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Walks and Cycling

Walking or cycling Wallsend Guest House offers the luxury of hot baths/showers at the end of a hard days effort.

A lovely place to unwind, relax and enjoy life in the gentler lane. Luxury rooms all at very reasonable rates.

Bowness-on-Solway and the local area is characterised by flat stretches with very gentle gradients around the shoreline to Port Carlisle (1mile) and Anthorn. The road from Kirkbride to Bowness-on-Solway is similar with slightly more rise over the inland moss area.

Traffic and pollution - very little. Safe for family groups.
Peaceful - The lack of noise helps visitors to hear birds and "listen to" the Solway.
Solway air - Wonderful fresh estuary air helps deep sleep and relaxation.

International Walk and Cycle trails:

Hadrian's Wall - Start or finish for anyone walking Hadrian's Wall.

Cumbria Cycle Way - West Lakes coastal route passes through the village.
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To view a map of the Bowness area, click here

Local trips:

All the places below may be reached by bike or easy walking and are in the Solway Coast A.O.N.B.

Solway sunset - seen from bedroom 6

Nature sites around Wallsend Guest House

LOCAL WALKING:

Estuary (250 metres north) -

Saltmarsh (500/750 metres east & west)

- wild flowers - Sea Lavender, Sea Aster and Thrift form spectacular carpets of colour from late May onwards.

- small birds - such as Linnets and Warblers are to be found in the dense band of gorse colonising the upper marsh area.

Bowness Sandpit Nature Reserve (1,000 metres west) (Map)

- animals - Natterjack Toads and Great Crested Newts with a variety of plants water fowl and insects in a small area. West of Bowness-on-Solway just after the viaduct (old railway) peninsula. (1,000 metres)

English Nature Reserve "Bowness and Glasson Raised Moss" (1.5 miles south) (Map)

- plants - Insectivorous Sundew and other plants accessed from the Bowness to Kirkbride road.

- animals - Adders and Lizards may be seen in summer as well as Dragonflies, Hare, Roe Deer and a variety of Butterflies.

Campfield Marsh RSPB Reserve (1.5 miles west) (Map)

- birds - Contact the local warden if you would like to book a guided tour.

Directory of Cumbria Nature Reserves found at www.btinternet.com/~lake.district/natres.htm
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Cycle Route 2 - "Large Island" - a 10 mile route which follows the beautiful coast around the Cardurnock peninsula. Views across the Solway Estuary to Scotland, only 3 miles away. Passes through some of the quietest and unspoiled saltmarsh and wetlands in Britain. Route passes the Bowness Sandpit Nature Reserve and through the R.S.P.B.'s Campfield Marsh Nature Reserve

Cycle Route 3 - "Figure of Eight" - a 15 mile journey which combines both the "Small" and "Large Island" tours.

Cycle Route 4 - "Solway Firth Coast" - An easy circular family route (34 miles) can be found on www.lakedistrictoutdoors.co.uk/cycling/westcoast/wc3.htm

Carlisle - the Historic City - is only 15 miles away or can be reached by bus or a friendly "lift" from a villager.

Silloth - Victorian seaside resort - 15 miles away, with its cobbled streets, Solway Heritage Centre, link golf course and Tourist Information Centre
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Walk 1 - Coast & Country - Approx. 3.5 miles of varied route taking in the sweep of the Solway coast to the Victorian village of Port Carlisle. Then head inland across the fields to the old Brackenrigg farmhouse on the edge of the Bowness Common raised moss. Follow the little country lane or "lonning" to the road then right towards Bowness Hall Farm and back to your starting point at Wallsend Guest House.

Walk 2 - Saltmarsh & Raised Moss - Take a look at what is probably the best example of a lowland raised mire in England. At 93 hectares it is certainly the biggest remaining area of this habitat type in |Britain. At Drumburgh is an extension of this raised mire which can be approached along the dismantled railway track near the village.

An approx. 7 mile walk also takes in the Bowness Sand Pits nature Reserve. Left along Byres Lonning take you into the depths of Bowness Common with its unique variety of flora and fauna before heading left to Rogerscaugh and Whitrigg Common. A stroll back downhill towards Bowness still leaves the option of an extra 2 mile detour via Port Carlisle to view the Solway and Scottish coast from a vantage point at Brackenrigg.

Walk 3 - Solway Sands - Distance: "as long as a piece of string!" As much or as little across the huge expanse of flat sand which is uncovered at high tide. Sense the wind, the cries of the birds and call of the wild against the distant murmur of a train on the Scottish coast. Always check tide times and local information with ourselves or knowledgeable villagers before journeying out onto the estuary sands and never go out too far unless accompanied by a local guide.

Walk 4 - Wallsend "lonnings" - Short strolls along the two country lanes to the East and West of Wallsend Guest House. Acremire Lane to the East is a track leading into farmers fields which seems to follow the line of the ancient Roman Vallum or ditch located behind the line of Hadrian's Wall. Whitemire Lane to the West provides a stroll to the edge of a plantation at the edge of Bowness Common.

Walk 5 - Bowness on Solway Village - Meander around the ancient stone built cottages and farms and visit The Banks (via the short footpaths) with seat and shelter overlooking the Solway Estuary. A must for comfortable birdwatching!

Take a tour around Wallsend

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