This site is situated at the heart of the Arnside andSilverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of Britain's most important limestone landscapes. The NNR has a diverse range of habitat and geology, including extensive limestone pavement (with stunted trees) and limestone grassland, surrounded by ash and yew woodland. Gait Barrows also contains a series of beautiful herb-rich pastures that are ringed by ancient limestone walls. A pristine marl lake sits at the heart of the reserve surrounded by fen, reed swamp and wet woodland.
