Thornhill Moss NNR is a valley mire and a remnant of a formerly large area of wetland created by two waterways - Holme Dub and Crummock Beck. Main habitats: peatland Features of interest Thornhill Moss is one of only 3 known examples of a sloping valley mire in west Cumbria. The site displays a range of nutrient-poor and nutrient–rich conditions typical of a valley mire and supports a particularly rich and varied flora. Rare species include lesser-butterfly and early-marsh orchids. The NNR is almost all that remains of a once large valley wetland complex which has been drained and used for agricultural purposes. The flora communities are maintained by grazing with a small number of Highland cattle in late summer and autumn. Additionally, scrub is selectively controlled by cutting and removal. Directions The nearest train station is Wigton. For details of local bus services go to the Traveline website. Thornhill Moss is 10 km west of Wigton. The nearest town is Abbeytown, 3 km to the north east. By car, access is via minor roads from the B5301 and B5302. You can park in a layby on the B5302 to the north of a farm track which leads to the reserve. Although permission is not required to access the reserve there are no connecting public rights of way or informal rights of way. Visitors are therefore advised to contact the site manager in advance. Contact For more information about visiting the reserve or volunteering, please contact: NorthCumbriaNNRs@naturalengland.org.uk
Natural England
Unit 4
Sycamore House
Kirkbride
Cumbria
CA7 5JZ
Natural England general enquiries:
Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 060 6000