Our Visitor Centres: What will you discover?

Whether you are looking for a day of exploration, adventure or relaxation, head to one of our Visitor Centres and wild spaces this summer. 

Cley Marshes

Our very first nature reserve dates back to 1926. Head to Cley to enjoy stunning views, coastal walks and to experience the sights and sounds of the amazing array of wildlife that seek sanctuary in this special place. 
 

The award-winning Visitor Centre hosts events and workshops, interactive displays and art exhibitions and an enticing gift and bookshop. You won’t want to miss the café with its stunning panoramic views over the marshes and coastline, perfect for a quick bite and a cuppa before heading out to explore the reserve. 

Hickling Broad

It’s easy to spend a day walking around Hickling’s trails or gently whiling away a couple of hours on one of our summer wildlife boat tours. 


If you make it past the gift shop at the Visitor Centre and the picnic area, there are circular walks through reedbed and woodland to enjoy, or head to our wildlife hides for incredible views of wildlife and the surrounding landscape.  

Ranworth Broad

Ranworth holds plenty of attractions for both families and naturalists. Accessed via a boardwalk through atmospheric woodland and reedbed, the floating Broads Wildlife Centre hosts wildlife activities, refreshments and a gift shop as well as offering impressive views and bird watching opportunities over the water. 
 

Stop along the boardwalk to enjoy our brand-new wildlife hide, which offers views of the site’s resident kingfishers and otters to lucky visitors. By far the best way to explore Ranworth is by boat. You can book onto one of our guided boat trips on our specially designed electric boat from April to October. 

Holme Dunes

Perfect for lovers of wide skies, stunning coastal vistas and a day out in nature, Holme Dunes is found at Norfolk’s northwest corner, where The Wash meets the North Sea.  
 

Superbly located to attract migrating birds, and home to the rare natterjack toad and a host of butterflies and dragonflies, the site provides access to a stunning stretch of Norfolk’s wildlife-rich coast. For history buffs, look out for military remains from the Second World War and the site of a well-preserved Bronze Age timber circle, which became known as ‘Seahenge’.  
 

With a welcoming Visitor Centre with books, gifts and a well-stocked café, the site offers everything you need for a wild day out. 

Weeting Heath

Great for woodland walks and picnics, Weeting Heath is the best site in the country for spotting the rare and unusual stone curlew. The site is also home to an array of other charismatic birds such as woodlarks, green woodpeckers, crossbills, lapwings and mistle thrushes. Or you might just enjoy watching our resident rabbits munching the grass, helping to create the perfect habitat to support the site’s wildlife. 
 

Weeting Heath’s moss-topped visitor centre hosts a cosy bookshop, live wildlife sighting boards and friendly, knowledgeable staff and volunteers, making this a great site for newbie and expert nature explorers alike. 

From guided walks and wildlife workshops to family activities and art exhibitions, our flagship sites have a packed events programme offering something for everyone this season. 

Upcoming events at our Visitor Centres

2024-02-17 Robert Gillmor Retrospective Robert Gillmor Retrospective
Sat 17 Feb, 2024 - Thu 04 Apr 2024
2024-03-13 Vince Burton: The Beauty in Na Vince Burton: The Beauty in Nature
Wed 13 Mar, 2024 - Tue 26 Mar 2024
2024-03-21 Circuit of Cley Circuit of Cley
Thu 21 Mar, 2024
2024-03-26 Walk with the warden Walk with the warden
Tue 26 Mar, 2024
2024-03-27 Sue Welfare: Coast and Country Sue Welfare: Coast and Country
Wed 27 Mar, 2024 - Tue 09 Apr 2024
2024-04-04 Brilliant birds Brilliant birds
Thu 04 Apr, 2024
2024-04-05 Spring bird song walk Spring bird song walk
Fri 05 Apr, 2024
2024-04-09 Really wild Tuesday Really wild Tuesday
Tue 09 Apr, 2024
2024-04-10 Louise Stebbing: Woods and wav Louise Stebbing: Woods and waves
Wed 10 Apr, 2024 - Tue 23 Apr 2024
2024-04-10 Brilliant birds Brilliant birds
Wed 10 Apr, 2024
2024-04-10 A life in Cley A life in Cley
Wed 10 Apr, 2024
2024-04-11 Circuit of Cley Circuit of Cley
Thu 11 Apr, 2024

Take a boat trip

Explore the beautiful Norfolk Broads from a new perspective with our daily guided wildlife water trails. 
 
Journey into the hidden heart of the broads and discover wildlife-rich marshes, reedbeds and wet woodlands, up close and personal, at Hickling Broad and Ranworth Broad. 

See our timetable for details and how to book. 

Image credits: Cley and Holme by Frederic Landes, Hickling and boat trip by Jimmy King, Weeting by Steve Cox