Marches Mosses

The Marches Mosses are a magical place, an unforgettable day out for the whole family, a way to reconnect with nature. Walk along the shady wooded paths into the Moss, emerging into the open expanse of the peatland. Experience the tranquility and quiet that is so difficult to find in today’s bustling urban life.

Look up at the big sky, unusual an area surrounded by towns and cities.

Now look at the ground under your feet – restored peatland that bounces as you walk on it.

Created more than 10,000 years ago as the glaciers that covered much of Britain receded, the Marches Mosses are one of the largest raised peat bogs in Britain. The Mosses are one of the rarest habitats on earth and an enormous carbon store, holding more carbon acre for acre than forest does. It’s a haven for plants and wildlife that thrive in the acidic peat. Many of these are seen in very few other places on earth.

The Mosses was badly damaged over hundreds of years as peat was cut for fuel and parts of the Moss drained for commercial peat cutting. Beginning in 2012, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales have been working to restore the 2,500 acres of the Mosses to healthy, functioning ecosystems again.

In 2018, Sinker’s Fields were added to the Marches Mosses landscape.  Across the Morris’ Bridge over the Llangollen Canal, they are a wonderful site for watching a wide range of birds.

There are a number of marked walking trails on the Mosses including the Mosses Trail; The Viewfinder Trail; a walk along the Llangollen Canal towpath from Morris’ Bridge to a viewing platform looking out over the Moss; the History Trail that passes the most historically-important sites on the Mosses; and a circular trail on Bettisfield Moss.

Head to their website for full walk details and downloadable maps.