Route:

  From the carpark, take the path that leads

past Oddball and take a moment to look over

the expanse of the reserve. Take the path to the right at the end of the Dragline enclosure and climb easily up the gentle slope of the spoil heap. This is the only climb of the whole walk!! The path leads around to the left, contours across the hill through the tree plantation and then arrives as a gate.

  Go straight ahead (it looks like you can drop down left but don't as there is no right of way) and carry on to the next gate. Go through a gate, turn left immediately and through a second gate. Now follow the path downhill to the corner of the field to re-enter the reserve. The pond to the left offers a chance for a rest if you have your binoculars!

  Follow the main reserve path to the right to a cross roads. Turn right here and then path then turns left. We love this bit as you drop down into the reeds and it's a great spot to get really close to some of the wildlife. Continue to a sharp left bend at a sluice gate and follow the path to an obvious right turn that leads off the reserve.

  A short uphill leads you to the bridge over the weir and into the marina. You can turn left and use the lock bridge but we usually turn right, cross the road bridge and then come back towards the marina as you get good views of the boats on the other side.

  Continue past the lock on a path that leads into the trees (you might see trains here!). A left turn through a barrier brings you onto the river path.  Follow this path to the second bridge and cross over the river and turn right along the reserve boundary fence. The path inside the reserve is often very muddy in Winter!

  Continue along the boundary fence, follow signs for Lowther Lake. The path drops down towards the lake but a flood defence embankment has a path on top. Turn right along this to go past the oxbox lake (one for the geographer's!) and just keep going. The signpost will take you left on the Lowther Lake Walk but, at the time of writing and our last visit, the bridge is broken so keep going along the river.

  Pass under the power lines and look to your left (away from the river, towards the houses). You will see a small plank bridge over the stream. Cross this and follow the path through to playing fields. Turn left and cross the playing fields to the far side.

  You will come out on a track. Turn left and follow to the end. A small path leads down the side of houses and re-enters the reserve on the Lowther Lake walk. Continue straight ahead, turn right at the end and follow the paths back around to the car park.

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Verdict:

This is a really nice chilled out walk. You can pretty much follow your nose and don't really need to navigate (although our route takes in most of the "best" bits). The Dragline, history of the area, the marina and all the bird life keep the Little Chaps walking and talking all the way around. Do take your binoculars (you can borrow from the RSPB hut and get a common sightings guide) and if you all have some then everyone will feel involved and soon be identifying the main species.

So much wildlife and so close to the city!

 

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