BIRD WATCHING

Norfolk Coast Path Brancaster to Burnham Overy

A lovely walk, with plenty of birdwatching opportunities.

Holkham Bay.

One of the most famous places in Norfolk, with loads of resident and visiting flocks of birds.

Salthouse.

In Salthouse, you can enjoy birdwatching without even leaving the pub! the Dun Cow has a raised garden overlooking the marshes, complete with viewing telescope.

Blakeney Marshes and Coast Path.

A lovely walk out over the marshes and eventually leading to Cley (see below).

Cley Nature Reserve.

On the edge of the marsh, just outside the village is Cley Nature Reserve and visitors centre. Cley Marshes is one of the best nature reserves for bird watching in the UK. A patchwork of reedbeds, freshwater pools, dykes, grazing marshes and saline lagoons provide a habitat to attract a wide variety of birds to feed, breed and rest. You may see avocet, bearded tit and extremely rare bittern. The brand new environmentally friendly visitor centre incorporates an observation area, a café, and sales area.

Barton Broad.

In our view, the best of the Norfolk Broads and home to numerous flocks of birds, including geese, swans, coots and grebe.

How Hill Nature Reserve.

Situated on the River Ant in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, this nature trail takes visitors on a varied journey around the local countryside and includes bird viewing hides, bridges and views over the reeds to the windmills.

Ranworth Broad Conservation Centre.

A floating thatched building right on the edge of the Broad which has information about the Broads and their history. Inside, the centre has plenty of things to see and do, such as models of local scenes and also a simulation to demonstrate how boat wash harms the banks of the river. There are also views out through purpose built windows with binoculars and telescopes on the upper windows for bird watching.

Hickling Broad Nature Reserve.

A large nature reserve with observation towers and hides, giving great views over the surrounding ponds and Hickling Broad itself.

Whitlingham Country Park near Norwich.

This beach, woodland and water park just southeast outside Norwich at Trowse is a great place to walk, cycle, picnic or birdwatch. Built on the site of a quarry whose gravel was used for a number of major local construction projects, Whitlingham offers a full range of water-based activities, including moth and bat evenings, pond dipping, quarry safaris and a Canadian canoe trail. A historic flint barn has been converted into a visitor information centre, cafe and WC.