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Eskmeals Dunes Nature Reserve is part of the Drigg Coast Special Area of Conservation, which is recognised as being one of the best areas in the UK for sand dune habitats. Eskmeals is leased by Cumbria Wildlife Trust from the Ministry of Defence and has been a nature reserve since 1970.
Underlying the greater part of this reserve is shingle, brought to the coast by ice during the last glaciation. Over time, wave action rounded the stones and piled them into long parallel ridges which eventually formed a barrier. This forced the River Esk to make a sharp bend north before it could flow into the Irish Sea. About 5,000 years ago, shell sand started to build up on top of the shingle forming dunes.