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Facilities
Facilities
- Visitor centre
- Information centre
- Car park
: Large car park on site. No overnight parking. Parking for two coaches by advance booking only. Bicycle racks outside visitor centre.
- Toilets
- Disabled toilets
- Baby-changing facilities
- Picnic area
- Binocular hire
- Group bookings accepted
- Guided walks available
- Good for walking
- Pushchair friendly
Viewing points
Seven birdwatching hides and a public viewing platform. Four hides and the viewing platform overlook the Scrape. Three of these hides are wheelchair accessible. Two hides overlook the reedbed. One of these is on stilts and accessed via steps. The final hide is in the woodland, and accessed via steps.
Nature trails
There are two permanent trails: the Scrape Trail and the Reedbed Trail. The Scrape trail, which takes in scrub, reedbed and shingle beach, is a 1.5 mile circuit. Access to the North Hide and North Wall is wheelchair and pushchair accessible. Access to East Hide is via the beach, then continuing via the sluice to South and West Hides. These two hides are wheelchair and pushchair accessible from the visitor centre via a woodland walk. The Island Mere circuit, which is 1.5 miles long, takes you through woodland to two hides overlooking the reedbed. Bittern Hide is accessible only via steps. Island Mere Hide is wheelchair accessible from the layby near Scotts Hall, about 300 metres from the hide. The return route from Scotts Hall follows a new path parallel to the road via Canopy Hide (accessible via steps) and the Whin Hill Watchpoint. A temporary woodland walk is signposted from close to the Whin Hill Watchpoint to the bridleway from Eastbridge to Dunwich.
Tearoom
The tearoom also sells light meals.
Refreshments available
- Hot drinks
- Cold drinks
- Hot meals
- Cold meals
- Snacks
- Confectionery
Shop
Large selection of books, optics, outdoor clothing, bird food and gifts.
The shop stocks:
- Binoculars and telescopes
- Books
- Bird food
- Bird feeders
- Nestboxes
- Outdoor clothing
- Gifts
Educational facilities
Minsmere is an exciting place for young people to learn. We offer a varied programme of educational visits led by experienced field teachers. All activities are linked to the National Curriculum and are fully risk-assessed.
Activities for Key Stages 1 and 2 include bird adaptations, food chains, birdwatching, minibeast safari, pond dipping and seaside habitat. Programmes can be tailored to suit particular requirements.
Educational visits cost £3 per pupil for a half-day visit (10 am-12.30 pm) or £4 per pupil for a full day (10 am-2.30 pm), and accompanying adults are free.
Special programmes can be arranged for secondary schools, including behind the scenes tours with an RSPB warden to look at how the reserve is managed. For further details and booking arrangements, please contact the visitor centre.