Cley Marshes needs little introduction as its historic reputation and fame are well known throughout the birdwatching community. The wetland haven of reedbeds, grazing marshes, pools, scrapes and coastal shingle attract a wide range of breeding, wintering and passage bird species, with nearby woodland and scrub adding to the mosaic of habitats. Autumn can be an exciting time and our walk will check the latest sightings news before deciding on a route.

Where to meet 

The car park at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) visitor centre.

Cley Marshes is on the north Norfolk coast, on the A149 coast road, 6km north of Holt. The visitor centre and car park are accessible on the landward side of the road. 

 

The ‘Coasthopper’ bus service stops are located on the A149 coast road, just outside the entrances to the car park and nature reserve.

 

Parking is available at the car park of the NWT visitor centre. Here, a parking fee is payable for those who are not members of the NWT.  Free car parking is available at the south end of the East Bank or opposite at Snipe’s Marsh, although these are small car parks and they can get busy. Access to the nature reserve is free along the raised flood banks and beach. However, a fee is chargeable for entry to the hides for those that are not members of NWT (entry to hides is included in the car parking day rate). See the NWT website for full information about parking and access.

 

NR25 7SA

 

TG 054 440

 

overruns.swooned.roughness

3-4 miles

 

We will be walking on good paths, including raised hard floodbanks and boardwalks, some of which may be slippery during periods of wet weather. The walk may also include the shingle beach. Please bring drinking water and dress appropriately for the weather conditions, which could be variable in early September. It may still be warm, requiring sunscreen and sunhat. Being a wetland site, it is likely there will be biting insects and covering limbs and using insect repellent is advisable.

 

No dogs please, except assistance dogs.

 

Refreshment stops are not a formal part of this walk. The visitor centre includes a popular café which serves local produce and offers panoramic views over the marshes and coastline. The café, shop and toilets are open 10am-5pm.

DATE: Wednesday 16th September 2026

TIME: 9.00am to 11:00am
WALK LEADER: Trevor Williams
DISTANCE: Approximately 2-mile+ circular walk
ACCESSIBILITY: Could be anywhere on the estate dependent on what has been reported and likely to include grassy / muddy footpaths.

WALK B: A shorter walk for those who don't want to walk as far or as fast!
TIME: 9.30am to 11.00am
WALK LEADER: leader to be confirmed
DISTANCE: No more than 1-mile circular walk
ACCESSIBILITY: We keep this walk slow and we will often just stroll down to the lake and back. There are a couple of benches en route. Paths may be uneven and could be wet underfoot.

For those who like a sit-down afterwards, many of us meet up for coffee and a chat post-walk in the café - all welcome!

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NO BOOKING REQUIRED: It is always nice to know if you are coming via nenbc@aol.co.uk but by no means essential so if it takes your fancy on the day, please just turn up as we would love to see you!

MEETING POINT: National Trust Main Car Park, Felbrigg Park [Postcode: NR11 8PP will get you to the main entrance | what3words: denoting.reminds.bags for the car park | Grid Reference: TG197394 for the car park]

PARKING AND SITE INFORMATION: Although access to the grounds is free to all and parking is free in the main car park for National Trust [NT] members with their machine-validated membership card, a parking fee is payable via the machines for non-NT members (£5 per vehicle). At time of writing, Sexton’s Lodge car park at the western end of the estate however remains free to all users and you can walk up from there along the internal estate road to our start point (about 10 mins). Do check out the NT website nearer the time though in case of any changes to their arrangements, including the free car parking at the Lodge. For further information see Felbrigg Hall.

ACCESSIBILITY: The walks are usually ‘off-road’ along dirt footpaths and tracks, across fields, through woods and can include a few stairs by the lake. As such, these events aren’t suitable for wheelchair users but please do contact us on nenbc@aol.co.uk to see which of our events can currently accommodate wheelchair users or could be adapted to do so or if you have any suggestions for walks that would be more suitable for the less mobile and we will aim to get something arranged.

FACILITIES: Toilets and café facilities available at Felbrigg Hall.

STAR STATUS: This walk is within the NENBC recording area so any bird species you see or hear can all count towards your personal NENBC Star Badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum awards based on the number of species you have personally seen or heard in the club area and recorded on our website since becoming a member).

GOING GREEN!: If you are able to walk or cycle to the start point from home, that would be fantastic, and as the walk is within the NENBC recording area, all the birds you see or hear can contribute to your personal NENBC Eco-badges (Green or Super-Green)! The Weavers’ Way and many other public footpaths bisect the park, as does the regional cycle route formerly named route 30. Bicycle racks are also available in the main car park. The Park itself, Felbrigg village and Aylmerton are also served by public transport, but buses are not frequent and unfortunately may not fit with walk timings. Bus Timetable - Sanders. Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. Do have a chat with folks at any of our events and contact them via the messaging facility available on the member page of our website to arrange something for next time.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Binoculars are always recommended to gain full enjoyment from your birding. We don’t specifically carry a scope on the walk unless one of our regulars brings theirs as it generally isn’t necessary but if you’d like to use one, please bring one along. Stout footwear is advised as paths may be slippery or muddy any time of year, particularly after rain. Young people aged 16 and 17 are welcome to attend unaccompanied with prior written consent from a parent or guardian who has also supplied a phone number where they can be contacted in an emergency but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Sorry no dogs except guide dogs. 

 

TIME: 7.30pm to 9.30pm

 

JOIN IN: Either in person at Gresham Village Hall or live online via Zoom from home

 

A BIT ABOUT THE SPEAKER AND THEIR TALK: Ros will present the results of her PhD research, studying the migration of common shelduck in relation to offshore wind farms. This will include information on a five-year GPS tracking project and the results of stable isotope analysis to understand where they moult and spend their winters. She’ll also present her published work assessing the vulnerability of all UK migrant ducks, geese and swans to offshore wind farm impacts. Overall she'll explain how the PhD worked and explain how the growing number of offshore wind farms might impact the migration of shelduck and wildfowl more generally. Ros recently submitted her PhD thesis to the University of Liverpool, and will be defending the thesis during August. Whilst doing the PhD part-time she continued to work for the British Trust for Ornithology. She has now returned to BTO as a full-time Senior Research Ecologist. She’s been a professional avian behavioural ecologist for over a decade, focussing mostly on seabirds, waders and (now) ducks. She lived on the Welsh borders during the PhD, but has just moved back to Thetford and BTO HQ.

AT THE HALL: Those of you attending in-person at the hall can expect a selection of home-made cakes plus tea, coffee, hot chocolate, wine and cold drinks during the interval and of course the chance to socialise with other members. We can cater for gluten-free or other requirements if you let us know in advance. We have a 2nd hand ‘natural world’ book stall for you to purchase from / contribute your no-longer-required stock to, supplies of our publications to buy (including our annual bird reports), a display of member photos and details on our upcoming events. We are happy to offer members’ old birding equipment for sale at our events (or in our newsletter) with a contribution going to club funds.

 

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS: It is always nice to know if you are coming to the hall but by no means essential so if it takes your fancy on the evening, please just turn up as we would love to see you and we have plenty of space! If you are intending to join via Zoom though, you definitely need to let us know in advance so we can get the link out to you in good time. 

 

ACCESSIBILITY: The hall is wheelchair accessible. The level car park at the hall is shingle but we can reserve a space next to the entrance if you need it. 

 

GOING GREEN!: The hall isn’t really accessible by public transport but if you are able to walk or cycle to the event that would be fantastic! Alternatively, car-sharing is encouraged. We are working on a way to best facilitate this but in the meantime, have a chat with folks at any of our events and contact them by email via the member page of our website to arrange something for next time, or let us know and we will try to put you in touch.

 

DIRECTIONS: Gresham Village Hall, East Beckham Road off Church Lane, Gresham, Norfolk, NR11 8RT but note the published postcode might not take you to exactly the right spot! If you are coming through Aylmerton and Lower Gresham, turn right by the church (just after the school) and the hall is on your left. If you are coming through Gresham, turn left at the church (just before the school) and the hall is on your left. If you are dropping down from East Beckham, the hall is on your right opposite the church.

 

PARKING: Access to the hall car park is off East Beckham Road, opposite the church. There is additional parking on the road along the side of the church itself and an overflow car park has kindly been offered to us by Gresham Village School. The school car park is located on Cromer Road to the left of the school as you face it and at the left-hand end of the row of houses – about a 300m walk from the hall. Please park considerately to allow maximum number of cars in the car parks and on the road but with enough space for passing traffic to be able to get through, including agricultural vehicles. We can send you a map of the locality on request. 

 

FOR THE ZOOM LINK OR ANY QUERIES: Contact Carol on nenbc@aol.co.uk