Cley Marshes Nature Reserve

Reedbeds, saltmarsh and coastal wildlife

Cley Marshes Nature Reserve lies between Cley-next-the-Sea and the coast, within the Norfolk Coast National Landscape. Reedbeds, freshwater pools, grazing marsh, saltmarsh and shingle create a mosaic of habitats between the village and the sea, forming one of the most distinctive wildlife landscapes on the Norfolk coast.

The reserve is particularly known for its birdlife. Migrating birds move through the area during spring and autumn, while waders, wildfowl and wetland species can be seen across the marshes at different times of year. Paths, viewpoints and hides provide ways to explore the reserve while experiencing a landscape dominated by water, wildlife and expansive coastal skies.

The Norfolk Coast Path passes through this part of the coast, connecting Cley with Blakeney to the west and continuing east towards Sheringham and Cromer. This makes the reserve easy to incorporate into a longer coastal walk as well as explore in its own right, with surrounding paths linking marshland, shingle beach, villages and open coast.

Cley Marshes forms part of a much larger network of protected landscapes and wildlife habitats along the Norfolk Coast. Saltmarshes and tidal creeks extend towards Blakeney, while dunes, beaches, grazing marsh and nature reserves create an extensive sequence of wild coastal environments.

Overview

Type: Nature Reserve
County: Norfolk
Region: East of England
National Landscape: Norfolk Coast National Landscape
Landscape: Reedbeds, freshwater pools, grazing marsh, saltmarsh and shingle
Key Trail: Norfolk Coast Path
Best For: Birdwatching, wildlife, wetland landscapes and coastal walking