Bird PlacesDiscovery Hide
step-freeseats 60
West over the mere and swan feed
Often seen: Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose
WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) reserve · Burscough, Lancashire
Martin Mere Wetland Centre birdwatching guide
WWT Martin Mere turns the remnant of Lancashire's great lost lake into a winter spectacle: thousands of whooper swans and pink-footed geese feed in front of heated hides with floodlit evening swan feeds. Fully surfaced paths make it the region's most accessible major wetland.
Key facts
- Habitat
- wetland
- Size
- 250 ha
- Entry fee (adult)
- £15.50
- Entry fee (child)
- £9.50
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- 10
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Car park
- Yes
- Car park to hides
- 100m to the first hides, all on hard paths
- Toilets
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- winter
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| spring | Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) | frequent | — |
| winter | Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) | common | Tens of thousands on the surrounding mosses |
| winter | Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) | common | Up to 2,000 at the floodlit swan feeds |
Hides at Martin Mere Wetland Centre
Discovery Hide
Getting there
Fish Lane, Burscough, Burscough, Lancashire, L40 0TA
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
9:30am–5pm (4:30pm in winter)
Frequently asked questions
When is the swan spectacle at Martin Mere?
November to February; the floodlit afternoon swan feeds at the Discovery Hide are the highlight.
Is Martin Mere good for young children?
Yes — alongside the wild reserve there are wetland exhibits, play areas and canoe trails aimed at families.
Nearby reserves (all organisations)
Explore more
Information last updated 15 June 2026.