Lake District hillslopes

Abstract

The Lake District is a region of great scenic beauty in north-west England that has inspired artists and poets alike, and which comes high on the list of classic geological localities in Great Britain in terms of both bedrock and geomorphological features. With its inspiring views, the Lake District is often portrayed as the product of repeated glaciation, mainly because of the clarity of the erosional and depositional features that can be seen there. But since the last glaciers disappeared other processes have been modifying the landscape, processes that have superimposed their own signatures on to the glacial features. Hillslopes in particular have undergone significant changes, as a result of slope failures in both bedrock and superficial sediments. Although these landforms are not unknown, they have not received the same level of investigation as the glacial features, resulting in a limited appreciation of their spatial distribution and significance in reshaping the landscape. This article outlines the characteristics and origins of some slope failure types, and demonstrates that there is still much to learn about the Lake District landscape.