Whitbarrow National Nature Reserve

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Overview

The Whitbarrow NNR has stunning views of the Cumbrian fells and across the sands of Morecambe Bay, and is rich in wildflowers and butterflies. The thin limestone soils provide ideal growing conditions for a variety of plants. In spring hoary rock-rose, primrose, cowslip and early purple orchid are in flower, while later in summer dropwort, bird’s-foot trefoil, lesser meadow rue, limestone bedstraw and thyme burst into bloom. Look out especially for the striking crimson spikes of dark red helleborine. The limestone pavements provide shelter for a range of unusual plants. These include hart’s-tongue fern, rigid buckler-fern, hard shield-fern and limestone polypody. The reserve also has a rich invertebrate and insect fauna. In summer you may see four species of fritillary butterfly: high brown, dark green, pearl-bordered and small pearl-bordered, which all breed here. Look out also for northern brown argus, grayling, common blue and small heath butterflies. Breeding birds include meadow pipit, both green and great spotted woodpecker and redstart. Roe, and occasionally red deer, are seen on the reserve.

Location

Witherslack

About the area

Cumbria's rugged yet beautiful landscape is best known for the Lake District National Park that sits within its boundaries. It’s famous for Lake Windermere, England’s largest lake, and Derwent Water, ‘Queen of the English Lakes', but other lesser-known areas in the south, such as the Lune Valley and the coastal towns, are secret gems of wide cobbled streets and rolling hills.