RSPB - giving nature a home
Search
Close
Skip to content
Shop | Community
Log in | Sign up
  • About the RSPB
      About us
    • Our history
    • Our mission
    • How the RSPB is run
    • RSPB Media Centre
    • RSPB job vacancies
    • At home & abroad
    • International
    • England
    • Northern Ireland
    • Scotland
    • Wales
    • Get in touch
    • Contact us
    • RSPB offices
    • Connect with us your way
      Our activities
    • Gardening for wildlife

      Gardening for wildlife

      See our ideas to keep you connected to nature during coronavirus

    • Connect with us your way

      Connect with us your way

      From our regular emails to your favourite social media, there’s more than one way to keep in touch with nature

    • Martin Harper Blog

      Martin Harper Blog

  • Our work
      Nature conservation
    • Conservation and sustainability
    • Projects
    • Landscape scale conservation
    • Centre for Conservation Science
    • Satellite tracking birds
    • RSPB News
    • RSPB News
    • 'Our work' blog
    • Our positions and casework
    • Our positions
    • Casework
    • State of Nature report
      Featured news
    • Mindful mornings

      Mindful mornings

      If you can’t get outside, why not bring the outside in by downloading our bird song radio app?

    • How nature can help protect our homes

      How nature can help protect our homes

      Following the floods this winter, watch how one area is using nature as a natural protector.

    • Casework

      Casework

      Catch up with the RSPB’s own nature detectives on the case as they look to save some very special places.

  • Birds & wildlife
      Wildlife guides
    • Identify a bird
    • Bird A-Z
    • Other garden wildlife
    • Guide to birdwatching
    • UK conservation status explained
    • Nature's Calendar
    • Nature's Home magazine
    • About Nature's Home magazine
    • Birds and wildlife articles
    • RSPB Podcasts
    • Nature's Home blog
    • Advice
    • How you can help birds
    • Gardening for wildlife
    • Ask an expert
    • Wildlife and the law
    • How to report crimes against wild birds
    • Bird songs
    • Which bird song is that?
    • Most popular bird guides this month
    • Which bird song is that?

      Which bird song is that?

      Find out how to identify a bird just from the sound of its singing with our bird song identifier playlist.

    • Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Who to contact if you spot an injured or baby bird

      Read more advice about what to do if you find a bird that needs help

    • In for a duck

      In for a duck

      It’s nesting season for our waterfowl too but what are the rules you need to follow for ducks, geese or swans?

  • Get involved
      Activities
    • Big Garden Birdwatch
    • Nature on Your Doorstep
    • RSPB Competitions
    • Dolphinwatch
    • Community & advice
    • Join our local groups
    • How green are you?
    • RSPB Community
    • Get involved blog
    • Volunteering & fundraising
    • Volunteer
    • Fundraise
    • Help nature thrive as a corporate partner
    • Our grant funders
    • Campaigning
    • Revive our World in Scotland
    • Revive our World in Wales
    • Revive our World in England
    • Revive our World in Northern Ireland
    • Climate change effects on nature and wildlife
    • Protecting wildlife sites
    • Campaign with us
    • Five actions to Revive Our World
    • Let nature sing
    • OxCam Arc
    • Your Actions for Nature
    • Top activities to do
    • Nature on Your Doorstep

      Nature on Your Doorstep

      Great ideas on how your garden, or even a small backyard or balcony, can become a mini nature reserve

    • How green are you?

      How green are you?

      See some of the ways you can get into green living.

    • Campaigning

      Campaigning

      See our toolkit for ways to campaign with us to protect nature and save wildlife.

  • Reserves & events
      Reserves A-Z Events, dates & inspiration
    • Events
    • COVID-19 information
    • Dates with nature
    • Places to visit blog
    • #ThanksToYou
    • Find a reserve
      Top reserve this month
    • Marshside

      Marshside

      This fantastic wetland site is located north of Southport town centre and has some of the best wildlife in the region.

    • Lytchett Fields

      Lytchett Fields

      The reserve has seen more than thirty species of wading birds.

    • Arne

      Arne

      Heathland home to more than 2565 species.

  • Fun & Learning
      For teachers
    • Supporting resources
    • Wild Challenge
    • School outreach visits
    • Big Schools Birdwatch
    • Sign up for the newsletter
    • School trip ideas
    • For families
    • Big Wild Sleepout
    • Wild Challenge
    • Nature reserves for families
    • For kids
    • Fun factoids for all the family
    • Games and activities
    • Kids stories
    • RSPB kids competitions
    • Latest kids' activities
    • Wild Challenge

      Wild Challenge

      Nature is an adventure waiting to be had. Get out, get busy and get wild!

    • Fun factoids for all the family

      Fun factoids for all the family

      Find out more about the nature and wildlife outside your window.

    • Youth membership

      Youth membership

      As well as a free gift and magazines, you’ll get loads of ideas for activities to try at home.

  • Join & Donate
      Join us
    • Choose a membership
    • Family membership
    • Youth membership
    • Gift membership
    • Discover RSPB Life Fellowships
    • Renew your membership
    • Our 2020 film
    • Donate
    • Our appeals
    • Make a one-off donation
    • Make a regular donation
    • Memorial donations
    • Plant a memorial tree
    • In memoriam booklet download form
    • Thank you
    • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Other people's gifts
    • Legacy donation FAQs
    • Legacy administration
    • Legacy booklet download form
    • Other ways to help
    • Gift Aid
    • Support us when you shop
    • RSPB Images
    • RSPB second-hand binocular scheme
    • Win with the RSPB
    • Payroll Giving
    • Stamp out albatross deaths
  • Login to your account Sign up for an RSPB account
  • Shop
  • Community
  • Home
  • Reserves & events
  • Reserves A-Z
  • Dearne Valley Old Moor

Dearne Valley Old Moor

We’re delighted to have some of our facilities open for your visit, you’ll notice we’ve made some changes to help keep everyone safe. See full facility details below and our blog for more information. When visiting us please follow current Government guidance around travel, social distancing, group sizes, hygiene and follow all signage on-site. Unless exempt, all those who can, must please wear a face covering in our toilets, visitor centre, shop, cafe and hides. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest safety information (link below).  We can’t wait to see you!
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
gallery image
Address
RSPB Dearne Valley - Old Moor, Old Moor Lane, Wombwell, Bolton upon Dearne, Barnsley S73 0YF
Grid ref
SE422022
What3Words
imposes.flick.clays

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

In the heart of Yorkshire’s Dearne Valley lies Old Moor, a family friendly nature reserve just waiting to welcome you. Blessed with a wide range of facilities and teeming with wildlife there is something for everyone to enjoy, from idyllic walks or wildlife watching to pond dipping and our adventure playground. In the summer our meadows are full of orchids, wildflowers and butterflies. In winter, we are home to hundreds of ducks, swans and geese.

Plan your visit

Opening times

Car park: Open, daily 9:00am-4:30pm Closed outside of these hours.  
Nature reserve: Open, daily 9:30am-4pm Closed outside of these hours.  
Toilets: Open daily, 9:30am-4pm. 
Visitor Centre: Currently closed.
Shop: Open 10am – 3:30pm
Café: Open daily, 9:30am-3:30pm (take away refreshments only)  
Hides: Currently closed.  

Festive opening times: 

  • Christmas Eve: Reserve, visitor centre, toilets, shop and café are closed.
  • Christmas Day: Reserve, visitor centre, toilets, shop and café are closed.
  • Boxing Day: Reserve, visitor centre, toilets, shop and café are closed.
  • New Year’s Eve: Reserve and toilets open, 9.30am-4pm. Café open for take aways, 9.30-3.30pm. Shop open, 10.30am-3.30pm. 
  • New Year’s Day: Reserve and toilets open, 9.30am-4pm. Café open for take aways, 9.30-3.30pm. Shop open, 10.30am-3.30pm. 
  • Monday 4 January: Due to being open over New Year, the reserve, visitor centre, toilets, shop and café are closed. 
  • Tuesday 5 January: Due to being open over New Year, the reserve, visitor centre, toilets, shop and café are closed. 
  • All other days in the festive period are open our usual opening hours as above.

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
£5
Children
£2.50
Free entrance for first child
Free entrance for under 5s
Student
£3.50
Free entrance for carers
Yes
Car park cost

Free

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby changing
  • Café
  • Picnic area
  • Binocular hire is closed
  • Guided walks is closed
  • Viewing points are closed
  • Nature trails
  • Shop
  • Educational facilities are closed
  • Play area

Accessibility

  • Full accessibility information (external website)

How to get here

By train

Wombwell (3 miles/5 km). Swinton (3 miles/5 km). Wombwell station can be accessed from the Trans Pennine Trail.

By bus

Buses are infrequent, so please check with local providers before you visit.

By bike

The Trans Pennine Trail runs along the Southern edge of the reserve. Access to the reserve is via a bridge into the car park. There are a good number of cycle racks in the courtyard.

By road

Enter S73 0YF into your sat nav for direction. 

From the M1: Leave at junction 36 and take the A61 (Barnsley). At the next roundabout, follow the brown RSPB Old Moor signs on the A6195 (Doncaster) for approximately four miles.

From the A1: Leave at junction 37 (Doncaster), follow the A635 towards Barnsley, then follow the brown RSPB Old Moor signs.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Other ways to get there

We have four satellite sites you may also like to visit.

  • Adwick Washlands is approximately two miles to the east of RSPB Old Moor and a map with directions can be obtained from the visitor centre at Old Moor. There is a car park on Furlong Road, postcode DN5 7FR, half way between the villages of Adwick Upon Dearne and Harlington.. (Please do not park on Lowfield Road outside residential houses.) 

  • Bolton Ings is a short walk along the Trans Pennine Trail from Old Moor. There is no public access onto the reserve but you can view the reserve from the old railway line (locally named 'warbler way') and there is a public hide offering views of the main pool and reedbeds.  

  • Gypsy Marsh is a five minute walk from Old Moor and easily accessible by bicycle along the Trans Pennine Trail (you can obtain a map of our sites from the visitor centre). A public footpath runs through the middle of the site.

  • Wombwell Ings is around a mile from RSPB Old Moor. A map and directions are available at the Old Moor Visitor Centre. Parking is available on the old Pontefract Road or the site can be easily reached on foot from Old Moor or by bike from the nearby Trans Pennine Trail.
Get directions from Google Maps
View on What3Words
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

Sorry, dogs are not permitted at Old Moor, except assistance dogs, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.

We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife can easily become startled by a dog they perceive as a predator.

Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.

Other exciting dog walking routes are available to enjoy in the local area; try our satellite sites at Adwick Washlands, Gypsy Marsh or Eddethorpe where dogs are welcome on a lead or under close control.

Group booking information

Groups are usually welcome to visit us during normal opening hours. However, changes to laws in England mean that the maximum group size able to visit our reserve together is currently 6, unless you are from the same household or bubble.

Old Moor can easily accommodate group visits and has dedicated coach parking facilities. There is plenty of space to enjoy the reserve and cafe facilities are available along with a 'grab and go' picnic offer. We are happy to arrange guided tours/talks for an additional charge. 

Visits to our satellite sites, Adwick Washland, Bolton Ings, Gypsy Marsh and Wombwell Ings can be included in a group visit to RSPB Old Moor.  (Please note that there is no coach parking at Adwick. If you are coming by coach and want to visit this site, please ring Old Moor in advance).

In order to help us plan ahead, we ask that groups of ten or more book in advance. Email old.moor@rspb.org.uk or call 01226 751593.

Schools booking information

Due to Covid-19 measures, we have temporarily paused our school visits until autumn 2021. For information on our exciting programme of curriculum-linked outdoor education sessions, visit our school trips information.

In the meantime, check out our fantastic range of resources for teachers, or take on the Schools’ Wild Challenge.

We can provide your students with unique and memorable learning experiences. Led by our professional learning staff, programmes are linked to curriculum topics and are carefully crafted so that you and your classes get the most out of their time outdoors.
You can choose from a selection of half or full-day programmes that will get your group exploring the natural world with exciting hands-on activities. 

School groups have access to a dedicated private area, separate from other reserve visitors. Our facilities include a dedicated activity centre, pond dipping platforms, bug hunting meadow, education woodland and dedicated bird hide. Find out more information on our school trips pages.

To book, simply contact schoolbookings@rspb.org.uk or call 01603 697 504.

What will the weather be like?

14 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 131Kb

Dearne Valley - Old Moor trail guide

Contact Dearne Valley Old Moor

  • RSPB Dearne Valley - Old Moor, Old Moor Lane, Wombwell, Bolton upon Dearne, Barnsley S73 0YF
  • old.moor@rspb.org.uk
  • 01226 751593
  • @RSPB_OldMoor
  • Find us on facebook

Save nature with a staycation in the UK

Family arriving at a Travel Chapter cottage

Saving the nature that you love for future generations to enjoy. Make the most of your visit by staying in one of thousands of handpicked cottages across the UK. Simply book your stay here to support our partnership. Throughout 2021 holidaycottages.co.uk are supporting our conservation work – saving species and restoring habitats right across the UK at a time when the future of our planet has never been more important and protecting nature for future generations.

BOOK NOW

What will you see?

Our star species

    Perched Kingfisher illustration

    Kingfisher

    Spend time in the hides and you may be rewarded with an unforgettable kingfisher encounter.

    Barn owl

    Barn owl

    Up to three pairs breed on the reserve every year making them easy to see, especially in late summer when the young are learning to hunt.

    Bittern illustration

    Bittern

    In summer the females make flights across the reedbed, searching for food for hungry chicks. Stop in at the Bittern Bus Stop to watch these regular flybys.

    Wading Avocet Illustration

    Avocet

    Elegant avocets breed on the wader scrape and can be seen throughout the summer months.

    Tree sparrow

    Tree sparrow

    Tree sparrows can be seen at the bird feeding garden.

Recent sightings

Adult Lapwing feeding in wet meadow at Elmley Marsh RSPB reserve.

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Dearne Valley.

Read more

Seasonal highlights

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter

Look out for great crested grebes performing their courtship dance, brown hares boxing in the meadows and sand martins returning to their nest bank. The far carrying boom of the bittern can be heard from deep in the reeds and the distinctive 'plop' of a water vole disappearing into the water as you walk round the Discovery Zone.

Avocets sweep their bills through the water on Wader Scrape and female bittern will be flying back and forth over the reedbeds on feeding flights for their young. Dragonflies such as migrant hawkers will be hunting over the wildlife pools, lapwing chicks explore pool edges and grebes will be carrying their stripy chicks on their backs. Marsh orchids flower in the meadow.

This is the best time of year to see kingfishers, with several usually present across the reserve. Water levels are low to allow wading birds to stop and feed, fueling their autumn migration south. Thousands of waders including lapwing, golden plover, spotted redshank, curlew sandpiper, little stint and wood sandpiper are a daily treat down on Wath Ings. Basking common darter dragonflies catch the last of the warm sun and red admiral butterflies feed on ivy flowers. Barn owls quarter the reedbeds and meadows as the days draw to a close.

The Tree Sparrow Farm is at its best, giving excellent close views of a range of birds including tree sparrow and willow tit. Winter wildfowl are here in their thousands, with the whistle of wigeon filling the air. Watching the nightly murmuration of thousands of starlings is an ever popular way to end a visit, especially when a marauding sparrowhawk or peregrine dashes through, looking for a late meal.

About Dearne Valley Old Moor

Habitat

This site was designed with the aim of providing a year round accessible wildlife spectacle. This has resulted in a wide range of habitats including reedbeds, lakes, wader scrapes, ponds, hedgerow, meadows and wet grassland. There is always something to see. 

Conservation

The Dearne is an important site for wintering wildfowl, passage and breeding wading birds and rare reedbed species like bitterns and bearded tits. Important habitats include lowland wet grassland, reedbeds, meadows and fen.

RSPB Old Moor contains 2-3 bittern nests every year and has recently been colonised by cetti’s warblers and bearded tits. We manage the reedbeds to ensure a good mix of open water, wet reed and drier fen edges

The wet grassland is home to more than 100 pairs of waders with lapwing, snipe and redshank the most frequent. By grazing the grassland we ensure a good mix of species and grassland heights to suit the needs of all three species. The grazing also provides the right conditions for wintering wildfowl such as wigeon and various species of geese.

We closely monitor the water levels and regulate them to create the best conditions. In the spring we gradually draw down certain areas to expose mud for wader chicks and in the Autumn, do the same at places such as Wath Ings to attract passage waders such as little stint and ruff. In the winter, levels are raised again to create shallow flooded areas for winter wildfowl.

We manage the site to accommodate around 100,000 visits per year and are aiming to increase the number of school children who access our environmental education programme. We also work closely with the Environment Agency to manage several of the Dearne Reserves as flood washlands – protecting homes and people from the risk of flooding.

Partners

We are currently working on a project 'Giving Nature a Home in the Dearne' to improve many aspects of the Reserve, supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Heritage Lottery Fund
WREN
Biffa Award

Site information

Situated right at the heart of the Dearne Valley, Old Moor is a wonderful place to come and watch wildlife. The skies, fields and open water are teeming with birds throughout the year.

Trails lead visitors to a number of hides and viewing screens with special provision for photographers, a family hide and dedicated feeding areas.

Old Moor is just one of several RSPB reserves in the Dearne Valley. There are lots of other wildlife spectacles to enjoy and sites include Adwick Washland, Bolton Ings, Gypsy Marsh and Wombwell Ings. Visit the pages on this website or ask at the Centre for more details.

Latest blog posts

  • What’s going on at Wombwell?

    The sharp eyed amongst our visitors may have spotted a mysterious path that has appeared in the grass around Wombwell Ings, one of the satellite sites managed by the team here in the Dearne Valley. This isn’t a mysterious crop circle, but it is marki...

    Posted 19/04/2021 by Visitor Experience England
  • The Dearne Valley's original birders - say hello to Sid!

    Sid Renauf’s emotive interview in the first episode of this season’s Autumnwatch touched hearts and minds, so we thought you might enjoy reading a little more of the backstory to the miners who first realised the wildlife potential of Wath Ings. Sid’...

    Posted 10/11/2020 by Visitor Experience England
  • Locked-down, but not out!

    We are once again entering a lock down across England.  gov.uk/coronavirus Although we were expecting this, it doesn't mean it's easy. We have picked through the legislation and we are making some changes to the offer here at Old Moor First of all, o...

    Posted 04/11/2020 by Lydia T
  • New members of the team in the Dearne Valley.

    For anyone that uses our Little Houghton reserve, you may see the newest members of the Dearne Valley team.  Konik's being unloaded at Little Houghton - Paul Gould Meet Ada, Trevor and Col Settling in nicely - Lucy Kucharik The ponies are a modern st...

    Posted 03/11/2020 by Lydia T
read our blog

Latest forum posts

  • Adwick Washlands 05/04/2019

    I had a few hours at Adwick today with my main interest hoping to see the Avocets.... I started off at the Bolton end and one of the first birds I saw was this Redshank testing the water loads of Lapwings all chasing each other..had to be happy with ...

    Posted 05/04/2019 by Alan.
  • Bittern City

    Arrived at 09:30 looking forward to breakfast - but alas the cafe does not open until 10:00 now. So bought a machine coffee and some shortbread for breakfast. Headed off to my usual spot at the reedbed screen. All was quiet except for a distant great...

    Posted 31/03/2019 by WildeBeasts
  • Boom Boom Kark Kark Reggae Reggae Red Eyes

    On 24/04/2016 I did my first trip to Old Moor. As a real novice I had no idea what to expect. By my local bird club had been the week before to see a bittern and had no luck so I went on my own. And I saw one - much to my amazment. I dont know how ma...

    Posted 02/03/2019 by WildeBeasts
  • Glorious day at Old Moor 11/02/2019

    It's been an absolutely glorious day today at Old Moor with lovely warm sunshine. My visit started off even before getting in with the Peregrine sat on the pylon. A record shot of the Sheffield Granddaughter. I didn't bother with breakfast (had a bac...

    Posted 11/02/2019 by Alan.
read our forum

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

At Old Moor, we're passionate about connecting children with nature and the outdoors. That is why we have everything you need to help your family get hands on with nature.

There's an adventure playground, discovery zone with heritage games, family hide and events and activities at weekends and school holidays.

Discovery backpacks and activity sheets are available to hire every day and pond dipping kits are available from April to the end of October. Our Activity Zone is open during the holidays with a range of free craft activities.

Leisure activities

There are a number of reserves in the valley managed by the RSPB, Garganey Trust and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. We encourage visitors to explore the wider valley and cycling is one of the best ways of viewing all the sites on gentle gradients with generally good-quality paths.

On some days, up to 10 percent of our visitors travel to the reserve along the Trans-Pennine Trail. Unfortunately, we don't allow cycling on Old Moor itself, but the reserve is a great opportunity to stop off and refresh yourself with a cup of tea and a bacon butty. Alternatively, you can park up at one of our bike racks and head off on to the reserve for a spot of wildlife watching.


Old Moor is one of the best places to buy binoculars and telescopes in Yorkshire. A pair of binoculars or a telescope is one of the most personal bits of kit available to buy for wildlife watching. Whether looking for a new pair for yourself or the kids, or just starting out, we have a wide range of products and information to make choosing your perfect optic easy. Visit the binocular area in our visitor centre for a friendly chat 7 days a week, or why not book a session with one of our dedicated binocular event team members?

Make the most from your journey

Redshank, Tringa totanus Brownsea Island Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve. Dorset, England. March

Adwick Washlands

Our satellite site Adwick Washlands, once an area of farmed fields, has been transformed into water meadows and marshes.

Flock of golden plovers circling at sunset

Bolton Ings

Find out more about our satellite site, Bolton Ings.

Southern marsh orchid and yellow rattle, in wet meadow, Strumpshaw Fen

Gypsy Marsh

Find out more about our satellite site, Gypsy Marsh.

Chiffchaff singing from willow tree

Wombwell Ings

Find out more about Wombwell Ings.

Share this

  • Facebook Facebook Created with Sketch.
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

Quick links

  • Contact us
  • Online Community
  • Vacancies
  • Media centre

Information for

  • Teachers
  • Policy makers
  • Farmers & landowners
  • Scientists

Our work in

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Northern Ireland
  • International

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Partnering with

BirdLife_logo

The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Find out more about the partnership

Fundraising Regulator logo OSCR logo

© The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England and Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654

  • Terms & conditions
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Charter and statutes
  • About our site
  • Modern Slavery Act

Cookie Preferences

Accepting all non-essential cookies helps us to personalise your experience

Edit settings
Accept all

Essential cookies are required

These cookies are required for basic web functions

Enable analytics cookies

Allow us to collect anonymised performance data

Enable marketing cookies

Allow us to personalise your experience

Save settings
Read our cookie policy