About the reserve

Wildlife highlights

• Keep an eye open for otters along the riverbank.
• Encounter dippers and grey wagtails, or catch a glimpse of a striking kingfisher   
• In spring - enjoy spring woodland flowers with carpets of bluebells and wood anemone.
• In summer - find yellow iris and wild angelica and listen for chiff chaff.
• In autumn - look for red squirrels and jays gathering nuts. Great time to find fungi.
• In winter - a good time to see nuthatches, treecreepers and roe deer.  Keep an eye out for otter tracks.  

Riverside woodland

Wreay Woods follows the course of the River Petteril where a deep gorge has been cut through the land exposing the underlying red sandstone.

The diversity of flora suggests that woodland has been present here for hundreds of years, although it’s since been heavily modified by large-scale felling and planting of non-native trees.   

What makes Wreay Woods nature reserve so special?

In spring the woodland floor is a carpet of bluebell, dog's mercury, wood anemone, wood sorrel and moschatel. 

Ash, oak and birch are the predominant native trees.  You may see typical woodland species such as blackcap and long-tailed tit.

Wetter areas alongside the river are dominated by alder and willow, with yellow iris, marsh marigold and meadowsweet beneath.

The river itself is rich in wildlife. Dippers and grey wagtails are the birds most likely to be encountered, but lucky visitors regularly report kingfisher.

Unmanaged river channels such as this containing large woody debris, are now a rarity in Cumbria. They provide ideal otter habitat and there are occasional sightings.

Keeping it special

Management is being undertaken to favour native species. Sycamore and beech are gradually being removed. 

Surgery has also been carried out on some of the beech trees to create habitats such as dead wood, sap runs and cavities thereby increasing the value of these trees for fungi, birds, bats and invertebrates.

Recent history

The wood is owned by Cumbria County Council and has been leased by Cumbria Wildlife Trust since 1987.

Getting here

By car:

From M6 junction 42 take A6 towards Penrith. Follow for about 2km/1.2 miles. Park in the lay-by on the left-hand side. (GR: NY 450 497)

Take the footpath on the right-hand side past Scalesceugh Hall and onto the reserve (400m/430yds).

Please note: the A6 can be busy with fast-moving vehicles - take care when crossing and walking along this short stretch of road.

Alternatively take the road for Dalston at the M6 roundabout. Park in the picnic area (GR: NY 435 513) and follow the public footpath under the motorway and onto the nature reserve (1.2km/0.8 miles).

By bicycle:

Wreay Woods nature reserve is 9.7km/6 miles from the National Cycle Network.

By public transport:

Buses run from Penrith and Carlisle to Wreay.