Bird PlacesRSPB reserve · Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria
Campfield Marsh birdwatching guide
Campfield Marsh spans saltmarsh, wet grassland and lowland peat bog on the English shore of the Solway Firth. Winter brings thousands of barnacle geese straight from Svalbard along with pink-footed geese and whooper swans, while the raised bog behind the coast road is one of the few places in England where you can walk out across intact peatland.
Key facts
- Habitat
- coastal
- Size
- Not recorded
- Entry fee (adult)
- Free
- Entry fee (child)
- Free
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- 1
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Car park
- Yes
- Car park to hides
- 300m along a level track to the first viewpoint
- Toilets
- No
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- autumn, winter
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| autumn | Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) | common | — |
| winter | Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) | common | The entire Svalbard population winters on the Solway |
| winter | Curlew (Numenius arquata) | common | — |
| winter | Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) | frequent | — |
Getting there
Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
Open at all times
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see barnacle geese on the Solway?
From late September to April. The whole Svalbard population winters on the Solway, and flocks move between Campfield and the Scottish shore through the day.
Nearby reserves (all organisations)
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Information last updated 25 July 2026.