Lodmoor

Welcome! We’re continuing to follow government guidance to make your visit safe and enjoyable. See our Covid-19 updates page for the latest information (link below). Please also #RespectProtectEnjoy the special wildlife here and each other, by keeping to the paths, being mindful of other people’s space and following signage on-site. Thank you.

Address: RSPB Lodmoor, Preston Rd, Weymouth DT3 6HS

Grid ref: SY688809

What3Words: widget.assures.mouths

Covid-19 updates for RSPB nature reserves

Lodmoor is a quiet haven for wildlife in the popular seaside town of Weymouth. The combination of a large reedbed, open water, saltmarsh, wet grassland and bushes attract a variety of different birds, including bearded tits and Cetti's warblers, gulls, ducks, kingfishers and winter waders.

Plan your visit

Nature reserve: open daily, dawn-dusk.
Car park: There is no RSPB car park here. There are three Dorset Council run car parks close to the site:
- Lodmoor Country Park - pay and display car park including 15 Blue Badge spaces.
- Overcombe car park at Heron Close on the eastern side of reserve.
- Street parking on Southdown Avenue on the north side of reserve.

Fetive opening times

Christmas Eve: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk
Christmas Day: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk
Boxing Day: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk
New Year’s Eve: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk
New Year’s Day: nature reserve open, dawn-dusk
All other days in the festive period are open our usual opening hours as above.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free

Children: Free

Car park cost

There is no RSPB car park here. There are three Dorset Council run car parks close to the site:

Lodmoor Country Park - pay and display car park including 15 Blue Badge spaces.
Overcombe car park at Heron Close on the eastern end of reserve.
Street parking on Southdown Avenue on the north side of reserve.

Facilities

Picnic area
Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails
Educational facilities

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Weymouth is the nearest station, 1 mile (1.6 km) from reserve.

By bus

There is a frequent local service to Overcombe Corner, Lodmoor Country Park, 1 mile (1.6 km) from Weymouth seafront (Kings statue).

By bike

This reserve is on Route 26 of the National Cycle Network.

By road

North-east of Weymouth, it is 1 mile (1.6 km) from Weymouth town centre, situated adjacent to the A3155 (Preston Road). There is parking available at 3 car parks near the reserve. They are all council run, Lodmoor Country Park, to the west of the reserve, Heron Close, at the eastern end of the reserve, or street parking on Southdown Avenue on the north side of the reserve.

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.

Get directions from Google Maps

View on What3Words

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Dogs are welcome on the designated dog friendly trails on the nature reserve. Please keep to the designated routes only.

Please keep your dog on a short lead at all times due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here.

The special surroundings at Lodmoor are wonderful havens for rare wildlife so we’ve created designated dog-friendly routes for you and your pooch to enjoy.

Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose 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 here by keeping your dog on a lead.

There are no dog waste bins on the nature reserve, we ask that you please take dog waste home with you to dispose of.
Dogs die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.
If you require an ‘off-lead’ walk please see Dorset Council’s dog walking areas. The nearest areas to Lodmoor are Pavilion Beach and Preston Beach in the designated areas.

We welcome group visits to Lodmoor. The reserve does not have any on-site staff to welcome the group, but you can get the latest information about the reserve and wildlife from the team at our nearby Discovery Centre at Radipole Lake in Weymouth.

There are three council run car parks close to the reserve, Lodmoor Country Park can accommodate coaches. For further details, please contact our team at weymouth@rspb.org.uk.

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 927Kb

Lodmoor trail guide

Contact Lodmoor

RSPB Lodmoor, Preston Rd, Weymouth DT3 6HS
weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk
01305 778313
@RSPBWeymouth
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Marsh harrier

One of the top predators which hunts the reed beds. Watch them year round but early spring look up for their ‘skydancing’ display hundreds of metres above the reed beds.

Bearded tit

A real specialist of the reed so much so that their other name is the Bearded Reedling. Often located by their pinging call but on calm days they are readily seen feeding of the seed heads of the reeds.

Cetti's warbler

For a small bird these really make a racket! Their short but blasting song can be heard from the scrub year round but best seen in early March when males are most territorial.

Common tern

The colony arrives en masse in late Spring and are hard to miss due to their noisy courtship displays. Watch them throughout the summer arguing with their neighbours and raising their young until they fledge and head out into Weymouth bay before setting off to Africa for the winter.

Nature spectacles

Lodmoor is a great spot for winter wading birds, with a few rarities dropping in, as well as plenty of regulars such as lapwings, black tailed godwits and dunlin. Find up-close views of a common tern colony and a reedbed full of the sounds of bitterns, bearded tits and Cetti's warblers. You will get the best views from our viewing screen.

About Lodmoor

Habitat

Lodmoor comprises of large areas of freshwater reedbed, scrub and saline marsh.

Conservation

We carry out annual reed cuts to keep the reed healthy, producing lots of seed which is a great source of food for bearded tits.
We clear ditches to produce edge habitat which is ideal feeding habitat for bittern. It also ensures there is flowing water which is vital for fish populations.
Our scrub management ensures we retain reedbed, so it doesn't turn into woodland. Plus, we make sure we keep some scrub for wildlife, such as reed buntings and cetti's warblers.
We've created a more dynamic system within the salt marsh (more sea water coming in and going out because we've propped open the flap valve). This means there's more mud for waders and the throughflow of water means it doesn't stagnate and is more active, more food species for waders.

Site information

RSPB Lodmoor is a 76-hectare reserve in Weymouth, Dorset. The reserve is owned by Weymouth and Portland Council but managed by the RSPB and is a designated SSSI. Most of the reserve is freshwater reedbed but the southern section is connected to the sea under the sea wall.

Latest blog posts

read our blog

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

For more information on events and to book tickets, please visit events.rspb.org.uk/lodmoor

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Lodmoor