What's here? at Blacktoft Sands
Available on site
Open daily, 9am-6pm or dusk. Closed and locked outside these hours.
Our accessible spaces are 100m from the reception hut.
Please be respectful of other visitor access, our team and our neighbours by not parking on the road, verges or in gateways, as it causes an obstruction for other road users, contractors and emergency services.
Our accessible toilet is open daily, 9am-6pm or dusk.
A unisex accessible toilet is provided in the main toilet block in the car park near the accessible car-parking bays. Easy to open door. No electricity, no lighting. Tile flooring.
Baby Changing
Baby Changing
Pushchair Accessible
Pushchair Accessible
Push-style wheelchair free to hire. Check accessibility for events and activities.
Our toilets are open daily, 9am-6pm or dusk. They are located next to the car park.
Our visitor centre has seasonal opening times. Currently open 9:00 am-4:00 pm.
This cosy building is our Reception hide complete with a wood burning stove, excellent views out over Blacktoft Sands and refreshments available to take away.
Our friendly team are on hand seasonally to welcome you, and information boards also provide details to make the most of your visit.
The reception centre is accessed along the crushed limestone track over the sea wall with gradients. A slope leads to double door entrance. No electricity, wooden floor and has two levels.
Lower level has reserve information and hot drinks and some snacks.
Upper level is up a ramp and more reserve information and a large window with views of the reedbed. Adjustable telescope and binoculars provided. Staff available to assist.
We do not have a café here but selection of snacks, cakes and hot drinks are available when the visitor centre is open. Card payments preferred.
Our picnic area is beside the path into the nature reserve from the car park. There is one picnic table with space for wheelchair users. Help keep this place safe and special for wildlife and people by taking your litter home with you.
Binocular hire is available in line with visitor centre opening hours, to be returned by visitor centre closing time. Last hire is an hour before closing.
Our wildlife watching hides are the best places to spot the special wildlife here and offer outstanding views over Blacktoft Sands.
We have seven hides in total. Reception hide (our visitor centre) has seasonal opening hours. The rest of the hides are open daily in line with nature reserve opening hours. Six viewing hides.
All have wheelchair spaces. One viewing screen does not have provision for wheelchairs.
First and Reedling hides have upper seating areas only accessible via steps and again have fixed benches.
Ousefleet, Marshland, Townend and Singleton hides are all on one level with fixed benches, except Marshland which has moveable benches.
We have two linear trails here at Blacktoft Sands, that are a gentle stroll through the willow and hawthorn trees before reaching our many hides, giving stunning views over the reedbed and marsh here. The Main Trail takes in five hides.
The closest is just 90 metres from reception and the farthest is 400 metres.
For birds of prey all year round and the chance to hear a bittern (in spring), head down to Singleton hide. Visit Marshland hide for close views of avocets nesting on the islands in the spring and for wading birds from July to September. This trail is also a good place to listen out for warblers singing in the spring and to discover the insects living at Blacktoft Sands Ousefleet Trail - follow the Main Trail and then take the path at the junction between Reedling and Marshland hides. Continue for 800 metres toget to Ousefleet hide. This path is a great place to looking out for hares running around. At the end of the path the Ousefleet hide gives you views that overlook the grazing marsh. Here you can find whistling ducks, such as teals and wigeons in winter. Next to this hide is a viewing screen that is always worth a look as you never know what may be hiding beyond it. A bearded tit perhaps? Wooden benches are found at regular intervals along both trails and between hides. These benches vary in design with most having backs. The Ousefleet trail is a total of 800m from reception and leads to Ousefleet hide. Initially, it follows the main trail before heading away from it between Reedling and Marshland hide. From here the trail is surfaced with grass, is a bit rough in places and may be difficult during wet conditions.
We run an exciting programme of guided walks and other events throughout the year. Please see the ‘Discover events’ tab for more details of upcoming events and how to book.
Not available on site
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the nature reserve at any time.
Restrictions
Sorry, dogs are not permitted on the reserve, except assistance dogs, due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
We know that the countryside is a dog walking paradise. It’s important to remember the special surroundings here are wonderful havens for rare wildlife.
Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife can easily become startled by a dog they perceive as a predator. Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season.
Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.
Dogs die in hot cars, please do not leave your dog in the car when visiting us.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.