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Welney's wetlands

Recommended by

Our view

"Stroll along the Summer Walk at Welney Washes from a great bird reserve."

Walk directions

After buying your ticket, climb the stairs or take the lift from the visitor centre to gain access to the reserve. Walk across the footbridge then follow the ramp down to the left to enter the observatory.

Continue down another ramp and turn right at the bottom, following signs to the Summer Walk. The first section of the walk is known as the Screen bank Walk. Soon signs will direct you to the right to the Reedbed Hide and dragonfly ponds. Continue along the Screen bank Walk until you see a sign to your right for the Summer Walk.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Boardwalks and grass paths with benches

Landscape - Reedy wetlands, lagoons and fen

Dog friendliness - Dogs not permitted

Parking - WWT Welney car park, signposted off A1101

Toilets en route - At visitor centre

Walks in Norfolk

About the walk

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) reserve at Welney Washes is tucked away in the southwest corner of Norfolk, on the border with Cambridgeshire. It covers 850 acres (344ha) of freshwater grazing marshland that floods regularly – the largest such area remaining in Britain. This unique habitat... was formed when two massive drainage channels were created, leaving a strip of land between them that is about 0.5 miles (800m) wide. This area is known as the Ouse Washes. Draining the Fens The Ouse Washes were not created with the intention of providing breeding areas for birds. Instead, they were designed to act as a reservoir to hold excess water when the main drainage system is unable to cope. Several attempts were made to drain the Fens – by the Romans and by medieval engineers – but it was not until the 17th century that this wilderness of sedge, reed and bog was finally vanquished. The wealthy Duke of Bedford owned a large expanse of fenland, and wanted to do more with it than graze sheep in the summer and watch it flood all winter. He employed a talented Dutch engineer called Cornelius Vermuyden to design a new river system that would allow flood water to be channelled more directly out to sea, rather than flowing into the meandering River Great Ouse. The cut between Earith in Cambridgeshire and Denver in Norfolk was named the Old Bedford River and was completed in 1637. Although it vastly improved the Duke's summer grazing grounds, his land still flooded in winter. A second cut was made, running parallel to the first, and called the New Bedford River. The banks on both rivers were raised, so that the area between them could take surplus water during times of flood – creating the Ouse Washes. Today, the area between the two channels is much as it always was: grazed or cut for hay during the summer and flooded during the winter. Magical wetlands A visit to Welney is magical at any time of year (although this walking route is only accessible in summer time). The eco-friendly Wetland Centre, built from local timber and opened in 2006, has interesting exhibitions and operates using solar power, undersoil heating and toilets flushed with rainwater. Best of all, the reserve provides some of the best birdwatching in the country. Try coming in November, when thousands of Bewick's swans arrive from Russia and whooper swans come from Iceland to overwinter on the fens before returning in spring.

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About the area

The North Norfolk Coast is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and probably the finest of its kind in Europe. Here you’ll find a string of quaint villages and small towns – Holkham, Wells-next-the-Sea and Cley next the Sea are 21st-century favourites, while Sheringham and Cromer are classic examples of a good old-fashioned seaside resort where grand Victorian hotels look out to sea.

Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

Find more walks in Norfolk

Welney's wetlands

Recommended by

Our view

"Stroll along the Summer Walk at Welney Washes from a great bird reserve."

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Flat

Distance:

4 miles (6.4kms)

Ascent:

0ft (0m)

Walk directions

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The Summer Walk is the only route anywhere with public access to the Ouse Washes. If it is open, turn right to walk beneath the telegraph poles. The route itself varies from year to year, but follow the waymarks and information panels for an easy self-guided trail through the wild flowers and grassland. The picnic benches beside the pond are a good place to observe dragonflies. After completing the Summer Walk, return to the Screen bank Walk, turn left and retrace your steps to the observatory and footbridge. At the footbridge, continue straight ahead, along the northern part of the Screen bank Walk. Eventually you reach Nelson-Lyle Hide, Lyle Hide, Allport Hide and Friends Hide, all on your left. This part of the walk is linear, but you will see so many different birds that it won't feel like it.

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At Friends Hide, retrace your steps back to the footbridge, cross it, and return to the car park.

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Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Boardwalks and grass paths with benches

Landscape - Reedy wetlands, lagoons and fen

Dog friendliness - Dogs not permitted

Parking - WWT Welney car park, signposted off A1101

Toilets en route - At visitor centre

Walks in Norfolk

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Norfolk

Welney's wetlands

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Walking in Safety

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Welney's wetlands

Been on this walk?

Walking in Safety

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