South Solway Mosses NNR
South Solway Mosses NNR is a composite of three large lowland raised bogs.
County: Cumbria
Main habitats: Peatland
Area: 965.7 Ha
Site map: Nature on the Map
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These three large lowland raised bogs are: Glasson Moss: (219kb)
, Bowness Common: (210kb) and Wedholme Flow. These are the largest intact, primary active lowland bog areas in England.
All three sites have been substantially affected by domestic cutting, drainage and commercial peat cutting, although the only site where peat cutting is still active is Wedholme Flow. Bowness Common is the least damaged in respect of peat cutting and is one of the best remaining geomorphological examples of a bog in the UK. Wedholme Flow is the most damaged.
Local plant life includes a range of sphagnum species, hare's-tail cotton grass, bog rosemary, cranberry, and cross-leaved heath. All three native sundew species are present.
A range of breeding birds is found on the reserve including sparrowhawk, curlew, snipe, sedge and grasshopper warblers.
Invertebrates found on the reserve include large heath butterfly, bog bush cricket and banded demoiselle dragonfly.
Location and access
South Solway Mosses are 20 km west of Carlisle on the Solway coast.
Bowness Common and Glasson Moss are north of the B5307, near the villages of Glasson, Whitrigg and Bowness-on-Solway. Wedholme Flow is south of the B5307, near the villages of Newton Arlosh and Kirkbride.
By car, access to the area is via minor roads from the B3507 and A596.
The nearest train station is in Wigton (7 km to the south) served by Northern Rail. For details of local bus services go to the Traveline website.
Two major trails cross the area, the Cumbria Coastal Way and the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Glasson and Bowness-on-Solway are on Route 72 of the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
For further access information, and to obtain a leaflet describing the site, email Natural England's Cumbria office, or telephone 01697 350005.
Facilities
The nearest toilet and refreshment facilities are in local towns and villages.
