Peaked Down earthcache EarthCache
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About this earthcache
An earthcache exploring Peaked Down, known locally as 'Cam Peak', and the reasons behind its formation.
Before setting out to 'find' this earthcache
I suggest you fully read the long description, including the logging requirements. A little prior research may be required, to ensure you carry out the necessary observations whilst at the cache location.
Introduction
Peaked Down, or 'Cam Peak', is a prominent feature in the local area, and is visible from further afield, such as the M5 motorway, River Severn and the eastern slopes of the Forest of Dean. It was once part of the Cotswolds, but now stands isolated from them. Why?
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds AONB stretches for nearly 60 miles, forming part of an outcrop of Jurassic rocks that runs NE from the Dorset coast to the North Sea off Yorkshire. The escarpment can be identified from the area around Bath, right up to near Market Weighton in Yorkshire and is the largest continuous landform feature in lowland England. It is a classic example of a ‘scarp and dip’ landscape. The steep western scarp of the Cotswolds exposes sections through Lower and Middle Jurassic rocks that dip gently eastwards towards Oxford and London.
At Leckhampton Hill and Cleeve Common the thickest sections of Jurassic rocks anywhere in the country are exposed, a feature recognised by their designation as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Towards the south-east the rocks get gradually younger and their different lithologies and erosional histories produce different types of features in the landscape. The relationships between geology and landscape can be clearly seen.
The rocks that form the Cotswolds are made up of three different stages of the Jurassic period and date from between 210-140 million years ago. The Lower Jurassic is made up of the Lias Group, the Middle Jurassic Rocks are divided into the Inferior Oolite Group, and the Great Oolite Group and the Upper Jurassic is represented by the Ancholme Group. Each Group is subdivided into Formations and Members distinguished from each other according to differences in the constituent parts of the rock, the types of fossils found in the rocks and by erosional surfaces that mark breaks in deposition of the sediments.
The geology of the Cotswolds as everywhere has a very strong influence on the landscape, vegetation and wildlife, as well as on the industry and heritage of the people living in the area. The soils and vegetation noticeably change as the underlying geology changes from one type of rock to another, influencing growth of different species of plants and trees, which in turn provide habitats for a variety of different animal and bird species.
The landscape of the escarpment is relatively young, as the wearing back of the escarpment has taken place over the last 1.6 million years during the Quaternary period. Evidence of periglacial activity comes from gravel fans at the edge of the scarp and some areas continue to show active geomorphological processes. The Cotswolds escarpment probably has one of the highest inland concentrations of landslips in the country.
How was Peaked Down formed?
The gentle undulations of the Cotswold landscape were formed by numerous streams cutting down through the rocks. Some of these streams still flow but many were the result of melting snow and ice and higher levels of precipitation following the Ice Ages that have left dry valleys behind them.
In this area, the River Cam (which rises in the woods above Uley and is known as the River Ewelme before it reaches the town of Dursley), together with its various tributary streams, have been responsible for the formation of these distinctive local hills, which also include Cam Long Down and Downham (or 'Hospital') Hill.
How long must the water have taken to erode such a volume of rock, clay, sand and soil?
Local legend
An alternative reason for the formation of this feature is given in the local legend explained at this web page.
Logging requirements
Using the information provided on site, together with your own observations, gather the necessary measurements to allow you to calculate the volume (in cubic metres) of the cotteswold sand layer which makes up the section of the Peak as visible from the carpark.
To make things slightly simpler, let's assume that the Peak is a perfect cone and that the strata are perfectly horizontal (yes, I know this isn't the case, but trust me, it'll make your calculations a whole to easier!).
Please email me through my profile with your workings and answer before logging your 'find'.
I would advise you to research the appropriate formula before visiting this earthcache, so that you can be sure you take make the necessary observations and measurements during your visit.
How to record the necessary information
From your observations and the information shown on the information board, work out the approximate location at the edge of the site at which the layer of cotteswold sand layer starts. Record the necessary data which will allow you to fulfil the logging requirement.
Next, climb to the top of the Peak, which is the top of the cotteswold sand layer. Again, record the necessary data.
Finally, please provide a brief description of the small structure found at the top of the Peak.
Photos in logs
Photos of the cache location and/or from the top of the Peak in your logs are not a logging requirement, however they are encouraged. The view from the top of the Peak is a fine one and differs from day to day.
A local walk
For a short walk incorporating this and a number of other local caches (Meg's Memory, Cam Long Down and Little Clifford), see this PDF walk leaflet.
View the ratings for this cache on handiching.com.
*** Congratulations to Sly2 for the FTF ***
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur ibyhzr bs n pbar.