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Sandilands
Nottinghamshire & LincolnshireA new haven for nature on Lincolnshire's wild coast
Roman Bank, Sandilands nr Sutton-on-Sea, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, LN12 2RJ
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 22 September 2026
Asset Opening time Nature Reserve Dawn - Dusk Car Park 08:00 - 18:00 The Flyway Café is open daily* 10am - 4pm from Saturday 26 September 2026. *Excluding Christmas day.
- Café
The Flyway Café is open daily* from 10am - 4pm. *Excluding Christmas Day.
- Car park
The car park is adjacent to the Café. Please note there is a height barrier in place (1.95 metres). Open 8am-6pm, seven days a week. No overnight parking. Parking charges: Members, free (please register); Non-members, charges apply. JustPark location code: 80667.
Car park - more information- Dogs allowed
Friendly dogs on short leads are welcome at Sandilands.
Dogs allowed - more information- Electric vehicle charging point
Coming soon, there will be six electric vehicle charging points along with two accessible electric vehicle charging points located in the car park. Chargers can be accessed using the mobile app, RFID card, or contactless payment device. Visit our EV charging provider RAW Charging’s website to download the app in advance of your visit.
Electric vehicle charging point - more information- Family friendly
Enjoy play along the way with toys from the beach toy library located at the northern tip of the site.
- Picnic area
A number of picnic benches are available throughout the site. Please help look after the reserve by taking rubbish home with you or using the bins provided on site.
Picnic area - more information- Toilet
Available in the main car park open 9am - 5pm (March - October), 9am - 4pm (November - February).
Visitors to Sandilands can expect some uneven ground and gentle inclines, with areas that may become muddy after wet weather. Work is already underway to create accessible pathways, as improving access for all is a key priority of the Sandilands project. We’re committed to making this special place welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.
- Accessible toilet
Available in the main car park, requires a radar key.
- Changing Places
Available in the main car park, requires a radar key. Open 9am - 5pm (March - October), 9am - 4pm (November - February).
- Designated parking
There are eight designated accessible parking spaces in addition to two accessible electric vehicle charging points in the main car park. Vehicles displaying a blue badge are exempt from charges.
- Drop-off point
The drop-off point is located at the top of the road adjacent to the main car park entrance, leading to the seafront.
- Level access to food outlet
- Level access/terrain
An accessible footpath runs throughout the site, however grass paths may have uneven terrain and be muddy following wet weather.
- Powered mobility vehicle available
Trampers available for hire. To book please email Sandilands@nationaltrust.org.uk, a minimum of 48 hours ahead of your visit.
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Wheelchairs available
A beach wheelchair is available for hire. To book please email Sandilands@nationaltrust.org.uk, a minimum of 48 hours ahead of your visit.
- By road
- Located just off the A52, coast road, signposted Sandilands.Parking: Car park open 8am-6pm, seven days a week. No overnight parking.Sat Nav: Use LN12 2SE. The car park is adjacent to the beach huts.
- By train
- The closest railway station to Sandilands is Skegness station (11 miles away).
- By bus
- Regular buses, passing close to National Trust Sandilands, run from Skegness and Mablethorpe, Monday to Saturday (excluding Bank Holidays). The bus stop for Stagecoach no.59 is located on Sea Lane, just under one mile walk from the northern tip of the nature reserve.
Roman Bank, Sandilands nr Sutton-on-Sea, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, LN12 2RJ
Planning your visit
What's on at Sandilands
Discover upcoming events and activities at Sandilands.
Article
Accessibility at Sandilands
The National Trust is for everyone. We want every visitor to have a great experience with us, and we are always working to improve the accessibility of the places we care for.
Article
Visiting Sandilands with your dog
Sandilands is a two-pawprint-rated place, showing we're a good National Trust place to visit with your dog.
Wild Tales podcast
Ajay Tegala visits Sandilands
Group and school visits to Sandilands
Explore the nature and wildlife of the Lincolnshire coast with a group or school visit to Sandilands. Email sandilands@nationaltrust.org.uk for more information.
PDF
Sandilands project page
With the project nearing completion, this beautiful haven for wildlife is beginning to thrive.
Volunteer with us
Whether you enjoy the outdoors, welcoming visitors or getting closer to wildlife, discover volunteering opportunities at Sandilands Nature Reserve.
Highlights
Coastal landscape
Sandilands is becoming a vibrant coastal nature reserve, where wildlife can flourish and people can enjoy nature all year round. Newly created habitats are already supporting migrating birds such as black-tailed godwit, spotted redshank and spoonbill, alongside breeding species including lapwing, snipe and oystercatcher. As the landscape evolves, it is helping to protect the rich natural life of the Lincolnshire coast, while offering a peaceful place to walk, pause and reconnect with nature.
Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park
In partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, this stretch of coastline from Sandilands to Chapel St Leonards is a place where nature and people can thrive together. Sandy beaches, open skies and scenic walking routes sit alongside thriving nature reserves, rich in coastal wildlife. Look out for avocets, redshanks and marsh harriers as you explore, or simply enjoy the space and fresh sea air in every season.
Weekly walks
Take a moment to slow down and enjoy the changing landscape of Sandilands on a weekly wellness walk. These gentle, welcoming walks are open to all and offer a chance to connect with nature and with others. Join us every Monday at 10am and discover how time outdoors can support wellbeing and lift the spirits.
Things to see and do
Article
A family-friendly day out at Sandilands
Sandilands, on the Lincolnshire coast, is a captivating haven where children fall in love with nature. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and teeming with diverse wildlife, it's the perfect place for young explorers to connect with the great outdoors.
Article
Things to see and do at Sandilands
Explore Sandilands, a growing coastal haven for wildlife in Lincolnshire. Part of the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, this evolving landscape is becoming a rich refuge for birds and a peaceful place to reconnect with nature.
Places to stay
Orchard Cottage
A gardener's cottage in Gunby Hall's parkland.
Whitegates Cottage
A traditional thatched cottage in the Lincolnshire Wolds near Gunby Estate walks.
Upcoming events
Event
Celebrate the opening of Sandilands Nature Reserve
Join us for the official opening weekend of Sandilands Nature Reserve and celebrate this special coastal landscape, transformed for nature, people and wildlife.
Event
Wings, Wonders & Wildlife Trail
Spread your wings this autumn and winter and discover six remarkable birds that migrate to the Lincolnshire coast. Follow the trail, learn fascinating facts, and take on fun wildlife challenges along the way.
Event
Lightwaves Creative Family Workshop
Inspired by birds and murmuration, design your own creation in a family-friendly workshop with Lumo Workshop. Your designs will become part of a light art installation, premiered at Lightwaves Sandilands on Saturday 17 October.
Event
Sandilands Great British Beach Clean
Join us at Sandilands for the Great British Beach Clean and help protect local marine life along the Lincolnshire coast.
Event
Weekly wellness walks
Take a gentle walk through Sandilands on this gentle 3-mile loop, keeping an eye out for the wildlife and seasonal wonders that make this special place come alive over summer.
Event
Lightwaves Lantern Making Workshop
Let your creativity take flight. Make a beautiful butterfly lantern from paper and willow with Lumo Workshop.
Event
Lightwaves Sandilands
As dusk falls, join a magical trail of light, sound and glowing birds and butterflies. Meet curious characters and help a flock of illuminated birds migrate along the seafront and across the Sandilands site in this enchanting experience for all ages.
About Sandilands
Sandilands has transformed into a place where nature and people can thrive. In partnership with the Lincolnshire Coastal Country Park, the National Trust has restored this former golf course into a rich coastal landscape. Where fairways once lay, a mosaic of wetlands and habitats now emerge, carefully created to support migrating and breeding birds while welcoming people to experience nature up close. The wetlands are open to explore, and as the pools continue to fill with the seasons, wildlife is already finding its place here. Black-tailed godwits, spoonbills and lapwings are among the birds beginning to call Sandilands home, while new planting is steadily taking hold across the site. Accessibility is at the heart of Sandilands’ future. New paths make it easier to explore, with a Changing Places facility available and accessible Tramper buggies, helping more people connect with this evolving landscape. Sandilands is also a place for wellbeing, where fresh air, open skies and wildlife offer space to pause and reconnect. Join a weekly wellness walk and experience the calm and beauty of this special stretch of coast as it continues to grow.
Our work
Project
Sandilands Nature Reserve
Discover more about the Sandilands Nature Reserve project. We're working with partner organisations to create, manage and connect habitats to support nature along the Lincolnshire coast.
Project
News
Our response to National Grid's proposal to build a new transmission line from Grimsby to Walpole
The National Trust has shared concerns about National Grid's plans to build a new high-voltage electricty transmission line between Grimsby and Walpole.
News
Our position on Centre Port's plan for The Wash
The Wash is one of the most important estuaries in the UK. Therefore, news of a potential new container terminal and tidal scheme in an area designated for its importance to wildlife, is deeply concerning. Some bold claims are being made about ecology and we are keen to seek further information on the detailed plans and data to back these up.
