ESCR - Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Lough Lee-Binnawooda area

Earth Science Conservation Review

Summary Full report
Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Lough Lee-Binnawooda area	Tyrone

Site number:	1167
ESCC:	IC
Locality Type:	Karst	Status:	ESCR
Grid Reference:	H255761,H24677799 Centroid, Not Entered
Google maps:	54.63289,-7.60511
County:	Tyrone	Council area:	Derry City & Strabane District Council
Period:	Quaternary, Carboniferous
Stages:	Chadian, Holocene
Lithostrat:	Ballyshannon Limestone Formation

Site Description
Highlights:
Karstified calcareous sandstones.
Introduction:
Water sinking at Lough Lee was reported to speleologists by a hydrologist (P. Bennett) carrying out a survey in the area for the DoE (NI) water service in the mid-1980's. It was discovered that this water resurges at Rapid Spring, 2km east of the sink. Digging by speleologists failed to gain access to open cave passage at the sink and both sink and resurgence have now been rendered impenetrable by development as a DoE (NI) water intake. During the course of investigating the Lough Lee area a resurgence in Binnawooda Townland (Fairy Water Rising) was examined and discovered to be formed in sandstones with a calcareous cement. The Lough Lee site is not now considered suitable for ASSI designation, but the Binnawooda site contains the only known karstified sandstone in Northern Ireland. DETAILED
Description:
(i) Lough Lee Lough Lee is located at H255761 between Bin Mountain, Bolaght Mountain and Lough Hill. The lake has no surface outlet, drainage from the lake is totally underground. Originally drainage from the lake was via a choked sinkhole at H25177612 and the water sinking at this point has been traced to Rapid Spring, H27877572 (P. Bennett, pers. comm.). The sink at Lough Lee was excavated by speleologists in the late 1980's but no open passage was discovered. Rapid Spring is a large rising but was discovered to be impenetrable. The sink at Lough Lee has been modified to deepen the lough by approximately 5m and a water intake control has also been constructed. Rapid Spring has been converted to a water intake to supply the local mains supply. (ii) Binnawooda Fairy Water Rising is located in Binnawooda townland, County Tyrone (H24677799) at 249m amsl. The rising is situated at the base of a 5m high sandstone scarp adjacent to a farm track. Approximately 100m to the south of the scarp is a doline field approximately 300m E-W by 200m N-S and 20m above the rising. A number of small streamlets sink into a number of the dolines and it is assumed that this is the water which resurges at Fairy Hill Rising.
Importance:
(i) Lough Lee Prior to the recent DoE (NI) water service works the Lough Lee karst was of local significance only. Following the recent work the site is now considered to have no exploration or scientific value. (ii) Binnawooda Fairy Water Rising and the Binnawooda doline - sink area are the only known sandstone hosted karst in Northern Ireland.
Interpretation:
(i) Lough Lee The high flow rates associated with the Lough Lee karst (sink to Rapid Spring) suggests that this is a large single conduit system. Access to any cave passage which may be present is now impossible due to the construction work associated with the development of the system as a local water supply. (ii) Binnawooda Water sinking in the doline field south of Fairy Water Rising is assumed to provide the water resurging at Fairy Hill. The karst is developed in sandstones with a calcareous cement which has allowed karstification to take place.
Conclusions:
CONCLUSION Karstification of limestones and calcareous sandstones has occurred in the area of Lough Lee and Bin Mountain, County Tyrone. Of the two areas of karstification identified, the Lough Lee karst does not warrant ASSI designation as it is only of local significance and has been extensively modified by hydrological works. The Binnawooda doline - sinkhole field and Fairy Water Rising are considered to be of significant importance as they are the only known karstified sandstones in Northern Ireland.
Notes:
For information and reference lists on the systems and features of other outlying karst areas in Fermanagh and Tyrone see; Key Site 1163 - Garrison Key Site 1164 - Fardrum Key Site 1165 - Kiltierney Deer Park Key Site 1166 - Knockninny & Molly Mountain Key Site 1168 - Slieve Beagh area. BIOLOGICAL INTEREST No fauna has been previously recorded from this site and no collection was made in the course of the current programme.

Keywords
Rocks:	Limestone, Sand, Sandstone
Geomorph:	doline, sinkhole

Uses
Uses:	Upland farmland

References (28)
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Map(s):	One area has been outlined on OSNI 1:10,000 sheet 118; BW1. Binnawooda doline field and Fairy Water Rising.
Record type:	ESCR report
Entered by:	E M Porter

Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Outlying Sites in Fermanagh & Tyrone; Lough Lee-Binnawooda area, County Tyrone, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review.
https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=1167. Accessed on 2026-11-08.