Holme Dunes

Explore Holme Dunes National Nature Reserve - one of the north Norfolk coast’s most attractive landscapes. There are a range of coastal habitats including sand dunes, freshwater pools, grazing marsh and saltmarsh. Much of the site consists of natural habitats maintained largely by coastal processes.

Impressive numbers of migrant and wintering waders fly from the Wash to roost on the shingle bars during spring tides. Wintering wildfowl flocks use the grazing marshes and breeding birds include avocet and little tern. Over 320 different bird species have been seen at this beautiful nature reserve.

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

Dog policy:
Some areas of reserve in ‘Open Access’, but only at certain times of the year. Please observe signage on site and keep dogs under control or on a short lead to avoid disturbance to livestock and wildlife.

Planned work:
Visitors to Holme Dunes who access the reserve along the long distance coastal footpath from Thornham Harbour will be affected by planned work by Environment Agency. The work to increase the height of the sea wall begins on 27 August 2013 and will continue until November 2013. A section of the long distance, coastal footpath may be closed during this period (see map). Currently there is a diversionary path.

Post code:

PE36 6LQ

Contact Number:

01485 525240

Reserve information and details
What to see at Holme Dunes

Opening times

Season	Opening Days	Opening Hours
Visitor centre: 9 April to 31 October	Everyday	10am to 5pm
Visitor centre: 1 November to 30 March	Weekends only	10am to dusk

Prices

Please note that the reserve itself is open daily throughout the year between 10am-5pm (or dusk, if earlier, during winter).

Small charge for non-members.

Beach car park is £5

Non-members:	£4.25 (with Gift Aid)
Members and children:	Free

Directions and Transport

NWT Holme Dunes is located where the Wash meets the North Sea. Leave From Hunstanton head north along the A149 coast road. Signs to the nature reserve are on the left just before Holme next the Sea. As the road ends turn right down the gravel track and follow round until the car park adjacent to the visitor centre. The track has recently been improved and is no longer full of pot holes. Please park in the NWT car park on the left of the track. Coasthopper Bus stops a 40 minute walk away.

Entrance to the nature reserve and start of the trails are beside the visitor centre.

Facts

Type:	mudflats, foreshore, sand dunes, dune slacks, scrub, pines, saltmarsh, freshwater and grazing marsh
Size:	The National Nature Reserve is 192 Hectares and NWT’s Nature Reserve is 304 Hectares
Designation:	NNR, SPA, SAC, SSSI, Ramsar
Map reference:	TF 714 449
Grid reference:	OS Landranger 132

Did you know?

NWT Holme Dunes is a beautiful and varied site, situated on the north Norfolk coast where The Wash meets the North Sea. The site was acquired by Norfolk Wildlife Trust in 1965 and today is a National Nature Reserve forming part of the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The sand dunes here are very susceptible to erosion and NWT works hard to stabilise them. The pine trees planted here help prevent landward creep.
There were once plans for a Butlins holiday camp here!
The UK's second-ever nesting pair of black-winged stilts caused a stir when they nested successfully on the reserve in 1987, fledging two young.

Facilities

No toilets on site - the nearest are found in the public beach car park by Holme Golf Course. Bird hides and board walks through the dunes.

Please note that the dunes and wildlife are very susceptible to erosion and disturbance, so please follow all on-site access instructions. During busy periods in the summer visitor numbers may be limited.