Moore

Sketch map: Moore Nature Reserve

Moore Nature Reserve is a very rich wedge of wet woodland between the Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal just Southwest of Warrington. The fair-sized pools attract a variety of wildfowl, the birch and alder woodland passerines and woodpeckers. This is one of those places where you might realistically dream of seeing a lesser spotted woodpecker.

There are two straightforward approaches to a visit to Moore by public transport.

From Moore

The most direct route is to walk up from Moore village. The X30 between Chester and Warrington and the 62 between Warrington and Murdishaw are hourly buses with stops either side of the road next to the junction with Moore Lane. Walk up Moore Lane and over the bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal and you're in the reserve. Be careful on this road, as well as the traffic going to the reserve's car park there are also lorries going to and from Port Warrington. 

Manchester Ship Canal from Moore Lane

For a first time visit your best bet is to carry on about a hundred yards up Lapwing Lane to the hide overlooking Lapwing Pool. As well as the waterfowl on the pool there's generally plenty of small bird action as it's a favoured bird feeding area with the visitors. From there there's a network of walks through Birch Wood or you could double back and take the path past the other pools and on towards Warrington. If you've plenty of time it's a very good idea to do both.

Birch Wood 

From Warrington 

Alternatively you could come in via Warrington. It's not a long walk from the town centre down Chester Road. For a first time visit you might prefer to get the X30 or the 12, getting off the 12 at Gainsborough Road and walking down a little or getting off the X30 at the next stop, Taylor Street. (The 12 turns into Gainsborough Road and heads for Latchford.) Whether by bus or foot you want to be going over to the side of the road by the river. Not far past the Slutchers Lane bridge over the river, and way before the swing bridge over the canal, you'll see a gap in the fence and a signpost for the Transpennine Trail. Descend the steps and you're on the trail. 

Walking along the Transpennine Trail

The path runs between the Mersey on your right and an overgrown relict of the Runcorn and Latchford Canal on your left. The first indication of either is likely to be the sound of mallards, moorhens and Cetti's warblers. Back gardens back onto the canal and for most of the next hundred yards or so the river's screened by trees so there's usually light woodland birds about. When the path emerges onto the road passing under the railway viaduct join it and you'll find the entrance to Moore Nature Reserve just after the viaduct on your left. (If you're travelling on the train between Warrington Bank Quay and Chester this viaduct is where you'll cross the Mersey). 

Approaching the viaduct

The path into the reserve runs alongside the railway line for a bit before turning and heading off for Lapwing Lane. There is a series of pools behind the trees on your right hand side, most of which have hides or viewing screens (regrettably the local vandals sometimes have their way with these). There are also side paths leading into the woodland.

Walking in from the Transpennine Trail 

Birch Wood

Pumphouse Pool 

On a first visit I'd recommend walking the path between Lapwing Lane and the viaduct to have a look at the pools, each of which has its own character then having a meander round the woodland. The paths are generally quite good though inevitably there will be puddles in and after wet weather.