| Warcop Training Area | |
| Type: | Training Area |
| Map Type: | Cumbria |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location within Cumbria |
| Location: | Warcop |
| Ownership: | Ministry of Defence |
| Built: | 1942 |
| Used: | 1942-Present |
| Built For: | War Office |
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 24000acres of MoD freehold land.[1] [2]
The training estate was established in 1942 originally as a tank gunnery range and tanks still use it to this day.[3]
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.[4]
On 22 April 1999 a soldier died when a grenade exploded in his pocket.[5]
On 4 June 2014, one soldier died and two others were injured in a training accident when a military vehicle rolled over.[6]
Within the training area are Little Fell (745m) and Mickle Fell (790m[7]), Burton Fell, Warcop Fell, Cronkley Fell and part of Murton Fell.[8]
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.[9] [10]
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.