Lowick Common

Image of the bracken in early summer at Lowick common - copyright andrew walter

Lowick Common Nature Reserve © Andrew Walter

A lowland of heath, grassland and fen areas which are home to a range of specialist species. It's dotted with ponds containing the rare medicinal leech.

The view from the top of the beacon towards the south of the nature reserve is particularly spectacular.

Location

Near Lowick Green
Lowick Green
Cumbria
LA12 8EA

OS Map Reference

1:50,000. Sheet no. 96
Grid reference: SD 289 847

View on What3Words

A static map of Lowick Common

Know before you go

Size
113 hectares
z

Entry fee

All donations are gratefully received.
P

Parking information

Limited parking on verge

Bicycle parking

No

Grazing animals

No

Walking trails

There are a number of paths and tracks. A circular walk around the reserve is about 3.3km (2 miles).

Access

Lowick Common can be accessed from a number of footpaths. There are no gates or stiles, either to access the nature reserve nor on the site.

The paths are uneven and rocky and are steep in places. Areas can be overgrown with bracken in high summer and wet all year round with the paths sometimes crossing wet ground.

Be aware: There are pools of open water on the reserve.

Dogs

On a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open all year round

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

Wildlife Highlights

  • In summer - listen to the yellowhammers singing from the roadside along the eastern side of the reserve.
  • Watch dragonflies and damselflies flying over the ponds and pools. There are 15 species recorded from Lowick Common
  • In summer - keep an eye out for small pearl bordered fritillary butterflies on the wing.
  • Adders can be found basking on bare rocks in the morning sun as they warm up for the day.

What makes Lowick Common so special? 

Lowick Common Nature Reserve is made of a number of special habitats. The eastern half of the reserve is characterised by the ponds and meres that follow its length, and the craggier, rocky nature of the ground.

The western half of the nature reserve is different, with a more rolling, undulating ground crested with several ridges that run down the slopes here.

The ponds are one of the few places in Cumbria to have medicinal leech.  They're also habitat for great crested newts and 15 species of dragonfly and damselfly, including beautiful demoiselle, emperor and black darter. 

The rest of the nature reserve is a mixture of lowland heath, lowland acid grassland and some lowland fen areas. These habitats are home to a range of specialist species including butterflies like Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, and reptiles like slow worms and adders.

The scattering of trees and shrubs across the main area of reserve see bird species like redpoll, spotted flycatcher and yellowhammer during the summer months.

The view from the top of the beacon towards the south of the nature reserve is spectacular. From the top you can look north to the dramatic hills and passes of the Lake District.  To the south you have the whole of Morecambe Bay before you, with the distant Pennines and Forest of Bowland on the horizon. On a clear day you can see over 15 miles north and at least 30 miles to the south.

Recent history

The nature reserve was gifted to Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 2018 by Yvonne Miller.

Getting here

By car:

The reserve borders the A5092 that runs from Greenodd to Grizebeck. From Greenodd, take the A5092 and head through Penny Bridge and Spark Bridge. Continue past the right hand turn for Coniston (the A5084) and after 230m there is a left hand turn onto an un-named road. This road follows the eastern boundary of the reserve. After the turn off for Beck Bottom, park on the verge on the right hand side of the road.

By bicycle:

The reserve is 3.5km (2.2 miles) from National Route 70 Walney to Wear (W2W) and 1.2km (0.75 miles) from Regional Route 37.

By public transport:

Buses run from Coniston to Barrow in Furness and pass through Lowick Bridge.

Contact us

Scott Petrek
Contact number: 01539 816300

Did you know?

The sluice at Beacon Tarn takes water down to Lowick Green, where it was historically used in a tool forge in the village.

Take a virtual tour of Lowick Common Nature Reserve

Upcoming events at Lowick Common Nature Reserve

If there are any upcoming events at Lowick Common Nature Reserve we'll show them to you below.

A top down view of magazines and guides on a wood background, with wildlife and people images on the front
Protect nature - Join us!

Support our conservation work on this nature reserve

and protect wild places & wildlife in Cumbria.

  • Free entry to our nature reserves.
  • Free nature reserve guide.
  • Cumbrian Wildlife magazine three times a year with accompanying 'What's On' guide.
  • Plus more! From just £3.50 a month/£42 a year (based on Individual membership)
Click to choose your membership