RSPB Lodmoor Circular Walk
Go for a stroll around RSPB Lodmoor getting up close and personal with an urban wetland. Cycling is not allowed on the paths because they are too narrow.
Although both Lodmoor and Radipole are wetlands, exploring them gives very different experiences. Lodmoor is more open, with shallower water and has a mixture of reed-bed and salt marsh, in contrast to Radipole Lake, which has more open water, more reedbed and is very much in the heart of town.
As with most of Weymouth and Portland, the landscape is largely man-made. Imagine what it would be like without the sea defence. Lodmoor had many uses before the RSPB took over management in the 1980s. Imagine horse racing taking place now, or aeroplanes coming into land!
Much of what you see today has been created by the RSPB. They took over the management of Lodmoor and have deliberately flooded the land. This has created perfect conditions for reeds, which are now a home for marsh harriers and bearded reedlings.
For more information please visit the RSPB website.
Information
Distance: 2.5km (1.5miles)
Gradient: Flat level ground but the paths can get muddy in winter.
Starting Point: Weymouth Beach car park.
Public Transport: Buses to the Sealife Centre.
Parking: Weymouth beach Car Park, a Dorset Council pay and display car park. DT3 6HS.
Accessibility: Most of the walk is accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. But at certain times of the year, it will be muddy and more difficult. There are benches around the trail.
Facilities
Café: There is a small railway cabin style outdoors café providing refreshments for visitors to the park.
Picnic Areas: There are a number of picnic tables and barbecue bins available for the public to use throughout the year.
Toilets: There are public and disabled toilets situated opposite the entrance to the Sealife Centre.
Toilets: The nearest public toilets are at Overcombe corner and Lodmoor country park.
Eating: There are several cafes along the seafront.
Point 1
The entrance to the reserve is opposite the Beach Car Park (DT4 7SX).
Point 2
From the entrance to Lodmoor and the reserve map, take the right-hand path parallel with the beach and follow the Marsh Trail.
Depending on the time of year that you visit, the entrance to Lodmoor can be incredibly noisy. In summer you’ll be greeted by sights, sounds and smells of over 50 pairs of common terns nesting on small shingle islands. In winter flocks of lapwing and Canada geese feed on the wet grass. Look out for shelduck, they are here all year round.
Point 3
The path turns left onto a paved cycle path over a metal bridge and then immediately then left back into the reserve. Look out for kingfishers from the bridge. Stop at the viewing shelter …
Whether or not the terns are on the reserve (having come all the way from central and southern Africa), there will be plenty to see. Lots of waterfowl over-winter here, look for waders too.
Even though it’s on the edge of town many rarities are found every year. Look up, past Lodmoor, and the land rises into the Lorton Valley largely protected and managed for the benefit of both wildlife and people.
The path becomes more wooded, but on your left, you’ll see more salt marsh than open water. Alternatively take the path to your left which starts as a gravelled path which is prone to flooding in wetter weather.
Point 4
Carry on along the path, parallel with the sea, until you come to a main path called Beachdown Way where you turn left to follow the Reedbed Trail.
The path becomes more open again, offering views across the salt marsh and then the reed bed.
Reed buntings are often perching on the reed tops, and you may be lucky enough to see marsh harriers
Point 5
Turn left at the end of the path walking on the grass verge along Southdown Avenue.
You get some great views of the reserve here, and the pools in front of you are the last to freeze (come here on a cold morning in winter and you should keep your eyes peeled for rare birds).
For several years, bitterns, (a rare bird that looks like a small brown heron and nearly went extinct from the UK) have been overwintering. This is a great spot to look for them.
In winter, there are sometimes large flocks of starlings roosting in the reedbeds, and they coordinate themselves in large murmuration’s – a fantastic sight to see and hear.
This is home for many birds (male reed buntings with their black faces and white collars are easy to see all year round), but that is not all. Come along here at night and see Daubenton’s bat flying over the water.
Point 6
At the end of Southdown Avenue, the road ends and a path starts, carry straight on here.
Point 7
Now you have a choice of routes. The gate on your right will take you up to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows and more walks.
But to get back to the start, follow the path round to the left and you will have reeds either side of you.
One of the successes of Lodmoor is the breeding of marsh harrier. Rarer than golden eagles, these large birds of prey can be seen gliding over the reeds looking for prey, stay here for long enough and there is a good chance of seeing one overhead. The metal bridge is a good place to see them from.
Point 8
Turn left when you come to a wooden barrier and a no cycling sign and start heading back towards the sea following the route of the Legacy Trail.
Here you get a great intimate feeling of how the habitat changes as you get closer to the sea. The reeds make way for a more open habitat.
If you’re very lucky you may get sight of a water rail or a king fisher, they are often seen in the ditch on your right. The more open areas are fantastic for close views of birds you would normally need a telescope to see…look for little egrets (small white herons) as these stand out at a distance.
As you come to the end of the path you will see the tern islands again, in summer stop and watch the birds bringing in fish for their chicks.
Point 9
At the end of the path turn right to leave the reserve.
RSPB Lodmoor to Radipole Lake
This walk takes in three sides of the RSPB’s Lodmoor nature reserve to see the salt marsh and reed beds before taking you back along the Esplanade to the Discovery Centre in the Swannery Car park
This isn’t a circular walk, but both start and finish are accessible by public transport. Alternatively, you can combine this walk with others to make a longer walk.
The route is also cyclable up unto point 5, where you will either have to dismount for a section or take a different route back into Weymouth.
For more information please visit the RSPB website.
Information
Distance: 5.6km (3.5miles)
Gradient: Flat level ground but the paths can get muddy in winter
Starting Point: The Council car park behind Heron Close at Overcombe Corner entrance.
Public Transport: Buses to Overcombe corner (the start point) and from the King’s Statue, the end.
Parking: Overcombe car park, a Dorset Council pay and display car park, the start DT3 6SX and the Swannery car park, the finish.
Accessibility: The walk is accessible to people of all abilities, including wheelchair users. There are benches around the trail.
Facilities
Toilets: The nearest public toilets are at Overcombe corner and Lodmoor country park. There are Toilets and a café in Radipole Lake Discovery centre, the end of the trail.
Eating: There are several cafes and more toilets along the sea front.
Point 1
From the Overcombe car park, follow the path in the corner near the flats, with the road and cycle path on your left and a sign for the Lorton Valley park on your right.
Although you are surrounded by houses, there is still bird song
If you listen carefully you should hear, robins, house sparrows, dunnocks and wrens singing for you.
The area on your right is wet grassland and scrub managed by the RSPB for wildlife. In winter there are many snipe here but they are good at hiding.
Look out for the tracks of deer using a gap under the fence and in summer you’ll see cattle grazing the reserve.
Point 2
The path comes out round a metal barrier onto the tarmac cycle path where you turn right and follow the path until you come to a grass triangle and a major path on your right.
Point 3
This is Beachdown way, turn right here.
As you walk up Beachdown Way you’ll see open pools of water on your left and have a view back into Overcombe on your right.
At the brick/stone bridge look for swans and ducks on the right-hand side, they are used to being fed. After the bridge, the scenery changes as you enter the reed-bed.
Point 4
Turn left at the end of the path walking on the grass verge along Southdown Avenue.
You get some great views of the reserve here, and the pools in front of you are the last to freeze (come here on a cold morning in winter and you should keep your eyes peeled).
For several years, bitterns, (a rare bird that looks like a small brown heron and nearly went extinct from the UK) have been overwintering. This is a great spot to look for them.
In winter, there are sometimes large flocks of starlings roosting in the reedbeds, and they coordinate themselves in large murmurations – a fantastic sight to see and hear.
This is home for many birds (male reed buntings with their black faces and white collars are easy to see all year round), but that is not all.
Come along here at night and see Daubenton’s bat flying over the water.
Point 5
At the end of Southdown Avenue, the road ends and a path starts, carry straight on here.
Point 6
Now you will see a gate and foot path sign on your right. This leads to Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Lorton Meadows nature reserve and more walks but follow the path round to the left and you will have reeds either side of you.
One of the successes of Lodmoor is the breeding of marsh harrier. Rarer than golden eagles, these large birds of prey can be seen gliding over the reeds looking for prey, stay here for long enough and there is a good chance of seeing one overhead. The metal bridge is a good place to see them from.
Point 7
When you come to a wooden barrier and a no cycling sign turn left heading back towards the sea following the route of the Legacy Trail. If you’re on a bike, you can either dismount for the narrow paths or continue straight on following cycle path 6 and alternative routes back into Weymouth.
Here you get a great intimate feeling of how the habitat changes as you get closer to the sea. The reeds make way for a more open habitat. If you’re very lucky you may get sight of a water rail or a king fisher, they are often seen in the ditch on your right.
The more open areas are fantastic for close views of birds you would normally need a telescope to see… look for little egrets (small white herons) as these stand out at a distance.
Point 8
At the end of the path by the reserve Map and reserve entrance turn right, pass the cycle racks and leave the reserve.
Point 9
Cross the road that goes to the waste management site to get to a safe place to cross the busy road and go up the steps onto the sea wall.
Keeping the sea on your left you have views of Weymouth Bay and Portland as you head back to the centre of Weymouth but do stop to look at Greenhill gardens on the way back and take advantage of the options for coffee and ice-creams.
Point 10
At the clock tower, cross the road turning right into King Street, past the railway station, cross the road into the Swannery car park and Radipole Lake Discovery Centre is in front of you, the thatched building in the corner of the car park.
