Pitstone Quarry (SSSI)
Location and Access Information
Grid Reference: SP 934 140
Quaternary periglacial weathering
features in Cretaceous chalk.
Situated 2 miles north of Tring, this disused quarry is located within the College Lake Wildlife Centre (on Upper Icknield Way) and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Wildlife Trust managed reserve. From Tring, travel north on the B488, 400m north of canal bridge at Bulbourne turn left into unsigned entrance and the car park is a further 600m on. The Wildlife Centre is open 10.00 till 5.00 (closed Mondays). Visitor Permits are available from the Warden’s Office on site.
Further information can be gained at: www.wildlifetrust.org.uk
View the site map on Nature on the Map.
Geological Interest
The old quarry at Pitstone shows exposures in the Upper Cretaceous Chalk through which channels have been cut by streams during the Quaternary Ice Age. The oldest of the channels contains sands and gravels deposited during a warm period between glacials (known as an interglacial). Channel deposits from the last interglacial, the Ipswichian, which occurred approximately 100,000 years ago, have yielded the fossil bones of Hippopotamus.
