7.6
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Donation
Cost
Peaceful
Feel
Why it's Wildland
7.6A raised mire where sphagnum, sundew and other unusual plants carpet the moss, and the reserve’s short path leads visitors into a landscape that is both delicate and full of insect life.
Meathop Moss earns its place for the peatland itself: a raised mire with unusual plants and a striking abundance of butterflies, moths, dragonflies and damselflies. A short, fairly level route reaches the open moss, while the boardwalk and marked path help keep visitors off fragile, waterlogged ground.
Peaceful · Wild · Secluded
Find your way
Open mapNear Witherslack, Cumbria
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
Follow the 1 km return path from the parking area to the open moss, using the boardwalk and information boards to explore this sensitive raised mire. Allow time to look for seasonal butterflies and dragonflies, and stay on the path: the ground beyond it is very soft and can conceal deep water.
Things to do
Walk out to the open moss
Follow the path from the parking area to the open moss and return by the same route. The way is fairly level but includes boardwalk, wood-chip and unsurfaced sections.
1 km / 0.6 miles return
Look for seasonal butterflies and moths
Look for green hairstreak butterflies and emperor moths in May and early June, followed by the uncommon large heath butterfly from late June to early August.
Watch and listen for winter birds
Look for snipe rising from cover in their distinctive zig-zag flight, and listen for teal near the pools by the entrance.
Spot dragonflies and damselflies
The reserve supports many dragonflies and damselflies. Watch from the path and boardwalk rather than entering the soft ground.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · About 1 hour
Quick Escape: out to the open moss
- 01
Start at the parking area and follow the path towards the open moss.
- 02
Use the boardwalk and information boards to explore without stepping onto the soft mire.
- 03
Pause to look for unusual plants and flying insects, then return the same way.
Half day · Allow 1–2 hours at the reserve; other sourced half-day elements are not available.
Make a half day of it: take your time on the mire
- 01
Walk the 1 km return path from the parking area to the open moss.
- 02
Take time at the information boards to understand the raised mire and its conservation.
- 03
Look for seasonal butterflies and moths in warmer months, or snipe and teal in winter.
- 04
Return by the same route, remaining on the path throughout.
Verified history
Meathop Moss has been a nature reserve since 1919, when the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves first leased the site. Cumbria Wildlife Trust describes it as a raised mire and says its conservation work includes removing trees, blocking drains and creating bunds to help retain the high water table on which the habitat depends.
Hidden details
The reserve’s conservation story is about keeping water in — The Trust’s management work includes removing trees, blocking drains and creating bunds to retain a high water table. These measures support the raised mire habitat visitors see along the path.
Listen for teal near the entrance pools — The Trust recommends listening for teal’s whistling call from pools near the entrance, particularly in winter.
When to go
April · May · June · July · August · No specific time of day is established by the supplied sources; check local conditions before visiting.
The reserve’s published best visiting period is April to August. Green hairstreak butterflies and emperor moths are noted in May and early June, followed by large heath butterflies from late June to early August. Winter offers a different focus: snipe and teal.
The route includes unsurfaced path and wood-chip as well as boardwalk; conditions may affect footing. The ground away from the path is very soft and includes filled holes and deep water. Take care around adders and ticks.
The route
- surface
- Boardwalk, wood-chip and unsurfaced path
- distance
- 1 km / 0.6 miles return
- difficulty
- Fairly level; includes unsurfaced sections
- waymarking
- Information boards along the route
- route shape
- Out and back
- start point
- Parking area; reserve entrance grid reference SD 447 820
- parking start
- Layby parking; route starts from the parking area.
- Open raised mire
- Sphagnum and sundew
- Seasonal butterflies, moths and dragonflies
- Winter snipe and teal
What to look for
- 01
Look for sphagnum and sundew among the raised mire’s unusual plants
- 02
watch for green hairstreak butterflies and emperor moths in May and early June, large heath butterflies from late June to early August, and dragonflies and damselflies. In winter, listen for teal near the entrance pools and watch for the zig-zag flight of a flushed snipe.
The story
Nature conservation and peatland habitat
Best time to go
April–August. May and early June are notable for green hairstreak butterflies and emperor moths; large heath butterflies can be seen from late June to early August.
April to August for the strongest range of seasonal wildlife. May and early June bring green hairstreak butterflies and emperor moths; late June to early August is the season for the uncommon large heath butterfly. In winter, listen for teal near the entrance pools and watch for snipe lifting from cover.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Walkers · Wildlife lovers · Photographers · Families
Practical information
Opening & access
Cumbria Wildlife Trust says the reserve is open all year. A path runs from the parking area to the open moss, a 1 km (0.6-mile) return trip. The route is fairly level, with sections of boardwalk, wood-chip and unsurfaced path. The ground off the path is very soft, with filled holes and deep water; take care around adders and ticks.
Parking
Layby parking; check current arrangements before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Dogs on a lead.
Accessibility
The reserve source describes the path as fairly level, with sections of boardwalk, wood-chip and unsurfaced path. The source row claims wheelchair access, but the supplied reserve information does not confirm that the full route is suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs; check with the Trust before relying on step-free access.
Check before visiting
Cost
Donation
Water
Bog pools and wet mire; swimming or paddling is not indicated.
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Meathop Moss Nature Reserve
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
