Thursday, 16 February 2012

Cycle Paths

Watermead Country Park

Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Thurmaston
County: 
Leicestershire
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Wildlife Description: 

Birds

Tufted duck, Coot, Mallard, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Kingfisher, Pochard, Shoveler, Bullfinch, Common Gull, Crow, Dunlin, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Goosander, Lapwing, Shelduck, Tree Sparrow, Wigeon, Wren, Canada Goose, Moorhen

Butterflies and moths

Speckled wood, Small White, Large White, Gatekeeper, Cinnabar moth, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma

Dragonflies and Damselflies

Brown Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Banded demoiselle damselfly

Insects

Soldier Beetle, Green Bottle, Speckled Bush-Cricket,  

Other Vertibrates

Grass Snake, Grey Squirrel

 

Galloway Forest Park

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
77,699
Region: 
Borders
Site Managed By: 
Forestry Commission Scotland
Contact Information: 
Lucy HadleyRecreation RangerTe: 01671 402 420
Official Website: 
Website
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Newton Stewart, New Galloway, Gatehouse of Fleet, and Dalmellington and Castle Douglas are the nearest towns or villages.
County: 
The park covers areas within Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway.
Grid Reference: 
NX428855
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

Galloway Forest Park is the largest forest park at over 300 square miles in area. and is sometimes know as the "Highlands of the Lowlands". There are Visitors Centres located within the forest at Clatteringshaws near New Galloway, Glen Trool and Kirroughtree near Newton Stewart.

Habitat: 

Natural forest, upland moorland, valleys with streams and lochs.

Wildlife Description: 

A wide variety of birds, mammals and wildplants can be found including, the Golden Eagle, Wild Goat, Red and Roe Deer, Red Squirrel, Badger, Stoat and Weasel.

Directions: 

Driving from the South - M6 to Carlisle, A75 to Newton Stewart signposted to Stranraer.

Best Time to Visit: 

All year round.

Anston Stones Wood

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
43
Classification: 
Local Nature Reserve, SSSI
Environment Type: 
one of the finest remaining fragments of native woodland in northern England
Region: 
Yorkshire and the Humber
Site Owned By: 
Anston Parish Council
Site Managed By: 
managed in partnership with NE, DEFRA and Rotherham MBC
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Worksop, Notts; Rotherham, South Yorkshire
County: 
South Yorkshire
Grid Reference: 
SK 531 831
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 
Anston Stones Wood is known to have 33 ancient woodland indicator plants. It is a good example of the nationally scarce Sessile Oak-Ash-lime woodland. Anston Stones Wood is an ancient woodland nestling on the steep slopes of the banks of the Anston Brook. These steep slopes has meant that the area has been unsuitable for cultivation, thus preserving the habitat.
Directions: 
Access is from Anston Recreation Ground off Ryton Road (also served by bus routes) to the northwest and from the A57 layby at the southeast (on the bus route from South Anston to Worksop).

Kingley Vale

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Environment Type: 

Chalk Grass Land, Ancient yew forests, hilly

Region: 
south downs
Site Owned By: 
national nature reserve
Map Info
Javascript is required to view this map.

Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
582
Environment Type: 

Tidal mudflats, saltmarsh, grassleand, sand dunes, scrub, woodland and estuary.

Region: 
East Lothian
Site Managed By: 
East Lothian Council
Contact Information: 
John Harrison (Reserve Warden)Tel: 01620 827 847email: jharrison@eastlothian.gov.uk
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Aberlady
County: 
East Lothian
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve became Britain's first Local Nature Reserve in 1952. It is situated approximately 20 miles east of Edinburgh on Scotland's east coast. Dogs are not permitted on the reserve from April - July inclusive and must be kept on a lead at all other times of the year. Dusk and dawn are the best times to visit when, as well as the bird population Roe Deer can be spotted. There is a good footpath that will take the visitor around one and a half hours to walk around and it takes in the beach and surrounding mudflats and freshwate loch, Loch

Habitat: 

Aberlady Bay is a coastal estuary with saltmarhes, mudflats, sand dunes, wet grassland and a freshwater loch. There are areas of scrub and woodland surrounding the loch, which is home to a herd of Roe Deer.

Wildlife Description: 

Visitors to the bay can view a large selection of local and migratory birds feeding on the beach and mudflats, including; flocks of over 15,000 Pink Footed Geese arriving from inland farmland at dusk, while Shelduck, Eider, Redshank, Shag, Dunlin Skylark, Willow and Sedge Warblers and many more all breed here. Dragon and Damselflies are common around the reed beds on the loch while voles and shrews are also found along with their predators, Staots, Weasels, Fox and several species of bird of prey. Ospreys can be seen fishing in the bay.

Directions: 

There is a car park on a bend a half a mile east of Aberlady, on the A198 that gives access to the Nature Reserve.

Best Time to Visit: 

All year around but dusk and dawn are the best times of day.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
186,479
Environment Type: 

Mountains, Lowland, Lochs and rivers

Map Info
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

This is a massive park covering a vast area and includes 20 Munro's, mountains over 3,000 feet in height and 19 Corbetts, mountains between 2500 and 3000ft. There are 22 lochs with numers other small lochans and streams and around 50 rivers and over 15,000 people live within it's boundaries.

Habitat: 

The Highland Boundary Fault runs across the park and defines the lowland area from the highland area. As a result the park has a wide range of habitats, from farmland and woodland in the south to moorland and mountainous forested areas to the north and to the west there are sea lochs and coastal areas rich in marine life.

Wildlife Description: 

The Park is rich in natural wildlife and the visitor can look out for species such as the Wildcat, Capercaillie, Blackcock, Osprey, Water Vole, Red Squirrel and Pine Martin and much more.

Glen Affric

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Environment Type: 

Woodland, Glen and Moorland

Region: 
Highlands
Site Owned By: 
NTS and Forestry Commission.
Site Managed By: 
NTS & Forestry Commission
Contact Information: 
Fiona BarnettAo Fm01320 366322e-mail: fiona.barnett@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Official Website: 
Website
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Cannich
Grid Reference: 
NH284284
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

Glen Affric has been described as Scotland's most beautiful glen. It has numerous lochs, streams and has one of the largets remaining ancient Scots Pine woodland. The glen stretches for around 30 miles from Kintail in the West almost to Cannich in Strathglass.

Habitat: 

Woodland and moorland.

Wildlife Description: 

Visitors to the glen can expect to see Red and Roe deer, several types of bird of prey including the Golden Eagle and with any luck, the Pine Martin and Wildcat. Capercaillie and Blackcock inhabit the glen as well as the Crested Tit and Crossbill and numerous other familiar species.

Directions: 

Five miles west of Cannich on the Glen Affric road, off the A831 road. Infrequent bus service from Inverness as far as Cannich. Buses run from Beauly to the head of Glen Affric in summer.

Cairngorms National Park

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
380,000
Environment Type: 

Mountain, Woodland, Lowland, Farmland

Region: 
Highlands
Site Managed By: 
National Park Authority
Contact Information: 
Cairngorms National Park Authority14 The SquareGrantown-on-SpeyMorayshirePH26 3HG
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Aviemore
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

The Cairngorm National Park is the largest national park in the U.K. being 40% larger than the Lake District and over twice the size of Loch Lomond and Trossachs. Four of Scotland's five highest mountains are within the park and there are 52 peaks that are over 900 metres. The forests within the park contain the remnants of the original Caledonian Pine Forest including a rare Pinewood found only in Scotland and Norway.

Habitat: 

The Park has a vast range of habitat from high mountain moorland to lowland pastures, woodland and dense forestry. When visiting the park suitable clothing should be worn and carried as the temperature can change very quickly and it has been known to snow in June.

Wildlife Description: 

The Park is home to 25% of Britains threatened species, including plant, bird and animal species and is the best place to spot Britains only unique bird, the Scottish Crossbill. Visitors to the park can spot Golden Eagle, Pine Martin, Red Squirrel, Mink, Crested Tit and the Capercaillie to name only a few.

David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre

Javascript is required to view this map.

Facts
Size (Hectares): 
20,234
Environment Type: 

Mixed and Coniferous Woodland

Site Owned By: 
Forestry Commission
Map Info
Nearest Town: 
Aberfoyle
OS Landranger Map Sheet: 
NN520014
Javascript is required to view this map.
Information
Place Description: 

The lodge, which has a restaurant, play area for kids and CCTV links for viewing nesting Ospreys, Buzzards and Owls is the starting point for numerous walks within the forest. The walks range in difficulty and distance from easy to difficult. The Queen Elizabeth Forest covers a massive area and the David Marshall Lodge and it's walks covers only a small potion of it. There are numerous visitors centres throughout the forest and more information on these is available at the centre and also online.

Habitat: 

The lodge is situated on the hills above Aberfoyle in the Queen Elizabeth Forest, set amongst ancient woodland with numerous lochs and streams.

Wildlife Description: 

Ospreys nest in the Queen Elizabeth Forest and can be viewed at the David Marshall lodge via a CCTV link from the nest. Red Squirrels can be seen at the feeders and Wildcats, Polecats, Water Voles and Pine Martin can be seen. Roe and Red Deer are also present in large numbers and for bird lovers there are Osprey, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Raven.

Directions: 

From Glasgow follow the A81 north to Aberfoyle. From Stirling follow the A84(T), A873 then A81 west to Aberfoyle. From Callander follow the A81 south to Aberfoyle, or for a more scenic route the A821 via the Trossachs. The Visitor Centre is a mile north of Aberfoyle on the A821 (Dukes Pass).

Syndicate content