NORTHUMBERLAND WILDLIFE TRUST
Nearest Town: Once Brewed
OS Map: NY767694 (OS 50 000 Sheet 87)
This 90ha SSSI and NNR is one of the Roman Wall Loughs with a range of habitats represented.
Location and access: The site is 3km north-east of Once Brewed and closest parking is at Steel Rigg. It is also possible to walk from Housesteads. Toilets are available at Housesteads or Once Brewed. Note that access to the water's edge is limited.
This is one of the Roman Wall Loughs and is managed jointly by Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumberland National Park Authority and English Nature. The site contains a mix of habitats beyond the open water of the lough including carr woodland, bog and grassland. There is a good variety of water plants including 11 species of pondweed (potamogeton) and stonewort. Around the margins are areas of reedbed with other plants including bog bean and marsh cinquefoil. The lough is used extensively by wildfowl and waders that feed in the shallow waters and wetlands.