Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Orford Ness hares playing on the shingle — You might be lucky and spot hares playing on the shingle

Avocets on Orford Ness — Avocets flying across the lagoons at Orford Ness

Yellow horned poppy on the shingle on Orford Ness

Stony Ditch Orford Ness — Pagodas across Stony Ditch on Orford Ness

Important notice -

Orford Ness is now closed for the winter. We look forward to seeing you in April.

Internationally important coastal nature reserve, with a fascinating 20th-century military history

Overview
Opening times
How to get here
Facilities and access
Contact us

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring

In England and Northern Ireland, our gardens, parks and countryside remain open for local people to exercise. Shops, houses and other indoor areas are closed, and cafés are takeaway only. The safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors from the nearby community remains our priority and we urge you to book your visits in advance and stay local. All places in Wales are currently closed. Please check the property webpage before you travel.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Our work

Drone policy for Orford Ness

To protect our special places and wildlife and ensure our visitors are free to fully enjoy their experience, we carefully manage the use of drones on Orford Ness.

Remembering the people who worked on Orford Ness

Did you work on the Ness or for any of the companies providing support services? Do you know anyone who did?

Sheep on Orford Ness

Here at Orford Ness we look after several different rare-breeds of sheep, where they play a vital role in conservation of habitats and the breeds themselves.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

History

History of Orford Ness

The shifting shingle has altered the landscape over many years and the Ness’s importance as a military site from the days of Napoleon to the Second World War have also left their mark.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Wildlife

Fragile beauty

The habitats on Orford Ness are very varied. Vegetated shingle to brackish lagoons, reed marshes to mud flats. These habitats are a haven for wildlife.

Catch a glimpse of our wildlife

From delicate Chinese water deer and big brown hares to barn owls and birds of prey including falcons and marsh harriers, there's lots of wildlife to discover on a visit to the Ness.

Precious plants

How have the plants that live here adapted to survive the challenges of living in the salty atmosphere of the coast and the desert-like conditions of the shingle?

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Get involved

Intoduction to visitors Orford Ness — A Volunteer Ranger introduces visitors to the Ness

Help us care for the Ness

Get more involved with the work here, perhaps as a volunteer ranger. Get out and about, make new friends, learn about this special place.

Dedicate a donation to Orford Ness

You can now support Orford Ness by dedicating a donation to someone special and add your precious memories to our interactive map. A perfect present and a unique way to remember a loved one, celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, your donation will help us continue to care for Orford Ness for ever, for everyone.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Groups

Group enjoying their visit to Orford Ness — Group on their way to visit to Orford Ness

Bring your group

Share this unique location with others and enjoy a guided group visit. You’ll all appreciate discovering the island's many secrets as your ranger guide shows you around the landscape and buildings including the pagodas.

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Eating and shopping

Perfect for picnics

There are no catering facilities on the Ness. However Orford is a good place to buy food and the Ness is the perfect spot to enjoy a picnic.

General

Please note, access to Orford Ness is only via the National Trust ferry from Orford Quay, there is no access to pedestrians via Slaughden

Orford Ness is an exposed stretch of coast with dangerous military debris still present. Please keep to the waymarked tracks and obey signs. Anyone straying from the visitor routes is in danger from unexploded material and could permamently damage the habitats. For safety the derelict Atomic weapons research establishment (AWRE) site, including the 'pagodas', is strictly out of bounds except on guided tours

You can learn more about the Ness's fascinating history and rare and fragile wildlife on a guided tour (please see events listings)

Tickets are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment, especially at busy times.

Ferry tickets are sold on the day only.

Please remember to bring your own food and drink for a picnic on the reserve - there are no shops on the 'island' but you can pick up supplies in the village shop

Wrap up warm and be prepared for sudden changes in the weather

Orford Ness is a nature reserve with fragile habitats so bikes and dogs aren't allowed (assistance dogs are welcome)

Parking is in Quay Street, 150 yards. Pay & display car park is not National Trust - charge includes members. Follow the signs through Orford village

Toilets are available at the Quay Street car park and on site opposite the Rangers office - an adapted toilet is available (please see Access)

Family

Discover our surprising history and fascinating wildlife together, but play safe - stay on the trail and don't pick up anything unusual

Pushchairs and baby back-carriers can be taken onto the Ness, but access involves a boat crossing and will require negotiating steep, sometimes slippery, steps

We're sorry but due to the fragile habitats on the Ness we can't allow bikes on site. There are plenty of good cycle routes on the mainland though that we’d be happy to recommend.

Access

Access to Orford Ness involves crossing a tidal river on our ferry. Embarking and disembarking from the ferry involves negotiating steep and sometimes slippery steps (the height of which is influenced by tides). There are no hills or long climbs, but the visitor routes are long (the shortest 5.5 miles in total length). A mobility vehicle is available to assist on request.

Mobility parking – There is no parking on Orford Quay itself, though visitors can be dropped-off on Orford Quay and then return car to Quay Street car park (150 yards – not National Trust)

An accessible toilet is available at the Ranger’s office, located approximately half distance along the main visitor route.

The majority of the main visitor route (Red Route) is on concrete paths, though small sections are shingle or uneven and may not be suitable for those with limited mobility. Some buildings may not be wheelchair accessible.

Buildings - most buildings have door thresholds, and some have shallow steps or floor height changes and narrow doorways. Two have significant steps to first floor level and above

Assistance dogs welcome - to protect the fragile habitats and birds sadly other dogs are not permitted

	Gift Aid	Standard
Amount paid by visitor	£11.00	£10.00
Tax refund from Government*	£2.75	£0.00
Total received by the National Trust	£13.75	£10.00

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Important notice -

More about this place

Visiting this spring

Our work

Drone policy for Orford Ness

Remembering the people who worked on Orford Ness

Sheep on Orford Ness

History

History of Orford Ness

Wildlife

Fragile beauty

Catch a glimpse of our wildlife

Precious plants

Get involved

Help us care for the Ness

Dedicate a donation to Orford Ness

Groups

Bring your group

Eating and shopping

Perfect for picnics

Sutton Hoo

Kyson Hill

Dunwich Heath and Beach

Pin Mill

Flatford

Darrow Wood

Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Important notice -

Our work

History

Wildlife

Get involved

Groups

Eating and shopping

Facilities and access

General

Family

Access

Overview

Internationally important coastal nature reserve, with a fascinating 20th-century military history

How to get here

Prices

Admission free

What is Gift Aid?

Opening times

Important notice -

Please note...

Monday 1 March

Tuesday 2 March

Wednesday 3 March

Thursday 4 March

Friday 5 March

Saturday 6 March

Sunday 7 March

Contact us

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