Chains (geological site)

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The Chains is the name given to the north-west plateau of Exmoor, Somerset, England. This plateau lies above the 1,500 feet (457 m) contour line.

It lies roughly within a triangle of land between Simonsbath, Challacombe and Lynton and has few distinguising features. The highest point is at Chains Barrow - 1,599 feet (487 m).

It is a Geological Conservation Review site recognised as being nationally important for its south-western lowland heath communities and for transitions from ancient semi-natural woodland through upland heath to blanket mire. The Chains provides palynological record of a mid to late Flandrian vegetation history on Exmoor. The pollen sequence in the peat is calibrated by radiocarbon dating.^[1]