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A precious landscape on the Suffolk coast
Coastguard Cottages, Minsmere Road, Dunwich, Suffolk, IP17 3DJ
Asset | Opening time |
---|---|
Heath | Dawn - Dusk |
Car Park | 09:00 - 17:00 |
Visitor Information | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Tea-room | 10:00 - 16:00 |
Kiosk | Closed |
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Parking fee | £6.00 |
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Parking fee | £4.00 |
Ticket type | Gift aid | Standard |
---|---|---|
Adult | £15.00 | |
Parking fee | £15.00 |
Small second-hand bookshop in the Coastguard Cottages
Ice-cream kiosk available during the summer.
From April 1st the car park is open 9am to 5pm and is locked outside of these times.
The Coastguard Cottages Tearoom serving drinks, snacks and light-bites.
Dogs welcome - must be kept on a short lead 1 March - 31 August. A dog friendly route is available.
Toilets and baby changing facilities available by the car park.
Seasonal Ranger Walks. See Upcoming Events for more details and to book.
Blue Badge parking. Accessible toilet by tea-room. Trampers and chauffeur service bookable by phone. Braille map available. Assistance dogs welcome.
Waymarked accessible route. Speak to Visitor Welcome for more information.
Small tearoom in Coastguard Cottage. Small door sill on the threshold.
RADAR accessible toilet available - own key essential.
Pre-bookable single person mobility vehicles available when Visitor Welcome is open. Please see opening times for further information on VW opening hours. Pre-bookable chauffeured vehicle service for either one wheelchair user and three passengers, or five passengers available. Please call 01728 648501 to book for both types of vehicle.
Braille map available.
Benches and accessible picnic benches (by Coastguard Cottages only) spread throughout the site
Blue badge parking available.
Uneven slopes and tree roots. Sandy soils. This is an outdoor coastal site.
Available in Visitor Welcome and Tearoom
signposted from A12. From Westleton/Dunwich road, turn right 1 mile before Dunwich village into Minsmere road, then 1 mile to Dunwich Heath.
Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path and Sandlings Walk
Darsham 6 miles
Coastguard Cottages, Minsmere Road, Dunwich, Suffolk, IP17 3DJ
Come along to Dunwich Heath and Beach and get out and about in the great outdoors.
See what events may be happening during your visit or are upcoming at Dunwich Heath and Beach
Dunwich Heath is a three pawprint rated place. The nature reserve is a wonderful place to explore with your dog. Here’s all you need to know about visiting with your four-legged friend.
Lowland heath and acid grassland, rich in wildlife and home to several rare bird species.
Coastguard Cottages Tea-room, serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals. Kiosk serves ice cream in summer.
Visitor information hut with wildlife information, children's trails, history trails and maps.
Barn with site history, children's activities, games, trails, wildlife information and a cabinet of curiosities.
Second-hand bookshop stocking books, CDs, DVDs and games.
Shingle beach with rare plant and wildlife species.
Characterful coastal cottages offering stays for two to four people including one accessible apartment.
Wooden play area for children to run and let off steam.
Head outdoors for some family fun at Dunwich Heath and Beach, with tracker packs, geo-caching, trails, den building, Heath Barn crafts and miles of walks.
See what events may be happening during your visit or are upcoming at Dunwich Heath and Beach
Discover the different areas to explore, and the variety of wildlife you can spot when you visit Dunwich Heath, with some rarer species highlighted...
A trail taking you on an in-depth dive into the wartime history of Dunwich Heath, stopping at locations around the site that still show evidence of the military activity.
Follow the Dunwich Heath Woof Walk if you would like to walk your dog off the lead without the worry of them running off into the undergrowth and disturbing the wildlife, and in doing so help us care for this beautiful landscape.
Follow the orange trail if you want a bit of everything on your walk, from the swathes of heather making up the heath with the rare Dartford Warbler maybe making an appearance, to the statuesque woodland where you might spot a flash of red and black as a Greater Spotted Woodpecker wings by, and the open expanse of the grassland where Stone Curlews and Hares hide amongst the swaying fronds.
Follow the pink trail to take in the best views of the heath, with the main body of the heather flowering between late July and September. Along the trail keep an eye out for our main bird species, the Dartford Warbler, or Red deer roaming the heath, and look to the skies for the musical Skylark singing overhead.
Follow the grey trail for views of the heath, patches of woodland, and Docwra's Ditch. Perfect for birdwatchers who are looking for woodland birds or reed dwelling birds such as Woodlarks or Reed Buntings, or for those who are after a gentle stroll in a peaceful place, with the wind sighing through the trees and the birds singing.
The tea-room is open for hot and cold drinks, snacks and light meals. If you have an allergy and would like ingredient information, ask one of the staff, who’ll be happy to help. The second-hand bookshop is attached to the tearoom and open at the same time, offering books, DVD's, games and CD's with all donations going to help look after Dunwich Heath.
A peaceful retreat surrounded by grass meadows, pine forests and sea views.
A white-washed apartment with views of Dunwich Heath and Beach from every window.
A bird watcher’s haven, this first floor apartment overlooks Dunwich Heath nature reserve.
Once home to the Coastguards, now a beachside apartment with accessible facilities.
Rediscover nature and walk your way to better wellbeing on one of our volunteer-led group walks.
Delve into 300 years of fascinating history by joining one of our introductions...
Come and listen to folk tunes in the Tea-room
Come along to Heath Barn and take part in some Halloween craft activities.
Start your day at Dunwich Heath with a cooked breakfast in the Look-Out at Coastguard Cottages Tea-room.
Explore Dunwich Heath through the lens of your camera and discover top tips from professional photographer Phil Morley on developing your landscape photography skills.
Explore Dunwich Heath through the lens of your camera and discover top tips from professional photographer Phil Morley on developing your landscape and close-up photography skills.
Explore Dunwich Heath through the lens of your camera and discover top tips from professional photographer Phil Morley on developing your close-up photography skills.
Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, Dunwich Heath offers you peace and quiet and a true sense of being at one with nature.
A rare and precious habitat, the Heath is home to special species such as the Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark, ant-lion, adders and much more.
Quiet and serene, wild and dramatic, this is an inspiring visit, whatever the time of year. From July to September, the Heath is alive with colour; a patchwork of pink and purple heather and coconut-scented yellow gorse is an unmissable experience.
Find out about the work we do to care for the landscape of Dunwich Heath, where the wide variety of habitats provides a home for many different species.
Dunwich Heath has a surprisingly turbulent past, from smugglers' haven and coastguard station, to witness for the east coast war channel and training area for D-Day, there is so much more to the heath than meets the eye...
There are many different ways that volunteering with the National Trust at Dunwich Heath can benefit you. Find out more about the roles and get in touch.
Dunwich Heath's patchwork of pink and purple heather is showing signs of recovery.
A Second World War pillbox at Dunwich Heath, which was used in preparations for the D-Day landings, has been transformed into a home for roosting bats.
Learn about our involvement in the consultation process and why we think the plans threaten this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for visitors, wildlife and the environment.
Join today and help protect nature, beauty and history – for everyone, for ever. Enjoy access to more than 500 places with National Trust membership.