M o r e c a M b e b ay: nature on your doorstep From Walney to Wyre Welcome to Morecambe bay, the largest intertidal estuary in the uK. shining sandbanks, vast mudflats and constantly changing channels are alive with the sights and sounds of flocks of waders. The surrounding saltmarshes, tidal islands, hidden beaches and low cliffs give way to In this guide you will find... limestone headlands and escarpments, · Seasonal highlights undulating grasslands, woodlands, low-lying · Top nature spots mosses and rivers with the backdrop of the fells · How to get around and moors beyond. don’t Miss… Fascinating fact There’s so much to see and many The Bay is internationally hidden corners to explore, but important for migratory birds these top 3 highlights are not to that feed on its mollusc rich mud be missed! and sand. It sits along the East Atlantic Flyway, a route that birds 1 getting close to nature at one take when moving between of our nature reserves Scandinavia, Europe and Africa 2 breathtaking views from for breeding and overwintering. our coastal headlands and It provides a perfect haven and limestone hills seafood bar for over 225,000 3 Watching birds feed and roost knot flock birds that pass through each © Ben Andrew with the rhythm of the tides winter. seasonal Highlights This area is full of wildlife, with something spectacular and different to see whatever the time of year: sprIng Early marsh and bee orchids at Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve, hawfinch at Sizergh Castle, and avocets at Leighton Moss nature reserve. summer Rare butterflies around Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, dragonflies at Heysham, Leighton Moss, Meathop and Roudsea nature reserves and sea lavender at coastal reserves along the Wyre estuary and Walney Island. autuMn Fascinating bearded tits and starling murmurations at Leighton Moss nature reserve, oystercatcher and knot along Morecambe promenade, and red deer rutting around Whitbarrow. WInter Curlew and other birds from viewing hides at South Walney, Leighton Moss and Rossall Point, or along a coastal walk at Cockerham, Glasson Docks, Morecambe, Arnside and Grange over Sands. M o r e c a M b e b ay: nature on your doorste p Walney to Wyre Many habitats here are so special they are protected m internationally or nationally. Some species are so rare that Witherslack Morecambe Bay is one of only a few places, or the only place, 9 6 you can see them. Look out for lancastrian whitebeam, walney ulverston grange-over- sands arnside geranium, teesdale violet, lady’s 1 2 slipper orchid, pearl bordered j fritillaries, high brown fritillary silverdale 5 7 4 and belted beauty moth. l Other important wildlife includes the natterjack toad, bittern, barrow-in-Furness seals, red deer and the otter. Wildlife Watchers Morecambe If you are keen wildlife watcher, you’ll find some rare and unusual k lancaster species here. These are our top 3 sites for truly unique viewing: 1 Brush up on your orchid ID at Gait Barrows and Sandscale Haws National Nature Don’t Reserves and Arnside Knott forget your and Humphrey Head nature OS map reserve, where lady’s slipper, and follow the bee, fly, green winged, early countryside 8 code purple, pyramidal and early Fleetwood marsh orchid can be found. 2 Look out for marsh harriers n hunting prey above the reeds MAP KEY at Leighton Moss nature 1Arnside Knott 6Meathop and jSandscale Haws NR reserve and osprey over the 2Gait Barrows NNR Foulshaw mosses NR kSouth Walney NR l mosses at Foulshaw and 3Heysham NR 7North Walney NNR Warton Crag NR 4 8 mWhitbarrow Roudsea nature reserves. Humphrey Head NR Rossall point 5Leighton Moss NR 9Roudsea woods nWyre Country Park 3 Warton Crag, Arnside Knott and mosses NNR and Whitbarrow nature reserves are great places to at Arnside, Morecambe, and see the rare northern brown Grange Promenades a couple of argus, high brown fritillary hours before or after high tide. and other fritillary butterflies. For more ideas on how to For those new to nature spotting, discover nature on your doorstep there are plenty of impressive around Morecambe Bay, read on sites and species that are easy and download the series of nine to find and will capture your nature guides that show you imagination. Here’s our pick of when and where you can enjoy the 3 best sites for beginners: our wonderful wildlife at • Watch the seals playing in the www.morecambebaynature.org. surf around lighthouse bay and uk/discover. on the beaches at the end of South Walney nature reserve • Start at the visitor centre at Leighton Moss nature reserve to find out what birds, dragonflies and plants you can find as you explore the walkways between the reedbeds and saltmarshes. • See a live showcase of the thousands of oystercatcher, red deer knot and curlew that visit here otter © Ben Hall rspb-images.com © Ben Andrew M o r e c a M b e b ay: nature on your doorste p Walney to Wyre barrow -in-Furness their thousands to feed on the seafood bar. shellfish and shrimps hidden in explore barrow -in-Furness lancaster the estuarine sands. where beaches, islands and discover lancaster, where ancient woodlands meet Witherslack incredible numbers of wading fascinating industries of past and discover Witherslack, gateway to birds gather against a backdrop present. dramatic landscapes of limestone of rich maritime history. Barrow-in-Furness and the cliffs, peaceful peatbogs and The River Lune flows through this surrounding islands lie at the wonderful woodlands. historic city and into Morecambe tip of the Furness Peninsula. The Explore the mosaic of habitats Bay. The marine life here has coast and islands are dotted in this area, and see something attracted both birds and with rich industrial and military new at every turn. The ancient fishermen throughout the ages. heritage and wonderful wildlife. peatbogs here are home to red Explore the birds and nature The sand dunes are perfect for deer, the limestone pavements around the city's historic trading rare natterjack toads, claimed to are a haven for butterflies, and ports - atmospheric Sunderland be Europe's noisiest amphibian, springtime in the woods is truly Point on the north bank and and the beaches, shingle, and spectacular. lively Glasson Dock on the south saltmarshes are home to birds, bank. seals and rare orchids. arnside river Wyre ulverston explore arnside, a picturesque coastal village on the edge of a explore the beaches and marshes Visit ulverston, on the coast of limestone outcrop surrounded along the river Wyre and soak up the Furness peninsula where the by stunning places to experience the rich soundscape of waders river leven meets Morecambe nature’s wonders. and pink footed geese. bay. Arnside & Silverdale Area of The River Wyre and Rossall Point Explore coastal woodlands and Outstanding Natural Beauty, an mark the southern boundary of look out for the rare black darter extraordinary place, famous for Morecambe Bay. The marshes, dragonfly, or follow the river amazing wildlife and stunning sands and muds are feeding to magical mosses. Ulverston scenery and superb walks. The grounds for many birds, and has a rich cultural heritage, limestone here is the special particularly pink footed geese, as surrounded by spiritual sites. The ingredient that provides the right they winter here before making town is a great base to explore conditions for many flowering their long journey back to Iceland woodlands and wetlands, valleys plants that provide home to a and Greenland to breed. They are a and estuaries. host of different butterflies. noisy bunch, they make a medley of grange-over-sands high-pitched honking calls as they silverdale fly. Large skeins (flocks) are almost enjoy grange-over-sands, where enjoy silverdale, surrounded deafening! sculpted limestone pavements by great places to see and and wooded hills merge into the experience nature’s wonders saltmarshes and mudflats of At the heart of Arnside & Morecambe bay Silverdale Area of Outstanding This seaside town on the coast Natural Beauty seek out the of the Cartmel peninsula is the elusive otters, listen to the boom perfect place for watching of the rare bittern and explore wading birds that flock here in the fascinating limestone pavements. Morecambe relax in Morecambe, a seafood haven for birds and visitors alike! The massive panorama of vast shimmering sands with a backdrop of Lakeland fells is as mesmerising today as it was when tourists first visited in the 19th Century. The fantastic food, heritage, and nature of Morecambe are indebted to the rossall point tower vast intertidal sands teeming © Jenny Wain with sea creatures. Morecambe promenade is one of the best places around the bay to watch flocks of birds feeding at this Hampsfell hospice © Steve Pipe M o r e c a M b e b ay: nature on your doorste p Walney to Wyre arnside viaduct © David Morris getting here Fleetwood cleveleys We believe that a car free journey © Wyre Borough Council is a care free journey. We have a great coastal railway so why not: • arrive by train. call national rail enquiries on 08457484950. useful contacts: call or search online getting around • www.citycoastcountryside.co.uk Morecambe Bay is the perfect • www.golakes.co.uk place for exploration and discovery. It is also covered with • www.barrowtourism.co.uk a network of historic routes • ulverston tourist Information centre and journeys that are still made 01229 588994 today. The area is perfect for M o r e c a M b e b ay : n at u r e o n y o u r d o o In and r s t e p M around o r e c a lancasterM b e exploring without a car, thanks • grange tourist Information centre In andb ay : n at u r e o n y o u r d o o r Welcome to lancaster, around where wading birds gather Grange S t e p against a backdrop of rich-o maritime history 015395 34026 The River LuneWelcome flows through to Grange-over-Sands, this historicver city gateway to to the quiet lanes, promenades and into Morecambe Bay.