Things to do

Holkham National Nature Reserve and Beach

Rich and diverse habitatsthriving under expansive skies.

As sure as the tide, this unique blend of rare and precious habitats has a way of drawing you back time and time again.

Delight in one of the most unspoilt, natural, and beautiful stretches of sand in the country, along with the many fascinating habitats and rare species of flora and fauna that make up the Holkham National Nature Reserve.

With conservation and sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we cannot underestimate the importance of protecting our natural environments for future generations.

You’ll be amazed by the windswept tidelines, infinite vistas, grazing marshes, maze of creaks and saltmarsh; hear the rustle of the dunes and the sway of the pines and feel at home at Holkham.

Dogs are welcome year-round on Holkham Beach, but we have an on-lead policy in place annually between 1st April – 30th August in certain areas to protect ground nesting birds. Find out more.

Holkham Bay

The landscape and nature of Holkham Bay is dictated by the actions of the North Sea. Twice daily the tide comes in, bringing sediments of sand, shingle and shells alongside seeds of plants

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The Lookout

Holkham National Nature Reserve (NNR) covers 10,000 acres of the coast between Stiffkey and Burnham Norton.

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Coastal Path

The pinewoods (known as Holkham Meals) remain an important and distinctive landscape feature on the Norfolk coast. They are not natural however, as they were planted in the late 1800s as a means of stabilising the sand dunes and preventing sand blowing over onto the reclaimed arable land.

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Salts Hole

When the tidal waters formerly passed through the marshes that you see today, one of the main inlets was here at this small pool, Salts Hole.

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Jordan Hide

The Jordan Hide overlooks the old marshes of Holkham, steeped in ancient history. Central in the viewpoint is the raised-up grass mound, Holkham Fort.

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Gun Hill

The shingle beach at Gun Hill is the perfect habitat for some of our key breeding birds. Oystercatcher, ringed plover and little tern all camouflage their nests on the ground.

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West Pines

This is one of the best views on the Holkham Estate. The 360 view across the nature reserve looking look over the grazing marshes to the south, west over the dunes towards Gun Hill, north the beach & east over the pines.

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Orchid Valley

Walking west from the end of the pines through the dunes you will find a wide valley, known locally as Orchid Valley. As the name would suggest, this is an excellent area to search for a variety of delicate orchid species during the spring and early-summer.

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Burrow Gap

The pinewoods are an important component of the National Nature Reserve and are home to a selection of rare plant species.

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Habitats on the Reserve

Dunes

Our coastal dunes offer a beautiful landscape to enjoy on beach days, but there’s plenty more to them.

Grazing marsh

The land between the pine ridge and the coast road was reclaimed from saltmarsh and is now a breeding ground for birds.

Pinewoods and scrub

The pinewoods were planted in the 19th century and have become a Holkham icon.

Saltmarsh

The saltmarsh is a distinctive feature of Holkham National Nature Reserve providing a habitat for a wide range of species.

Foreshore

The foreshore is the area between high- and low-water marks. It’s an extreme sort of place, exposed to the elements.

Discover the wondersaround every corner.

Your historic eventneeds a setting to match.

‘A stay at Pinewoods is a stay in nature. It’s our happy place; there is something about Wells that draws us back time and time again.’

Mrs Lewis

Sink your feet into the sandand your head into our pillows.

Walled Garden

Visit the newly renovated Samuel Wyatt Vinery, before stepping through the Venetian gates to discover what lies within the sun trapped walls of the garden.

Things to do

Holkham National Nature Reserve and Beach

Rich and diverse habitatsthriving under expansive skies.