Bolton on Swale Nature Reserve

Bolton on Swale Nature Reserve is a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve. Of the many former sand and gravel quarries along the river Swale, Bolton-on-Swale Lake, is one of the few that has been looked after for wildlife. It attracts a wide range and large number of breeding and wintering wildfowl.

Despite its proximity to the A1, this ever-improving reserve is a peaceful place where you can often spend time alone in nature. A little outside the north-eastern corner of the Yorkshire Dales, it’s one of our most northerly reserves. The lake was created as a result of sand and gravel quarrying and has been landscaped and flooded to create a suitable habitat for many wetland bird species. Trees and bushes around the northern end of the lake have increased the diversity of birdlife, and several islands in the lake have been cleared to create more breeding spaces for birds like oystercatchers and little ringed plovers.

Two hides give great views over the lake. Wading birds and wildfowl are the stars of the show, with huge numbers of ducks wintering here, including nationally important numbers of wigeon, along with goldeneye, pochard, tufted duck, teal and shoveler. Large numbers of curlews winter in the area, and can often be seen feeding on the grassland around the lake.

Dogs are not allowed on the reserve.