Top wildlife walks

Arnside Knott, Cumbria coast

Situated on the edge of Morecambe Bay, this 500 ft limestone hill has beautiful views of the Lake District and is home to a diverse range of wildlife. The landscape was sculpted by glaciers throughout the ice age and over time the rock has been weathered into a mosaic of different habitats including woodland and rich grasslands.

Birds such as the nuthatch, marsh-tit and bullfinch can be seen in the area, and common buzzards are often spotted hovering over woodland, identifiable by their distinctive ‘mewing’ call.

The pastures, kept fertile by grazing livestock, support many wildflowers and the Knott is well known for colourful displays of orchids in late spring. Walkers should also look out for rare butterflies including the High Brown Fritillary, a protected species in Great Britain, and the dusky black Scotch Argus, which can be seen in large numbers in late July and early August.

Click here for details of this National Trust walk

Photo: Silverdale and Morecambe Bay from Arnside Knott in Cumbria.© NTPL/David Noton

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