Holkham National Nature Reserve
Holkham National Nature Reserve is a very large reserve, extending approximately 14 kilometres along the Norfolk coast, from Burnham Norton in the west almost to Stiffkey in the east. It has a range of mainly coastal ecosystems, that are home to a large number of breeding bird species, and which attract vast numbers of migrating birds in the spring and autumn, often including rarities. The Holkham Estate had been managing the NNR since 2012 and in July 2017 full responsibility for the NNR passed from Natural England to the Holkham Estate, when it was granted Approved Body Status under Section 35 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Due to the large size of the reserve, the accessibility report has been split into four sections, reflecting the main points of access. Not all of the reserve is open to the public, and not all of that which is open is accessible to everyone, but much of it is. Whichever parts of the reserve you may choose to visit, do please be aware that this is a reserve on a low-lying coast, and at times – especially high spring tides – large areas are inundated by the sea. Please be sure to check tide times before every visit. A link to a tidal predictions site for Wells is provided on the Holkham website (under the Nature Reserve and Beach tab), and other sites are to be found on the internet.
Address: Holkham Hall, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AB.
Contact details: Holkham NNR Conservation Manager – Sarah Henderson
Email: s.henderson@holkham.co.uk
Tel (Mobile): 07766 073373
or (Office): 01328 800730
Holkham estate visitor enquiries:
Tel: 01328 713111
Please note there is no standard public telephone on the reserve, but there is an emergency telephone on the boardwalk at Holkham Gap (details are on the Central area report). Mobile phone reception in this area can be very weak and should not be relied on.
Website: www.holkham.co.uk/nature-reserve-beach/introduction
Opening hours: The reserve itself is always open, but please note that the two main car parks, at Lady Anne’s Drive and Beach Road, Wells, close at 6pm between October and March.
Map references: See individual section reports
The reserve was surveyed in late September/early October 2017 by Peter Bangs
You can access the reports on the four sections of the reserve by clicking on one of the links below.
Burnham Norton Area
Burnham Overy Staithe Area
Lady Anne’s Drive & Wells Beach
Eastern Area
