GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Hodbarrow Lakes Nature Reserve

2.86 miles (4.6 km)

Enjoy a walk around Hodbarrow Lakes RSPB on the edge of the Lake District National Park. You can stroll along the sea wall and enjoy fine views of the reserve's lakes on one side and the Duddon Estuary on the other. Look out for Teal, Widgeon, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser as you make your way around the reserve. You can also sometimes see seals in the estuary.
The reserve is located just a short walk from the centre of Millom. The Cumbria Coastal Way runs past the reserve so you could pick this up and head along the coast towards Ravenglass if you would like to continue your walk.
A climb to Black Combe is also a good option.

Hodbarrow Lakes Nature Reserve OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hodbarrow Lakes Nature Reserve Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

The Millom Walk visits the site from the train station in the nearby town.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Lake District Walks page.

Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby

Photos

Hodbarrow lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 1882695

Hodbarrow lighthouse. Both the old and new lighthouses are located on the Duddon estuary and were established to assist navigation for ships exporting ore from Hodbarrow Mine. 

Hodbarrow lagoon - geograph.org.uk - 1882247

Hodbarrow lagoon

The wind blows, Haverigg harbour - geograph.org.uk - 1393621

The wind blows, Haverigg harbour

Hodbarrow reserve, looking to old lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 541829

Hodbarrow reserve, looking to old lighthouse

Resurfaced path to the Old Lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 3226083

Resurfaced path to the Old Lighthouse. Located 380m north-west of Hodbarrow Point, to the south of Millom. Built in the 19th Century, it is one of the last surviving structures of the Hodbarrow Mine, which once shipped iron ore as far as Germany. Hodbarrow Beacon is a Scheduled Monument.

Duck watching point on Hodbarrow RSPB site. - geograph.org.uk - 1882224

Duck watching point on Hodbarrow RSPB site.

Oystercatchers, Haverigg Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 4024319

Oystercatchers, Haverigg Harbour on the western side of the site.

Near Hodbarrow point, ruined windmill on skyline - geograph.org.uk - 544571

Near Hodbarrow point, ruined windmill on skyline. The old windmill was used by Hodbarrow Iron Ore Mine to store gunpowder, used for blasting, between 1855 and 1880, when a purpose-built facility was built. It is located at the south eastern end of the reserve.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Hodbarrow Lakes Nature Reserve.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Hodbarrow Lakes Nature Reserve.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)