NATURAL HISTORY TOURS

of the

SOLWAY
 

TOURS 

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE

ACCOMMODATION  

LEADERS

LINKS

 

GRUNE POINT

panoramic view

Length of walk

 2hrs approx - mainly on shingle beach but there is short stretches on grass.

North of Skinburness, Grune Point is a sandy, raised shingle beach approximately one mile long, from Skinburness to its furthest extent. Its western side is exposed to the Solway and prevailing westerly winds. To the eastern side, which is more sheltered, is Skinburness salt marsh.

Grune Point along with other areas of vegetated shingle along the coast supports a community of specialist vegetation, including sea sandwort, sea holly and sand couch-grass. It is also a good migration watch point for warblers and hirundines.

OS map Landranger number 85 (Carlisle & Solway Firth, Gretna Green)
   

 

1: R.S.P.B. Nature Reserve - Campfield Marsh - situated at the western edge of Bowness-on-Solway it stretches around the saltmarshes and moss areas of the Cardurnock peninsula. A major feeding area for huge flocks of Pink Footed and Barnacle Geese at the southern end of their winter migration. Recent flooding of inland fields behind the shoreline will soon help to increase the variety of habitat and visiting birds to be seen on the Solway. Oyster Catchers, Curlew, Bar Tailed Godwit and Dunlin are all to be seen between September and April. Red Shanks can be found in uncharacteristically large flocks around Port Carlisle dock.
2: Finglandrigg Wood National Nature Reserve - An area of mixed woodland, open heath and grassland. Red Squirrels and Adder occur on the site along with birds such as the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodcock and Willow Tit.
3: Drumburgh Raised Mire - Partridge & Redshank can all be seen on the moss whilst Frogs, Toads, Newts and Dragonflies share the ditches.
4: Bowness Common & Glasson Moss National nature Reserve - The largest area (over 90 hectares) and probably the best example of lowland raised mire in England. Many species of Sphagnum Moss are present together with Cranberry, Bog Asphodel and Heather. Bird life includes Red Grouse, Redpoll, Snipe as well as Curlew nesting sites.

5: Nature Reserve - Only a few yards off the road. 18 acres of old flooded gravel pits are the home of a wide variety of flora and fauna which have been allowed to colonise the area since 1966: dragonflies, damsel flies, both smooth and crested newts, as well as a large number of frogs and toads