Pink heather with trees in the background and blue sky above. — Heathland vista on a sunny day. | © Lynne Burningham

Dorset

Brownsea lakes and heath walk

This gentle walk passes through some of the most beautiful and varied habitats on Brownsea, including heathland and woodland. It's an ideal route for wildlife watching and photography.

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Total steps: 6

Start point

The picnic barn, grid ref: SZ020877

Step 1

Starting from the picnic shelter in the middle of the island, follow the blue waymarked route through to the heathland.

Step 2

Pass through the heathland and take the first right-hand turn into the woodland.

Step 3

At the bottom of the track, take a right-hand turn towards the quay. As you wander down, you will pass two lakes on your left-hand side which are located in the Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve.

Brownsea's freshwater lakes

There are two man-made lakes in the central valley of the island and the nearby flooded meadows which have been colonised by reeds, attracting a different sort of wildlife. The lakes are surrounded by sallow and alder trees, an important source of seed for over-wintering birds such as siskin and redpoll. You may also see where sika deer have rubbed their antlers on sallows during the autumn mating season.

Step 4

Continue on until you reach a right-hand turn, sign posted 'Lily pond'. Here you will also come across the remains of the old Vinery.

Self-sufficiency

Looking at the remains of the old vinery, just imagine the then owner of Brownsea Island, Colonel Waugh, creating this kitchen garden in the 1850s. Many types of fruit and vegetables were grown, and the long brick wall is the most visible surviving feature. To the south side were glasshouses for vines and on the lakeside you can see fireplaces for gardeners' accommodation, as well as the site of the boiler which heated the greenhouses.

Step 5

At the Lily pond, take a seat and take a minute to take in the Heartwood art installation. How many hidden hearts can you spot?

Step 6

Continue onwards past the Lily pond and arrive by Daffodil Field at the top of the hill.

Daffodils

In 1908 a previous owner of Brownsea, Florence van Raalte, had been so inspired by the flower bulb industry on the Isles of Scilly, that she decided to imitate it on Brownsea. She oversaw nearly 14 acres of daffodils which were sold locally and at Covent Garden. On average, 750 bunches of a dozen flowers were picked every night during March and April. The daffodil business ended when Florence left the island but the bulbs kept producing flowers. Looks for the parallel ridges in the ground on Daffodil field and you'll see traces of where the flowers were cultivated.

End point

Daffodil field

Trail map

Map of Brownsea lakes and heath walk | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

Trail

Brownsea Island wildlife walk

There is plenty of wildlife and history to discover on this woodland walk. Catch a glimpse of a rare red squirrel or traces of Brownsea's once industrial past.

Poole Harbour, Poole, Dorset, BH13 7EE

01202707744

brownseaisland@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Brownsea lakes and heath walk

Total steps: 6