Martham Broad

This fabulous National Nature Reserve is one of the best sites in Broadland to see the swallowtail butterfly, as well as an array of birds. It lies within the internationally important Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes wetland and is made up of two shallow Broads, fen, reedbed and reedswamp.

Rare breeding birds such as bittern, bearded tit, marsh harrier and significant numbers of wintering wildfowl can be seen here.

Part of the Hickling Living Landscape.

Click here to download the reserve leaflet for points of interest (0.5mb).

Dog policy:
No visitor access. Public footpath alongside reserve.

Reserve information and details
What to see at Martham Broad

Opening times

Season	Opening Days	Opening Hours
Year round	Everyday	Dawn till dusk

Prices

There is no charge for access to this reserve.

Directions and Transport

NWT Martham Broad lies to the extreme east of Broadland near Winterton-on-Sea. Approach Martham village on the B1152 from the A149 Stalham to Caister-on-Sea road. Follow the road through to West Somerton. Turn left onto the B1159 and head for the West Somerton staithe, which is behind the last houses in the village on the left. Parking is available in a small car park.

Access: The entrance to the nature reserve is via the parking area. Public footpaths skirt the broad to north and south and may be muddy. A circular walk is not possible. Please note that Somerton Mill is currently closed and will open again once further structural work is completed.

Facts

Type:	open water, reedbed and carr
Size:	60 Hectares
Designation:	NNR, SSSI, Ramsar, SPA, SAC
Map reference:	OS Landranger 134
Grid reference:	TG 466 203

Did you know?

NWT Martham Broad contains some of the clearest water in the Broads system.

Facilities

Nature trail. Reserve leaflet.
Access by canoe: no access to North or South Broad, but access through the main channel (River Thurne) to West Somerton boat dyke, provides close proximity to reed and sedge beds. There is no access upstream to West Somerton Staithe.