Hickling Broad National Nature Reserve

Reedbeds, open water and wetland wildlife

Hickling Broad National Nature Reserve lies near the village of Hickling, within The Broads National Park in eastern Norfolk. Managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust, the reserve brings together extensive reedbeds, shallow open water, grazing marshes, dykes and wet woodland, forming one of the largest and most important wetland landscapes in the Norfolk Broads.

The reserve supports an exceptional variety of wildlife, including marsh harriers, bitterns, bearded tits and other birds associated with reedbeds and freshwater wetlands. Hickling is also known for its dragonflies, damselflies and rare wetland plants, with changing seasons bringing different opportunities for wildlife watching.

Walking routes through the reserve provide opportunities to explore reedbeds, woodland edges, grazing marshes and the margins of the broad. Wildlife hides and viewpoints offer places to observe birds and the surrounding landscape, while the open water and wide skies give Hickling Broad its distinctive sense of space.

The surrounding area connects Hickling with the waterways and villages of the northern Broads, including Potter Heigham and Horsey. The nearby Horsey Mere and coastal landscapes around Sea Palling provide further opportunities for walking and exploring, linking the freshwater wetlands of the Broads with the dunes and beaches of the Norfolk coast.

Hickling Broad is part of a wider network of protected wetlands across The Broads National Park, where shallow lakes, reedbeds, grazing marshes and waterways support some of Britain's most distinctive wildlife habitats. The reserve offers a quieter way to experience these landscapes on foot, away from the busier boating routes.

For visitors exploring Hickling Broad National Nature Reserve, Dairy Barns near Hickling provides a countryside base for discovering the wetlands, villages and coastal landscapes of eastern Norfolk. The reserve, Horsey Mere and the beaches around Sea Palling are within reach, making the accommodation well placed for walking, wildlife watching and exploring the northern Broads.

Overview

Type: National Nature Reserve
County: Norfolk
Region: East of England
National Park: The Broads National Park
Landscape: Shallow open water, reedbeds, grazing marshes, dykes and wet woodland
Key Trails: Local nature reserve walking routes
Best For: Wildlife, birdwatching, reedbeds, wetlands and waterside walking