Bowness Knott
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY110152 | — | Favourable | 14.76 | 2022-04-20 |
| NY111158 | — | Favourable | 4.35 | 2013-12-02 |
| NY112154 | — | Favourable | 21.12 | 2013-12-02 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Period: Ordovician
Landscape processes: Volcanic / Igneous
Description
Area, 40.63 hectares 100.40 ac Description Bowness Knott lies on the north east side of Ennerdale Water and some 14 kilometres east of Whitehaven. The geological interest of the site in technical terms may be defined as follows, At Bowness Knott exposures of the Ennerdale Granophyre and adjacent contact metamorphosed Skiddaw Slates may be readily examined. Hybrid rocks present here are the result of mixing of the granophyre with magma of a more basic composition. The Ennerdale Granophyre is one of the largest intrusive bodies in the Lake District of Lower Ordovician age. In layman's terms, the interest of this site may be expressed more simply and such a statementis provided below, The crags and rock outcrops around Bowness Knott provide excellent exposures of an igneous rock type known as the Ennerdale Granophyre which was injected into the crust in a molten state as magma during the early Ordovician Period of geological history about 475 million years ago. These outcrops are of particular interest as they illustrate the contact of the granophyre with the surrounding 'country rocks'. The injection of the granophyre at high temperature baked the country rocks and the effects of this process can also be studied at Bowness Knott. This is an important site for study of the Ennerdale Granophyre, demonstrating many features of geological interest.