Kingmoor South Nature
Reserve
Location
Situated to the north west of Carlisle, Kingmoor South Nature
Reserve has many access points. On foot you can access the Reserve
off Oakshaw Close, Lowry Hill Road, Kingmoor Road and Westmoor
Road. There is limited car parking at Westmoor Road, and at
Kingmoor Road.
Facilities
Kingmoor South Nature Reserve is latticed with many well
maintained footpaths (wheelchair accessible) offering visitors a
relaxing countryside experience on the doorstep.
Amongst the woods are some interesting resting places and
woodland sculptures, picnic benches and information points.
Kingmoor has been awarded Green flag status for the fourth year
running in 2011.
Habitat and Wildlife
The woodland in Kingmoor is a well established mix of mainly
oak, beech, hazel and birch and sycamore. There are three small
ponds, some managed coppice woodland and hay meadows, all offering
a wide range of habitats for many different species of
wildlife.
Woodpeckers and owls are regular visitors along with buzzards,
nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, and of course the occasional
red squirrel.
Park Opening Times: All day, every day.
History
This area has been enjoyed by the public for nearly 700 years.
King Edward III gifted the original moorland to the citizens of
Carlisle in 1352. Granting grazing rights and allowing peat cutting
for fuel.
Kingmoor was the first venue for the world's oldest surviving
horse racing prize, the famous Carlisle Bells. The larger bell
which dates back to 1580 has the following inscription: 'The
swiftes horse thes bell to tak for mi lade Daker sake', (The
swiftest horse this bell to take for my Lady Dacre's sake). The
Carlisle Bells can be seen in the Guildhall Museum in Carlisle.
The site was designated as a Nature Reserve in 1913, making this
one of the oldest in the country.
Kingmoor in now the largest area of woodland in Carlisle, with
some trees over 250 years old. See a Map of
Kingmoor South Nature Reserve.