Warcop Training Area
{{Short description|UK Ministry of Defence military training area near the village of Warcop in Cumbria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Warcop Training Area
|image=Mickle Fell - geograph.org.uk - 19150.jpg
|caption = Mickle Fell
|type = Training Area
|map_type = Cumbria
|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Cumbria
|location = Warcop
|coordinates = {{Coord|54|37|02|N|02|22|53|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|ownership = Ministry of Defence
|operator = {{army|United Kingdom}}
|built = 1942
|used=1942-Present
|architect =
|built_for = War Office
|garrison =
|occupants =
}}
The Warcop Training Area (WTA) is a UK Ministry of Defence military training area near the village of Warcop in Cumbria. Part of the Defence Training Estate, the area consists of approximately {{convert|24000|acre|ha}} of MoD freehold land.[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DefenceEstateandEnvironment/AccessRecreation/North/Warcop.htm/ Ministry of Defence - Defence Estate and Environment, What we do](website accessed: 26 August 2010)[http://www.northpennines.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13006/ North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty] (website accessed: 26 August 2010)
History
File:Swindale - geograph.org.uk - 19143.jpg
The training estate was established in 1942 originally as a tank gunnery range and tanks still use it to this day.[http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/landscapes-and-areas/national-mapping-programme/warcop-army-training-estate-nmp/ English Heritage - Warcop Training Area National Mapping Programme (NMP)](Website accessed: 26 August 2010)
On 19 October 1944 a Short Stirling bomber (LK 488), crashed on Mickle Fell whilst on a training flight from its base at RAF Wratting Common in Cambridgeshire; of the seven crew, only one survived.{{cite web |url=http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/dales/lk488.html |title=Stirling LK488 on Mickle Fell |website=Aircraft accidents in Yorkshire | accessdate=20 June 2013}}
On 22 April 1999 a soldier died when a grenade exploded in his pocket.{{cite news | url=https://www.cwherald.com/a/archive/grenade-exploded-in-teenage-soldier-s-pocket.234977.html |title=Grenade exploded in teenage soldier's pocket| date=11 September 1999 |newspaper=Cumberland and Westmorland Herald}}
On 4 June 2014, one soldier died and two others were injured in a training accident when a military vehicle rolled over.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-27839303 | title=Warcop army base crash soldier Josh Osborne making 'remarkable recovery' | date=13 June 2014 | website=BBC News}}
Coverage of the training area
Within the training area are Little Fell (745m) and Mickle Fell (790m[http://www.streetmap.co.uk/oldmap.srf?x=377500&y=522500&z=126&sv=377500,522500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=oldmap.srf&searchp=oldsearch.srf&ax=374500&ay=515500&lm=0/ Streetmap, Warcop Training Area] (Website accessed:26 August 2010)), Burton Fell, Warcop Fell, Cronkley Fell and part of Murton Fell.{{Cite book |pages=71–82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5hzwJLFEHYoC&dq=murton%20fell&pg=PA71 |title=Walking in the North Pennines |first=Paddy |last=Dillon |isbn=0-7146-5657-7 |publisher=Cicerone Press Limited |year=1991}}
Most of the training area is in Cumbria but a portion is County Durham. The area forms part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and about two-thirds of the area falls inside the Appleby Fells Site of Special Scientific Interest.[http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/public-transport-road-safety/countryside-access/openaccess/Warcop.asp/ Cumbria County Council - Access on MOD Warcop training area] (Website accessed: 26 August 2010)[http://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271005796%27 Appleby Fells SSSI map], MagicMap, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Army use
Warcop Training Area is used six and a half days a week by the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison, other regular British Army and Army Reserves using the Warcop Training Camp.