Holburn Moss

Panoramic views of Holy island and the cheviots are not to be missed. On a spring and early summer morning moorland sounds are a delight. Holburn lake is a raised mire, previously used for peat extraction, best known as a wintering wildfowl roost which can produce many hundreds of pink-footed geese (main pic) , wigeon and teal which commute to the nearby Lindisfarne reserve. Therefore late autumn / winter is best for these species. Holburn Moss itself is an area peat bog, supporting a variety of bog mosses together with other bog plants including heather, cotton grass, cranberry and round-leaved sundew. Nearby is the spectacular St Cuthbert's cave (inset pic). Soaring buzzard , golden plover and red-grouse should be present in spring, but there is always something of interest birdwatching wise. Great-crested grebe and little grebe frequent Swinhoe lakes. Holburn Moss is managed by the Northumberland wildlife Trust and is an internationally designated wetland. Park in Holburn Village or use the parking for St Cuthbert's Cave at Holburn Grange.

Birds you may hear at Holburn Moss

A lovely walking route at any time of the year. Look for siskin and crossbill in the pine wooded areas. In spring little grebe will call from Swinhoe lake, golden lover frequent the hill tops with red grouse also present.