Our flagship site. It was the increasing growth of willow, gorse and reedmace, which smothered the marsh and made it unsuitable for its special wildlife, that gave Steve Jones the impetus to form our group. Our main focus each winter is on keeping the marsh open by cutting bag scrub, digging up reedmace and creating new scrapes, providing the right conditions for so many dragonflies and other wildlife.
The marsh lies just to the west of Bell Lake. To get to it, you will pass through a small wooded area and a patch of open heathland. A raised path runs down the north side of the marsh and divides it from the Red River. We will often refer to the sheltered far end of the marsh as the "Marsh Fritillary Area", though sadly this butterfly has not been seen here since the 90's. We hope that our work will encourage it to breed here again in the future.
The marsh lies just to the west of Bell Lake. To get to it, you will pass through a small wooded area and a patch of open heathland. A raised path runs down the north side of the marsh and divides it from the Red River. We will often refer to the sheltered far end of the marsh as the "Marsh Fritillary Area", though sadly this butterfly has not been seen here since the 90's. We hope that our work will encourage it to breed here again in the future.
Directions to bottom of Cutting's Hill (recommended parking for Bell Lake Marsh)
Leave the A30 dual carriageway at the Camborne West exit (Treswithian).
If you are travelling in a westerly direction turn left at the end of the slip road and go all the way around the roundabout and back along the same road to cross over the A30 before turning left on to a minor road heading for Reskadinnick. After a quarter of a mile you will pass Camborne/Treswithian Downs Crematorium on your right and shortly after that you should turn right (which in effect is straight on) heading for Bell Lake/Coombe (do not take the turning for Reskadinnick). Follow this road for half a mile, it will then drop down a steep hill, park at the bottom along the entrance to the track on the right or just after the river bridge.
If you are travelling in an easterly direction turn left at the end of the slip road & immediately left again on to a minor road heading for Reskadinnick. After a quarter of a mile you will pass Camborne/Treswithian Downs Crematorium on your right and shortly after that you should turn right (which in effect is straight on) heading for Bell Lake/Coombe (do not take the turning for Reskadinnick). Follow this road for half a mile, it will then drop down a steep hill, park at the bottom along the entrance to the track on the right or just after the river bridge.
Please park sensibly and do not obstruct vehicular access along the track.
If you are travelling in a westerly direction turn left at the end of the slip road and go all the way around the roundabout and back along the same road to cross over the A30 before turning left on to a minor road heading for Reskadinnick. After a quarter of a mile you will pass Camborne/Treswithian Downs Crematorium on your right and shortly after that you should turn right (which in effect is straight on) heading for Bell Lake/Coombe (do not take the turning for Reskadinnick). Follow this road for half a mile, it will then drop down a steep hill, park at the bottom along the entrance to the track on the right or just after the river bridge.
If you are travelling in an easterly direction turn left at the end of the slip road & immediately left again on to a minor road heading for Reskadinnick. After a quarter of a mile you will pass Camborne/Treswithian Downs Crematorium on your right and shortly after that you should turn right (which in effect is straight on) heading for Bell Lake/Coombe (do not take the turning for Reskadinnick). Follow this road for half a mile, it will then drop down a steep hill, park at the bottom along the entrance to the track on the right or just after the river bridge.
Please park sensibly and do not obstruct vehicular access along the track.
How to find Bell Lake Marsh
Wellies are advised for visiting the marsh. Although there are some informal paths which are dry during the summer months, they can become flooded in the winter. The paths can become overgrown, particularly during the growing season. If you choose to venture into the marsh, be aware that there are areas of deep mud and it is possible to get stuck, so take care.
Wellies are advised for visiting the marsh. Although there are some informal paths which are dry during the summer months, they can become flooded in the winter. The paths can become overgrown, particularly during the growing season. If you choose to venture into the marsh, be aware that there are areas of deep mud and it is possible to get stuck, so take care.
From the wide lane at the bottom of Cutting's Hill, walk along the road over the bridge and turn left, going over a second bridge to the start of the footpath. Follow this footpath for about 10 minutes (half a mile) until you see a small section of wooden fencing on the left of the path with a narrow gap in it. Go through this gap and follow the path over a small bridge and up a few steps. At this point, you will come to a fork. If you go left and up some more steps you will come to Bell Lake. If you go right, you can follow an informal path through the trees which opens out onto a section of heathland. Go straight across the heath and down to the right-hand corner to find the entrance to the marsh.