Hodbarrow Nature Reserve

Hodbarrow Nature Reserve:

RSPB Hodbarrow can be found on Mainsgate Rd, Millom LA18 4JY. Free parking is available for approximately 8-10 cars. Alternatively you can access this site from the nearby Millom train station. It is an easy one mile walk from Millom train station, through the town square and down to Hodbarrow. If you have children who love a train journey this really does add to the excitement of the day!

You can find toilets, a cafe and a play park at the nearby seaside village of Haverigg, a short drive from the nature reserve. You are also able to walk from Hodbarrow to Haverigg, this is a longer walk but easily manageable with older children.

On this occasion we enjoyed our two mile walk through the nature reserve and headed to Haverigg in the car. Here we enjoyed an ice cream, a play on the park followed by an explore on the beach. Overall, a fantastic family day out that can be enjoyed with children of all ages.

Hodbarrow Nature Reserve

The footpath at Hodbarrow

The path leading to the Beacon

The Route:

There are many different routes that you can take to enjoy this beautiful coastal lagoon and grasslands. You are able to take the short walk down to see the Old Windmill and Beacon, alternatively you can walk the full 3 mile circular loop taking in all of the wildlife and sites as you go. You can access the RSPB map here to view all of the available routes.

On this occasion we enjoyed a 2 mile walk from the car park down to the Old Windmill. There is the option to make this a loop however, one half of the walk is on a byway and with little toddler legs we felt it safer to stick to the footpath. And so we enjoyed an out and back footpath walk. The terrain is bumpy in parts however our all terrain pushchair managed with ease. With some care I think all pushchairs would manage.

Please note, there are some steep rocky sections when heading up to see the Beacon and the Old Windmill – if you have a pram then you are able to miss these sections out.

The views on this walk are incredible and the water is so clear! If the littlest legs in our family had been able to manage we would have loved to keep walking and see the Lighthouse. Look out for Tern Island where hundreds of Tern’s live, my eldest adores birds and was mesmerised!

A great family day out that can be teamed up with a trip to Haverigg Beach and a lovely walk into Millom town centre.