Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

Take waymarked trails through the unusual landscape. Follow your interests. Military history or nature. The choice varies with the seasons.

The Ness is an internationally important site for nature conservation. Breeding and migrating birds, specialised plants and other wildlife flourish in a rich mosaic of coastal habitats.

Visit some of the intriguing buildings you will pass on your walk and view displays about the history and ecology of the site. Use some as an elevated viewing platform.

'So what else do you do when we've gone home?' We're often asked what we do when the site is closed, or what goes on off the visitor route or after our visitors have gone back to the safety of the mainland.

Major projects have been undertaken to improve the environment on Orford Ness for wildlife and visitors.

Many artists have been inspired by the landscape of Orford Ness. See more about 'One and All: A voyage through sight, sound and sea.'

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.

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.

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?