Three Nature Reserves Accessible Trail

Enjoy the natural beauty of Leighton Moss, Gait Barrows and Trowbarrow Nature Reserves whilst exploring 6 miles of delightful accessible route through some of the UK’s most important wildlife habitats and stunning landscapes.

FREE Tramper hire available from RSPB Leighton Moss. For the first time ever, the Trampers can be taken off the RSPB reserve to explore the neighbouring nature reserves and their wonderful mosaic of limestone habitats. An adventurous and challenging route, taking you away from manicured paths and deep into the heart of this special wild landscape, this route is sure to inspire even more journeys out to connect with the nature of Morecambe Bay.

Route Details:

• Length: 9.6km/6 miles
• Time: Approximately 3.5 hours
• Grade: Moderate/Hard
• This route has been designed for robust, all-terrain mobility vehicles, such as Trampers. Users of other types of mobility vehicle or buggies/pushchairs may feel able to attempt the route.
• Accessible Parking: 7 Blue Badge spaces are situated directly next to the visitor centre (What3words ///sober.destiny.prefect). Main Car Park: Located across the road from the visitor centre, gravel surface, open dawn to dusk, no lighting.
• The route can also be started from Gait Barrows carpark if you’re bringing your own all-terrain mobility scooter (what3words ///crafts.pictured.momentous), or there is radar key accessible parking at the end of Moss Lane (What3words ///spinners.capers.chop)
• There are public toilets in Silverdale, on Bank House Lane (what3words: stocky.unlimited.hoot).
• There are disabled access toilet facilities in the following venues:
  
  • RSPB Leighton Moss
  • Holgates Holiday Park Cafe
  • The Wolfhouse Cafe
  • The Silverdale Hotel

Please note:

• This route is challenging and the full route should only be attempted using an all-terrain mobility scooter (these can be hired free of charge from RSPB Leighton Moss April-September).
• The waymarked route should be adhered to.
• The route is uneven, with tree roots, stone and gravel paths, tight corners to manoeuvre around, mud, muddy divets. It has been tested extensively using a Tramper, which is able to traverse the route with ease.
• For safety, and ease of access, please always travel with a walking companion, when using an all-terrain mobility vehicle on this route. There are a number of gates on the route which are tricky to manoeuvre between whilst using a mobility vehicle solo. There are also parts of the route where there is no mobile phone signal, so please download the route if you are relying on your phone to guide you.
• The route should not be attempted with a self propelled wheelchair.
• For those hiring a Tramper from Leighton Moss to explore the Three Nature Reserves trail, there is no entry charge to Leighton Moss. An entry fee is payable if you’d like to explore the site beyond the trail.
• Walkers without Trampers exploring the trail will be charged an entry fee to RSPB Leighton Moss. Alternatively from the RSPB Visitor Centre turn right and follow the road until you reach the public footpath on the left hand side, leading to Trowbarrow Local Nature Reserve (waymarker #2 on the map).
• Dogs on leads are welcome on the trail – please pick up after your dog and stick to the public rights of way to prevent disturbing wildlife including ground-nesting birds. Most of Leighton Moss, with its rare wetland birds and narrow paths is not accessible to dogs, including the boardwalk near the Visitor Centre. However, dogs are welcome in parts of our garden area, and the RSPB has facilitated access along a marked path from the RSPB Visitor Centre to Storrs Lane where you can pick up the waymarked path at waymarker #2 for this route. Previously the part of the route from Coldwell Meadow (owned by the Arnside Silverdale Landscape Trust) through the RSPB reserve at Challan Hall woods was also closed to dogs. After careful discussion with RSPB ecologists it is felt that there is a compromise to be had with sufficient habitat within the woodland to act as an undisturbed refuge for birds and other wildlife and so the entire route is now open to dogs on leads.

This route has been made possible by a partnership of local landowners and conservation organisations (Natural England, Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape, RSPB, Lancaster City Council, Arnside and Silverdale Landscape Trust, Leighton Hall Estate) who have worked together with Morecambe Bay Partnership to develop the Three Nature Reserves Trail. Tramper Hire emergency recovery service is provided by Bay Search & Rescue.