Holkham National Nature Reserve Locations
Orchid Valley
From water’s edge to treetopwe’re taking care
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.
With luck you can find Bee and Pyramidal orchids in the dry dunes along with Southern Marsh and Early Marsh orchids along with Marsh Helleborines in the damper patches. Given the ideal weather, butterflies can be found everywhere.
The impressive dark-green butterfly, a large orangey species with an erratic flight, can be found feeding on the bramble and privet while common blue, brown argus and small copper can often be found basking in small bare patches within the dune grassland.
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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. Development of sand dunes and saltmarshes here have been more pronounced in modern times than many other places along the coast, creating the distinctive view you see before you.
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.
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. This has origins dating back to the Iron Age with folklore involving the Iceni battling Romans and a refuge for marauding Vikings.
Costal Path
The pine woods (known as Holkham Meals) remain an important and distinctive landscape feature on the Norfolk coast.
Gun Hill
The shingle beach at Gun Hill is the perfect habitat for some of our key breeding birds such as oystercatchers and ringed plovers.
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 and east over the pines.