Maer Lake Nature Reserve

Things to do · Maer

About Maer Lake Nature Reserve

Maer Lake is a freshwater wetland of around 10 hectares on the northern edge of Bude, fed by small streams from the surrounding valley. Once wet grazing marsh shared by local farmers, it was bought in 1993 by Cornwall Birds (CBWPS) and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, who manage it together as a County Wildlife Site.

What to see

The lake is kept shallow and flooded, which makes it a magnet for passage and wintering wildfowl and waders. In winter look for wigeon, teal, black tailed godwit, curlew, lapwing, golden plover and snipe, with peregrine and merlin sometimes hunting overhead. Spring and autumn bring sandpipers, ruff, greenshank and garganey, and the reserve has a long list of rarities. Water voles live in the ditches, and marsh plants include yellow flag iris and marsh marigold. Winter, spring and autumn are the best seasons.

Visiting

You can watch from Maer Lane, ideally with a telescope, but there is no pavement so take care with traffic. A hide is reached by a waymarked field edge path, which can be muddy, and there is no access beyond it. Ponies or cattle may be grazing, and dogs are not allowed.

Finding Maer Lake

The lake lies beside Maer Lane, Bude EX23 9EE. The easiest parking is the pay and display car park at Crooklets, about five minutes’ level walk away.

Around Maer

Maer is the quiet north side of Bude, around Maer Lane and the cliffs above Crooklets Beach. Crooklets is known for surfing and rock pools, Northcott Mouth is a short walk north on the coast path, and Maer Lake is a wetland reserve popular with birdwatchers. Summerleaze and the town centre are a walk south.

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