Hickling Broad

Length of walk: About half a mile (700m)

Location: Signposted from Hickling village
Map Ref: TG 428222   Postcode: NR12 0BW

Getting there: signed down single track Stubb Road from the village and onto an entrance track alongside animal rehoming centre
by public transport: Unfortunately there is no public transport to the site with the nearest stop at Heath Road opp Methodist Chapel (Service 34 and 6) and a walk of about 1 mile.

By cycling or walking: Norfolk Coast Cycleway optional route south of Happisburgh Common. Weavers Way public footpath along southern border of reserve and a public footpath from Hickling village.

Site owned/managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust tel. 01692 598276, www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/nature-reserves/reserves/hickling-broad

Information boards in car park, visitor centre and hides

Parking: Free parking, surfaced and grass

Reserve: Open all year dawn to dusk. Members and children free; non-member £4.50 incl Gift Aid

Visitor centre: Open April – Oct 10-5 (October weekends and half-term only)

Boat trips: Contact site for details (NWT website has timetable download)

Shop and café: Shop is within visitor centre, no café but drinks dispenser, ice creams and confectionery available. (PH's in Hickling)

Toilets: At visitor centre (accessed from outside of building)

Open level parking area with visitor centre, hides and much of reserve accessible

Toilets: Suitable for disabled

Hire equipment available to borrow: Wildlife Detector explorer bags for children

Wheelchair access: To visitor centre, shop and toilet; hides

Induction loops: Unknown

For families: Visitor centre has variety of displays including interactive. Boat trips, viewing tower and platform, hides.

Dogs: NWT no dogs policy. Visitors with dogs can walk Weavers Way along South edge of Broad and the footpath from Hickling village where you can see some areas of the reserve. Dogs may also be taken to the raptor roost from Hickling car park

Start & Finish: At the car park

Distance(s): The wheelchair accessible Swallowtail trail is about half a mile

Accessibility: Both hides and the boat trip jetty are accessible, more able-bodied and all-terrain chair/buggy may be able to go further particularly if partially utilising the access track to riverside properties from directly outside the site entrance to complete a circular route (if ground conditions suitable)

Gradients: None

Stiles & Gates: Gates into site, some gates on site separating grazing access. Variety of opening mechanisms.

Surface: Boardwalk and compacted gravel, short grass, compacted earth section to Secker's hide.

Waymarking: Trails are identified by simple waymarking

Seating: Benches in hides and picnic tables outside visitor centre, some seating around site, mostly simple bench with no back.

Specific hazards: Some low boards to edges of boardwalks. Reedbeds and waterways.

Footwear/clothing: For boardwalk sections general walking footwear. Sturdier walking shoes or boots may be required if venturing further depending on weather conditions.

Downloadable Walks for all guide sheet

Walks4All_Hickling