Radipole Lake

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Address
Radipole Lake Visitor Centre, Weymouth DT4 7TZ
Grid ref
SY675795

Nestled in the centre of Weymouth, the reedbeds of Radipole Lake are an unlikely urban home to some stunning wildlife, including fabulous birds like bearded tits and kingfishers, and elusive creatures such as otters and water voles. Start your journey at the family-friendly Discovery Centre and have a go at pond dipping.

Plan your visit

Opening times

The reserve is open at all times.

The Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week from 9.30am - 5pm, (closes at 4pm throughout November - January).

Entrance charges

Free entrance to RSPB members
Yes
Adults
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Children
Free, but donations are very welcome.
Car park cost

Pay and display.

Facilities

  • Visitor centre
  • Car park off-site
  • Toilets
  • Accessible toilets
  • Baby changing
  • Pushchair friendly
  • Cafe
  • Picnic area
  • Binocular hire
  • Viewing point
  • Nature trails
  • Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Weymouth station is less than 400m away. Head south from the station and then west along King Street, cross at the junction, continuing west to the Swannery car park.

By bus

Any bus travelling to Weymouth will stop within half a mile of the reserve, either at the bus depot, or the Kings Statue stop on the sea front.

By bike

This reserve is on Route 26 of the National Cycle Network, it travels down the west side of the reserve.

By road

RSPB Radipole Lake is located next to the Swannery car park (also known as the Beach car park on brown signs) in Weymouth. If using a satnav, the postcode for this is DT4 7TY. There are brown signs for RSPB Radipole Lake on the approach roads.

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
RSPB reserves on Google Earth

Information for dog owners

We ask that dog owners keep their dog on a lead when visiting the reserve. Please pick up after your dog, take waste away with you and dispose of it in any dog waste bin in Weymouth.

Group booking information

We welcome group visits to Radipole Lake, but we ask that groups contact us prior to a visit so we can make suitable arrangements.

Group bookings should be made by phone to 01305 778313 or by email to weymouth@rspb.org.uk. 

There is no official coach parking in the car park at Radipole Lake, but there is room for coaches to drop off and pick up visitors near the Discovery Centre. 

The catering offer is limited at the centre, please enquire in advance for food orders for groups of 10 or more using details above.

What will the weather be like?

11 degrees, Light rain

Downloads

Top tips to help you make the most of your day. PDF, 867Kb

Radipole Lake map

Contact Radipole Lake

UK Nature Breaks

Why not stop over with UK Nature Breaks to make the most of your visit and what nature has to offer. 10% of every accommodation booking will be donated to the RSPB.

Book now

What will you see?

Our star species

Recent sightings

Radipole RSPB Reserve, reedbeds from reserve foot bridge

Find out about recent wildlife sightings at Radipole Lake.

read more

UK Nature Breaks

Why not stop over with UK Nature Breaks to make the most of your visit and what nature has to offer. 10% of every accommodation booking will be donated to the RSPB.

Book now

Nature spectacles

This is a great place to see bearded tits in Autumn. They feed close to the discovery centre - you don't even need binoculars!

Seasonal highlights

Flocks of swallows and martins gather over the water in spring to feed on insects after their migration from Africa. Warblers also arrive, including grasshopper, willow and Cetti's warblers, blackcaps, whitethroats and lesser whitethroats. The reedbeds are full of singing sedge and reed warblers. You may be lucky enough to hear the boom of a bittern coming from the reedbed.

Hobbies zip through the air, hunting for small birds and dragonflies, which they catch with their feet then pass to their beaks while still flying. Flowering plants attract butterflies, such as commas, painted ladies and peacocks.

Bearded tits become easier to see, with family groups roaming the reedbeds and making their distinctive 'pinging' call. As the water levels are lowered in preparation for winter reed-cutting, the mud attracts wading birds such as dunlins, snipe, redshanks and lapwings.

You could see a bittern if you're patient - they will fly up from the reeds occasionally to get to different feeding areas. During cold snaps, water rails become much easier to see as they must feed outside the frozen-up reedbeds. There is a large roost of pied wagtails in Weymouth and the birds can often be seen at Radipole before heading into town for the night.

About Radipole Lake

Habitat

Although Radipole Lake in central Weymouth, you can find wetland habitats, hedgerow scrub, reedbeds and saline lagoons.


Conservation

  • Annual reed cuts help keep the reed healthy, producing lots of seed which is a great source of food for bearded tits.
  • Ditch clearance helps 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 keeping some scrub for wildlife, such as reed buntings and Cetti's warblers.
  • We use grazing animals to keep the vegetation in check and annually cut rush - this creates good conditions for breeding and wintering waders and wildfowl. 
  • We manage water levels, low in the winter, which is good for feeding waders and allows us to get into the reedbeds to carry out management work. The water levels are higher in summer to reduce predation of breeding birds from ground predators.

Site information

A nature reserve in central Weymouth sounds unlikely, but once you are on the footpath amongst the reeds and lagoons you are transported to a wildlife oasis.

RSPB Radipole Lake is a 83-hectare nature reserve owned by Weymouth and Portland Council and managed by the RSPB for wildlife since 1976. 

As an important place for wildlife, it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). 

Latest blog posts

read our blog

What people are saying about Radipole Lake

My wife and I paid our first visit to this lovely reserve. It's amazing to find this wonderful oasis in the middle of the town. We saw a kestrel almost take a pigeon from the North hide, shag, little egret, little and great crested grebes and heard the Cetti's, but no sighting. Nice visitor centre and the Staff were great - really helpful and friendly. We will come back!

Terry Wearn

First visit to this amazing reserve. I had a great time walking around the paths and hearing all the calls, especially from the loud Cetti's warbler. I was able to photograph around 7 different species in one day. I have now become a member and will be back to see the hobbys in summer and try out the hide.

Gareth Cox

Activities and events

Activities for children and families

Family-friendly events are run throughout the year including the school holidays and at weekends. 

Self-guided activities including pond dipping and wildlife explorer backpacks are available from the Discovery Centre.

Events

Thursday 17 January
Reedbed Wellbeing walks at RSPB Radipole nature reserve
Dorset
Thursday 7 February
Reedbed Wellbeing walks at RSPB Radipole nature reserve
Dorset
Thursday 21 February
Reedbed Wellbeing walks at RSPB Radipole nature reserve
Dorset
More events

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