Following the melting of the ice the newly exposed valley sides were often too steep and unstable resulting in large landslides (15).
Photo: Thrope Edge Landslide – Thrope Edge Landslide, Nidderdale, caused by movement of the Nidderdale Shales beneath Red Scar Grit.
Where less resistant rocks, such as shale, underlie more resistant limestones and sandstones, waterfalls such as those at Aysgarth and Hardraw, have formed (16). In some cases the upstream movement of the waterfalls, by erosion, has created gorges (17). Many of the landforms in the area reflect the influence of post-glacial meltwater erosion.
Photo: West Burton Falls – West Burton Falls, Wensleydale, mudstone of the Hawes Limestone cyclothem has been eroded beneath the Gayle Limestone.