearest town or village.
OS Grid Reference: SE 896914
On the northern fringes of Dalby Forest Crosscliff has a very different character to the riggs and vales in the south. It is located in the highest part of the forest on the plateau of the Tabular Hills but is only 200 metres or so from a steep scarp looking out accross Langdale Forest to Fylingdales. The area has great views across an interesting landcsape shaped by successive ice-ages.
Mammals: As elsewhere in the forest Roe deer and badgers are common but rarely seen. Otters frequent the quiet stream and lake at the foot of Crosscliff and now very scarce water voles frequent the streams, brooks and ditches to the north and west. We have information about Roe deer, Badger and Otter
Birds: Recent clear-felling in this area means this is a great site for listening for Nightjar. Late spring and early summer evenings at dusk are the best time to hear and with luck see this bird. Being on the edge of the forest and adjacent to moorland means birds such as curlew, skylark, tree and meadow pipit are regularly encountered. We have information about Nightjar
Habitats: The area in the immediate vicinity of crosscliffe is conifer forest planted on acid heath with bilberry and ling heather. Where the soil has been more disturbed brambles proliferate. The scarp slope itself is pine and oak forest. This area is being restored to native woodland although this is a long proceess that will take many years. If this aspect of our work interests you click on the link to 'Native Woods'. To the northwest is Blakey Topping, a strange glaciated hill and Thompson Rigg an isolated moorland. Both are owned by the National Trust.
How to get there:
Crosscliff is signed off the forest drive about 7 miles from the visitor centre and about 1 mile south of the north eastern toll point.Follow stone road for about two thirds of a mile to Crosscliff.
Local Weather Forecast (Multimap)
Facilities:
  
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An easy access trail is provided to the viewpoint. |
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Activities
    
Other places to go in Dalby Forest
Bickley Gate
Low & High Staindale
Haygate
Adderstone Field
Dalby Forest Visitor Centre and Shop
Dalby Forest Visitor Centre Education & Meeting Room
Contact:
Brian Walker
Environment Officer
01751 472771
e-mail: nym@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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What's of interest
Dargate Dykes, prominent earthworks on the path between the car park and the viewpoint can be dated back at least to the Middle Bronze Age. This series of raised mounds and ditches is thought to have been a boundary marker for the territory of a large tribal community.
We have just revised our local policy for managing deadwood in local forests if you are interested click on the link to 'Deadwood'. This is a .317kb .pdf file.
Did you know All the water in this area feeds the River Derwent. This river used to flow east towards the sea near Scarborough but after the last ice age it changed its course south and west and now flows through through the Vales of Pickering and York to join the River Ouse. The Derwent is one of Britains cleanest rivers and is a wildlife jewel.
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