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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
Important notice
The car park at Sandilands Nature Reserve will be closed from Monday 18th May while it undergoes resurfacing and accessibility improvements. Please note the toilets will only be accessible from the promenade steps during this time.
- Car park
The car park is adjacent to former clubhouse. Please note there is a height barrier in place (1.95 metres). Open 8am-6pm, seven days a week. No overnight parking. Parking JustPark location code: 80667
- Dogs allowed
Friendly dogs on short leads are welcome at Sandilands.
Dogs allowed - more information- Toilet
Available in the main car park.
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.
- Designated parking
There are two designated accessible parking spaces at the top of the road adjacent to the main car park entrance leading to the seafront, as well as designated accessible parking 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.
- Steps/uneven terrain
Sandilands has some steps, steep slopes, and uneven terrain, which may be muddy in places following wet weather. Improving accessibility to the nature reserve is a key goal of the ongoing project.
- 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 former clubhouse.
- 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
Work is continuing to progress on the nature reserve, a beautiful haven for wildlife
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.
Work is underway at Sandilands
Progress is continuing as this coastal landscape is carefully restored into a thriving space for nature.
Places to stay
Orchard Cottage
Explore Gunby Hall and Gardens when you stay in this estate cottage set within its parklands.
Whitegates Cottage
A gorgeous traditional thatched cottage on the Gunby estate with walks all around.
Upcoming events
Event
Make a pot. Re:Beaker workshop
Be part of a major new community art project inspired by the ancient beakers once carried across Europe and discovered here in Lincolnshire.
Event
Feathered trumps trail
Join us for a family-friendly bird-spotting adventure at Sandilands. Discover amazing birds, compare their habitat, diet, nest type, clutch size, weight, wingspan and conservation status, and see which one comes out on top.
Event
Weekly Wellness Walks
Join us every Monday at 10am for a 3 mile walk around the reserve, spotting wildlife along the way.
Event
World Ocean Day Beach Clean
As part of Great Big Green Week and The Big Help Out, join us for a beach clean at Sandilands and help protect local marine life this World Ocean Day.
Event
Monthly dog walk
Looking for a fun and healthy activity for you and your furry friend? Join our monthly dog walk, led by experienced dog trainer Debbie from Building Behaviours. It's a great way to bond with your pup and meet fellow dog lovers.
Event
Re:Beaker
Inspired by ancient beakers discovered in Lincolnshire, this major contemporary art installation brings together striking ceramic forms across the landscape.
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.
About Sandilands
Sandilands is being 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 is emerging, carefully created to support migrating and breeding birds while welcoming people to experience nature up close. The wetlands are now 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 coming soon, 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.
