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National Nature Reserves near the South Solway Coast. The South Solway Mosses If you want to ‘walk on the wild side’ there is nothing to compare with the Lowland raised bogs of Bowness Common, Drumburgh Moss, Glasson Moss or Wedholme Flow. These bogs are peat bogs, with up to 14m’s of peat under your feet, representing 10,000 years of slow growth, starting at the end of the last ice age. Although they have been changed through drainage, peat cutting and agricultural improvement they are the remnants of the last true wilderness in England. The parts that have not been drained are as near pristine and untouched by humans as is feasibly possible.
So what will you find? Apart from a curious ‘bouncy’ feeling (peat is after all 95% water) you will find rare birds, dragonflies, damselflies, mosses, carnivorous plants, cranberry as well as vast quiet, open spaces with sky that reaches as far as Skiddaw in the south or Criffel in Scotland. You will rarely come across other people as these bogs are so large. Access Bowness Common. Park on the verge NY229600 (can be a bit soft) off the Kirkbride to Bowness on Solway Road. Follow finger post with the RSPB logo along a track, which goes through the bog. Continue onto to Rogersceugh farm on the hill where suburb views of the area can be gained. Further routes take you via boardwalks across the bog to Campfield (RSPB reserve) or follow the track onto Longcroft. Access onto Glasson Moss can also be gained from this parking spot. Drumburgh Moss. This bog is part owned by Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Go to Drumburgh and take a small turning south toward Moss cottage. This is a rough track but eventually you will come to a small parking NY 253590 where there are signs guiding you to walks on the moss. Park at Wedholme Flow. Cycle racks, car park at NY236539 off the Wigton to Kirkbride road. Three circular way marked trails. Glasson Moss. Small car park NY 235609 at the top of Aiken Lonning. Exit the Glasson to Bowness on Solway Road toward the Cottage and Glendale Caravan site. Turn right just before the caravan site entrance and follow the gravel track to the end. A short way marked route takes you out onto some of the best pristine lowland raised bog in the area. Wellington boots are advisable at all the sites (they are bogs after all) Finglandrigg Wood
If you are after something a bit more conventional then Finglandrigg Wood may what you are after. A mixture of woodland and heath walks interspersed by grazed fields and gorse banks. Walking is on gravel paths, grass and boardwalks. Birds, damselflies, dragonflies and red squirrels can all be found if you come at the right time and the rare Marsh fritillary Butterfly can be seen in late may early June. Access Parking is at NY282572 just off the Kirkbride to Carlisle Road between Kirkbride and Kirkbampton. Picnic tables, walks and cycle racks are all available. |
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