Map reference
OS 1:50,000
Sheet no. 85
Grid reference NY 255 586
Size
121.5 hectares
Status Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
National Nature Reserve (NNR)
Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Access
The terrain and vegetation make walking very difficult, however various circular walks can be made from the car park by walking on top of the bunds created to re-wet the site. A circular route from Moss Cottage onto the moss, then to Whiteholme and back using the public footpath is approximately 3.2 km/2 miles.
Directions
By car Drumburgh Moss is located immediately south of Drumburgh Village. On entering the village from the Carlisle direction turn left by the post box. Follow the track for about 400m crossing the cattle grid and passing Moss Cottage on the left. Park on the right immediately beyond the cottage. Please ensure your vehicle does not obstruct access as the track is in constant use.
By bicycle The reserve is on National Route 72 Hadrian's Cycleway.
By public transport Buses run from Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway and Anthorn.
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Drumburgh Moss
What to expect on the nature reserve: habitat, wildlife and more (hover over an icon for more info)
Seasonal highlights on the nature reserve
Spring
Plants: Cotton-grass flowering in profusion
Birds: curlew, skylark, reed bunting
Mammals: roe deer
Summer
Plants: heathers, three types of sundew, cranberry, bog-rosemary
Butterflies and moths: large heath butterfly, caterpillar of emperor moth
Birds: red grouse
Reptiles: basking adders and common lizards
Mammals: badgers
Autumn
Birds: hunting shorted-eared owls
Mammals: Exmoor ponies grazing the reserve
Winter
Birds: occasional sighting of hunting barn owl
All year
General: amazing mossland. Great reserve to see at any time of the year. Very peaceful with open vistas, a little piece of wilderness. Wellington boots recommended as site wet
Overview
Drumburgh Moss is one of four peat bogs on the south side of the Solway estuary, which together are considered the best in England. Raised mires were formed following the last ice age when dead vegetation gradually in-filled a body of standing water forming peat which eventually became raised up above the surrounding land. Being raised, the bog surface gets all its moisture from rain water which is lacking in nutrients. Sphagnum moss, of which 13 species have been recorded on the nature reserve, is highly absorbent, so it can extract sufficient nutrients from the rain. Sundews have adapted by trapping and digesting flies on sticky filaments on their leaves. The uncommon great sundew is present at Drumburgh Moss. Owing to drainage of the moss and the surrounding farmland, Drumburgh Moss is much drier than it would naturally be, so major work has been undertaken to slow the flow of rainwater off the bog and sustain the rare habitat. Parts of the nature reserve have also been cut for peat and now have wet and dry heath, scrub and grassland. These areas are managed by grazing and periodic scrub control. Red grouse, curlew, redshank and grasshopper warbler all breed, whilst short-eared owls can sometimes be seen hunting over the moss. The caterpillars of emperor moths and large heath butterflies feed on heather and cotton grass respectively. Adders and lizards may also be encountered in summer. Roe deer, hare and fox are occasionally seen. In winter the nature reserve often hosts small numbers of geese from the huge flocks on the Solway.
Recent History
The main nature reserve was purchased by Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1981, however various extensions have been purchased since then.
Find us on
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Registered in England as Cumbria Wildlife Trust Limited,
a Company Limited by Guarantee No. 724133.
Registered Charity No. 218711.
Drumburgh Moss is one of four peat bogs on the south side of the Solway estuary, which together are considered the best in England. Raised mires were formed following the last ice age when dead vegetation gradually in-filled a body of standing water forming peat which eventually became raised up above the surrounding land. Being raised, the bog surface gets all its moisture from rain water which is lacking in nutrients. Sphagnum moss, of which 13 
species have been recorded on the nature reserve, is highly absorbent, so it can extract sufficient nutrients from the rain. Sundews have adapted by trapping and digesting flies on sticky filaments on their leaves. The uncommon great sundew is present at Drumburgh Moss. Owing to drainage of the moss and the surrounding farmland, Drumburgh Moss is much drier than it would naturally be, so major work has been undertaken to slow the flow of rainwater off the bog and sustain the rare habitat. Parts of the nature reserve have also been cut for peat and now have wet and dry heath, scrub and grassland. These areas are managed by grazing and periodic scrub control. Red grouse, curlew, redshank and grasshopper warbler all breed, whilst short-eared owls can sometimes be seen hunting over the moss. The caterpillars of emperor moths and large heath butterflies feed on heather and cotton grass respectively. Adders and lizards may also be encountered in summer. Roe deer, hare and fox are occasionally seen. In winter the nature reserve often hosts small numbers of geese from the huge flocks on the Solway.
