Haws Hole

Shelly Bars, South Walney Nature Reserve

Looking north towards Piel Castle

South Walney Nature Reserve

Looking towards Walney Lighthouse.

Mud Flats, South Walney Island

Looking south towards off-shore wind farm

Piel Castle

Looking East from Fouldrey Stones. A popular summer destination for visiting and local sailors. Site of spectacular sun-sets

Sunset over Barrow in Furness

Hipsford Spit Port Hand Marker

With Walney lighthouse behind. The lighthouse has quite recently been converted to automatic operation and the two cottages are for sale to private buyers. This is a superb place to see breeding Gulls, Eider Ducks and Oyster Catchers, as well as colonies of Seals.

Safely Ashore

The head of the landing on Piel Island

Spirit of Ecstasy

The West beach of Piel Island at low water

Seal colony on South Walney

This colony of Grey Seals has been gradually expanding over the past few years, currently well over 70 can be seen hauled out on the sands

Anthony Sinton

Bass Pool

There were numerous seals swimming in the water at the time of the photograph, one can be seen centre right. There is a rich source of food for marine life hereabouts, brought in on strong tides which was making at this time. Bass Pool is no longer navigable as it dries at its NW end about half tide on the ebb. It is understood that it was the main channel through to Barrow in Furness many years ago. The main channel now passes to the east of the island which has been known for many years as Piel Harbour.

Herring gull with chick, South Walney Nature Reserve

The South Walney Nature Reserve has a large gullery with 14,000 pairs of herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls. The gulls nest in scrapes on the ground, some of which are immediately adjacent to the paths. The gulls near the reserve car park are relatively habituated to visitors

South Walney Oyster Farm

Formerly gravel pits, the numerous lagoons of the southern tip of Walney Island are now used for oyster farming by the Seasalter Shellfish Company. Walney Lighthouse is visible on the horizon (left)

Lagoons of the South Walney Oyster Farm

The lagoons of the South Walney Oyster Farm are adjacent to the extensive gullery of the South Walney Nature Reserve, and herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls and other sea birds are common

North shore of Walney Island

The track (right) runs around the north and east sides of the South Walney Nature Reserve. The foreshore supports numerous gulls as well as oyster catchers and other species. Piel Castle on Piel Island is visible on the horizon (centre; SD2363)

Sands by the north shore of Walney Island

The muddy foreshore in the west of the gridsquare (see SD2262 : North shore of Walney Island) gradually gives way to a sand spit, part of Snab Sands. This view from the track around the South Walney Nature Reserve is near the disused pier

Eider duck colony at South Walney Nature Reserve

The South Walney Nature Reserve contains the most southerly eider duck breeding colony in Britain, which use the lagoons of the oyster farm. The black birds are immature. See also SD2262 : Eider duck colony: close up