Wildlife and nature at Brimham Rocks

Low sun over the moorland at Brimham Rocks, Nidderdale, North Yorkshire. — Low sun over the moorland at Brimham Rocks | © National Trust Images/Paul Harris

Brimham Rocks is a widely unique habitat home to a variety of plants and animals. Discover the abundance of wildlife that calls Brimham Rocks home, from ground-nesting birds such as cuckoos and curlews to a beautiful area of heather moorland.

Brimham Rocks provide a wonderful place for an adventure for all the family but please explore safely

The rocks and paths can become slippery when wet. Always keep a close eye on children, there are sudden drops and steep slopes across the site. If you need assistance, please call the emergency services (999) and ask for mountain rescue.

Wildlife at Brimham Rocks

The woodland and heather moorland at Brimham Rocks is a unique habitat, home to a variety of plants and offers shelter to numerous insects and ground nesting birds. Discover what you may come across on a stroll across the moor.

Birds

There are over 70 species of birds that visit, live and breed in all areas of Brimham Rocks. Birds, such as Red Grouse and Meadow Pipit prefer the more remote areas of the site whilst the woodland areas support birds such as robins, tits, finches and Pied Flycatchers. Swallows and house martins like to nest among the rocks and buildings whereas Stonechat and woodcock prefer to make their nests in the heathland

Migrant birds

Brimham Rocks acts as a stepping stone for migrating birds who have travelled the epic journey crossing continents, deserts and oceans. Migrating birds travel to take advantage of seasonal resources, especially food, in the hope they that they can breed successfully or simply survive.

Ground nesting birds

Many of the birds that breed at Brimham Rocks, such as the Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Pipit, Cuckoo and Curlew, choose to nest on the ground, leaving them vulnerable to predators and disturbance from people and dogs. For this reason, you must stay on the footpaths and keep dogs on a short lead at all times.

A pied flycatcher on a twig — Pied flycatcher at Longshaw | © Chris Kelly

Invertebrates

Brimham is home to several invertebrates, some of which are unusual in the area. It is particularly rich in species of spiders and beetles, including the green tiger beetle and solitary ashy mining bees, which feed exclusively on heather flowers and whose burrows you may spot around the paths and main rocky outcrops.

In 2024, the ranger team and wildlife volunteers surveyed 18 species of butterfly, including the Green Hairstreak which is a moorland specialist species, 10 species of dragonfly and 4 species of damselfly. They also recorded sightings of an Orange Underwing moth for the first time.

Brimham bonus: See if you can spot the Black Darter dragonfly the UK's smallest dragonfly, or the female Golden Ringed dragonfly which is the UKs longest dragonfly.

Mammals

Though they’re not always easy to spot, there 15 different species of mammals that live in Brimham's moorland and woodland. Scan the landscape for roe deer and red deer, stoats, field voles, brown hares and hedgehogs.

Cattle

Although still mammals, the Belted Gallows must get a special mention. 34 cows graze Brimham's north and south moorland from May to October. The gentle but hardy breed get busy grazing the moorland vegetation, eating the moor grass and squashing the bracken to help maintain a healthy moorland habitat.

Find out more about the Belted Galloways

Cattle grazing on Brimham Rocks moorland — Belted galloway cattle grazing on Brimham's moor | © Paul Harris

Heather Moorland

Although the titular rocks are the reason many visit, Brimham Rocks also features a beautiful area of heather moorland. It is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its globally significant plant life. Three types of heather make up the moorland at Brimham Rocks.

Heather moorland is internationally important because it is rare worldwide and is mostly found in northern Britain. Moorland is a patchwork of dwarf shrubs such as heather and bilberry. It is an open landscape into which we don’t want to introduce shade and must remove trees so the peat does not dry out.

Moorland is a semi-natural habitat created by the removal of woodland by humans thousands of years ago.

Discover the different types of heather at Brimham Rocks

Sprigs of pale purple Ling heather on Lundy Island — Ling heather | © National Trust Images/Nick Upton

Common heather (ling)

Common heather (Calluna vulgaris) flowers from August onwards and is the most common type of heather found at Brimham Rocks. It is often referred to as ling, a name that comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for fire – 'lig'. This reflects that historically it was used for fuel to build fires. Other uses include broom making, basket making and as a flavouring in beer. The leaves are so small and close to the stem that they almost look like scales overlapping one another. The tiny flowers are pale purple and it is possible to tell the petals apart upon close inspection.

Bell heather

Bell heather flowers from June onwards. It is a much deeper shade of purple than the ling and the petals are joined most of the way down forming a tube containing the stamen. This has been likened to a bell and is where the plant gets its name. The leaves of this plant are much bigger than ling (although still tiny) and are bunched in whorls up the stem. This species of heather prefers the drier parts of heath and moorland and so is good to aim for if you want to keep your feet dry.

Cross-leaved heather

Cross-leaved heather also flowers from June onwards. This is the least common heather at Brimham Rocks. The flowers are a paler purple – almost pink – but the shades can vary across individuals. The leaves are in whorls of four up the stem, forming a cross shape if viewed from the top down, this is where the plant gets its name. This species likes its feet wet and so is found in the wetter parts of the site.

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Purple Moor Grass

Purple Moor Grass commonly grows on the barer patches of heathland, in woodland areas and around the rocks. Brimham Rocks is also home to Yorkshire’s largest colonies of Bog Asphodel found on wetter parts of the heathland and during the summer months, Heath Spotted and Common Spotted orchids can also be seen in these areas too.

Berries

On the heathland parts of Brimham, the dominant ground cover is heather along with patches of bilberry bushes and some bell heather. You can find cowberries and lingonberries here too, which are a northern moorland species found mostly in Yorkshire.

More wildlife you could spot nearby

Nidderdale National Landscape is full of contrasts and rich in wildlife and Brimham Rocks is home to only a fraction of what you could find. Windswept moorlands and steep river valleys merge into gently rolling pastoral scenes, peaceful woodlands and tranquil expanses of water.

Head to Scar House Reservoir to be in with a chance of spotting an adder.
Visit the Washburn Valley or Gouthwaite reservoir during the summer to see the Osprey flying over.
Explore the nearby moorland to try spot a Merlin, Britain’s smallest bird of prey.

Visit the Nidderdale National Landscape website to discover where you could explore next in the Nidderdale Valley.

Nidderdale National Landscapes

How can you help?

Countryside Code top tips

Leave barbecues at home. You’re welcome to have a picnic but please don’t have a barbecue.
Keep to the path. Protect the places you love. Help prevent lasting damage by staying on the paths.
Leave no trace. Help us care for these special places by leaving them as you find them.

Respect other people