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 -

We're working hard to reopen many of our places where it is safe to do so. However, Orford Ness is currently closed.

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

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

Adults and two children taking an autumn walk amongst the trees

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit

More than 100 gardens and parks and hundreds of coast and countryside places are open in England and Northern Ireland. Many historic houses are open in England. To avoid disappointment please book in advance, especially at weekends and school holidays. In line with Welsh Government legislation, all places in Wales will close from 24 October to 9 November. Please check the property webpage of the place you wish to visit before you travel. Read this article to find out how to book and what to expect from your visit.

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

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)

On your way home pick up fresh locally caught fish from the quay and take home a flavour of the coast from local smokeshouses

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

All pushchairs etc. must be suitable for lifting on to a boat and up and down steep steps and not pose a safety risk

We're sorry but due to the fragile habitats on the Ness we can't allow children's bikes

Reward yourselves after your walk with a reviving bite in the local cafés, tearoom and pubs

Access

Access to the site is difficult and only suitable for visitors with adequate mobility. Embarking and disembarking from the ferry involves negotiating steep and slippery steps (height 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 - drop-off on Orford Quay and return car to Quay Street car park (150 yards)

Adapted toilets are available at the Warden's office when on duty. Please call in advance to check

Accessible route available (Red Route avoiding lighthouse path & beach) - some buildings not accessible (please see below)

Pathways - most roads and tracks are mainly concrete and tarmac surfaced, however others are rough and uneven but hard surfaced. To complete the entire route involves traversing some soft shingle areas (this can mostly be avoided - see accessible route above)

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 other dogs are not permitted

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£4.50

Child

N/A

£2.25

Family

N/A

£11.25

Gift Aid

Standard

Adult

N/A

£12.00

Child

N/A

£6.00

Family

N/A

£30.00

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

Which places are open and what you need to know before you visit

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

What is Gift Aid?

Please note...

Opening times

Important notice -

Sunday 25 October

Monday 26 October

Tuesday 27 October

Wednesday 28 October

Thursday 29 October

Friday 30 October

Saturday 31 October

Contact us

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