Europe's longest stepping stones open at WWT Martin Mere

Families are being invited to step into a brand-new adventure this summer as WWT Martin Mere, based in Burscough, opens Europe's longest continuous stepping stones on 6 July 2026.

Stretching an impressive 68 metres across the water, the attraction features 143 stepping stones, creating a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience where visitors can immerse themselves in the beauty of wetlands.

The project took approximately four months to build, which included draining the water, desilting, building up a pathway using stone, and then placing in the stepping stones before raising the water levels again. All of this was completed by the in-house facilities team with the support of volunteers.

Victoria Fellowes, Visitor Experience Manager at WWT Martin Mere, said:

"We're incredibly excited to open Europe's longest continuous set of stepping stones right here at WWT Martin Mere. As WWT – the wetland charity – we want to inspire people to connect with wetlands in fun, memorable ways. The stepping stones offer a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying an exciting adventure together."

The stepping stones form part of WWT Martin Mere's recently created wet meadow and self-guided bug hunting area, which opened in summer 2025. Visitors can pick up an identification chart and discover the fascinating miniature wildlife that calls wetlands home, from colourful insects to fascinating pond creatures.

After crossing the stepping stones, visitors can continue exploring via two unique walking routes through the wet meadow: a dry path winding through vibrant wildflowers, or a wet route along the sunken walkway for those wanting an even closer encounter with wetland habitats.

The attraction opens just in time for the school summer holidays and the return of WWT Martin Mere's popular Dragonfly Festival, running from 18 July to 31 August.

Packed with family-friendly activities, the festival will give visitors the chance to:

• Go pond dipping and discover underwater wildlife.
• Hunt for giant dragonfly sculptures around the reserve.
• Learn dragonfly-inspired dance moves at lively bubble parties.
• Get hands-on with interactive dragonfly science shows packed with fascinating facts.

The stepping stones, alongside the Dragonfly Festival activities, are included as part of admission tickets or WWT membership, and are open each day from 9:30am until 6pm during the summer.

To find out more about WWT Martin Mere, visit their website: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/martin-mere