Business Listing

Radipole RSPB Reserve and Lodmoor

RSPB Visitor Centre, Swannery Car Park

Weymouth, Dorset, DT4 7TZ

01305 778313

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http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/radipolelake/index.aspx

Facilities

Information centre
Car park : The nearby Swannery car park is council-owned pay-and-display.
Picnic area
Binocular hire
Group bookings accepted
Guided walks available
Good for walking
Pushchair friendly

Viewing points

One viewing shelter, 0.5 mile (0.8 km) from visitor centre (wheelchair accessible). One hide, 0.7 mile (1.2 km) from visitor centre (wheelchair accessible).

Nature trails

Two trails: 0.75 mile (1.5 km) and 1.2 miles (2.4 km).

Refreshments available

Hot drinks
Cold drinks
Snacks
Confectionery

Shop

The shop stocks:

Binoculars and telescopes
Books
Bird food
Bird feeders
Gifts

Star species

Our star species are some of the most interesting birds you may see on your visit to the reserve.

Bittern Bitterns are perfectly adapted for life in the reedbeds at Radipole. The male's 'booming' song sounds like someone blowing gently over the top of a milk bottle, but they are quite hard to see as they are very well camouflaged.
Bearded tit You will often hear bearded tits before you see them. Listen for their bell-like 'pinging' calls, then watch them whizzing across the tops of the reeds. They perch up on the stems in calm weather and feed on fallen seeds on the mud at the base of the reeds.
Little egret These dainty little white herons can be seen throughout the year at Radipole Lake. You can see them fishing, stirring up fish fry from the muddy bottom with their feet.
Pochard Large numbers of pochards congregate on the water at Radipole during autumn and winter. They often spend the days asleep as they do most of their feeding at night.
Sedge warbler A warbler that returns from Africa in spring, the sedge warbler is easy to see because it 'pirhouettes' up into the air from the tops of the bushes, singing its scratchy song as it goes.

How to get here

Sustrans cycle route

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

Nearest railway station

Weymouth station is less than 400 m away.

Grid reference

The reserve is situated at grid reference SY671804 (View on MultiMap)

Get personal directions

For directions to the reserve by public transport, please visit Transport Direct. Please note that some reserves are not served by public transport and, in these cases, a nearby destination (from which you may need to walk or take a taxi or ferry) may be offered.

Contact us

01305 778313
weymouth.reserves@rspb.org.uk
Nearest town: Weymouth, Dorset
Grid reference: SY671804

For directions to the reserve by car, visit Google Maps and enter your postcode in the box provided.

By road

Next to the Swannery car park in Weymouth.

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.

About Radipole Lake

A nature reserve in central Weymouth sounds unlikely, but once you are on the footpath amongst the reeds and lagoons you could be far away in the countryside.

Radipole is a great place to come, whether you are new to wildlife watching or an old hand. There are well-known birds here such as house sparrows, finches and robins, alongside uncommon or rare birds like Cetti's warblers and bitterns. The visitor centre looks out over open water, and firm paths suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs take you into the best areas to see bearded tits and summer-visiting reed, sedge and grasshopper warblers.

There is plenty for families to do, with specially created trails, bird events, and during the summer, family activities such as pond dipping and bug hunts.

Opening times

Visitor centre is open daily 9 am to 5 pm, 4 pm in winter; hide - 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. Centre and hide closed Christmas and Boxing Day. Please note that there are no RSPB-owned toilets onsite, though there are toilets (including disabled) in the council-owned Swannery car-park.

Entrance charges

Free, but donations are welcome to help us continue our conservation work.

If you are new to birdwatching...

Radipole is an ideal site for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers alike, with well-known birds such as house sparrows, finches and robins, alongside rare and unusual birds like Cetti's warblers and bitterns. On a typical walk you can see seven or eight different kinds of ducks.

Information for families

There is plenty for families to do, with specially trails and Wildlife Explorer backpacks for free loan during visits. There are events based around birds and, during the summer, family activities such as pond dipping and 'bug hunts'

Information for dog owners

Dogs must be kept under close control and are only allowed on public footpaths and bridleways. Please pick up after your dog, take it away with you and dispose of it in any dog waste bin or litter bin in Weymouth.

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