View location on map
Highlights: The pyramidal orchid has very distinctive, bright rosy purple flowers arranged in a dense pyramid, with narrow, unspotted leaves at the base of the plant and sheathing leaves up the stem. The plant's flower is ideally adapted to the proboscis of butterflies and moths carrying abundant nectar in its long spur. This orchid and is only found on dunes and coastal blown sand in Cornwall.
The glow worm is not a worm at all, but a beetle of up to 25mm long, and its 'glow' is caused by a chemical reaction. Only the wingless, larvae-like females glow to attract the males, which fly in search of a mate. Glow worm larvae are carnivorous and prey on small snails, tracing them by the slime trails, paralysing and sucking them empty.
Despite a decline in numbers during the 20th century, the silver-studded blue butterfly lives here. Named for its silver mark within the spots on the underneath of the hindwing, this butterfly makes a marvellous sight in flight. The female is brown but, like the male has a distinctive spot on the hindwing.
Location: From a track leading to the left off the B3301, 2 miles northeast of Hayle. Parking at the gate entrance is very limited; visitors should park at the Gwithian Towans car park further north, and walk over the dunes. The SW Coast Path runs the length of The Towans and other paths cross the reserve, some of which may be suitable for wheelchair access. Off these paths, the surface can be potholed and uneven, and some grassed slopes will be slippery even in the dry. The area is dotted with mine shafts.
Grid reference: SW 579 398
For further details, please see the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website.
Upton Towans Nature Reserve
Sand dunes rise steeply from the beach. The inland dunes have wider vegetation cover. The reserve affords stunning views across St Ives Bay.Highlights: The pyramidal orchid has very distinctive, bright rosy purple flowers arranged in a dense pyramid, with narrow, unspotted leaves at the base of the plant and sheathing leaves up the stem. The plant's flower is ideally adapted to the proboscis of butterflies and moths carrying abundant nectar in its long spur. This orchid and is only found on dunes and coastal blown sand in Cornwall.
The glow worm is not a worm at all, but a beetle of up to 25mm long, and its 'glow' is caused by a chemical reaction. Only the wingless, larvae-like females glow to attract the males, which fly in search of a mate. Glow worm larvae are carnivorous and prey on small snails, tracing them by the slime trails, paralysing and sucking them empty.
Despite a decline in numbers during the 20th century, the silver-studded blue butterfly lives here. Named for its silver mark within the spots on the underneath of the hindwing, this butterfly makes a marvellous sight in flight. The female is brown but, like the male has a distinctive spot on the hindwing.
Location: From a track leading to the left off the B3301, 2 miles northeast of Hayle. Parking at the gate entrance is very limited; visitors should park at the Gwithian Towans car park further north, and walk over the dunes. The SW Coast Path runs the length of The Towans and other paths cross the reserve, some of which may be suitable for wheelchair access. Off these paths, the surface can be potholed and uneven, and some grassed slopes will be slippery even in the dry. The area is dotted with mine shafts.
Grid reference: SW 579 398
For further details, please see the Cornwall Wildlife Trust website.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.
Read the comments about this article and leave your own comment