Brading Marshes

We're working hard to make our nature reserves safe and ready for our staff, visitors and wildlife. Many have now re-opened in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although some facilities are not yet available. Some reserves remain closed for now. See our COVID-19 updates page for the latest information (link below).

Address: RSPB Brading Marshes, Brading, Sandown PO36 0BD

Grid ref: SZ609868

See our reserves Covid-19 updates page for which sites are open and other important details.

The RSPB's first reserve on the Isle of Wight, Brading Marshes stretches from the village of Brading to the sea at Bembridge Harbour. It's a haven for a wide array of wildlife, ranging from buzzards, little egrets, green woodpeckers and marsh harriers to butterflies, hobbies and red squirrels.

Plan your visit

Open at all times.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Facilities

Guided walks
Viewing point
Nature trails

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Brading. Collect a reserve trail guide from the station,walk up the road away from the station and turn right at a green public footpath sign into a housing estate. After 50 metres, turn right at the sign between two houses. The path leads through a railway crossing and onto the reserve at Fatting Marsh.

By bus

Brading. The Southern Vectis bus no.10 between Newport and Sandown runs an hourly service between Monday to Saturday from 9.13am - 5.43pm (no Sunday service).

By road

The best access is by the island train to Brading station, which also makes an easy and fun day-trip from the mainland by directly-connecting train and ferry (Portsmouth to Ryde). Cars can park at the National Trust's Bembridge and Culver Down nearby.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Other ways to get there

From the mainland, take the train to Portsmouth harbour, transfer to the ferry across the Solent, then onto the train from Ryde Pier to Brading (Southampton to Brading: 2 hours. London Waterloo to Brading 3 hours).

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

13 degrees, Sunny day

Downloads

Helping you find your way around. PDF, 3.6MB

Brading Marshes trail guide

Contact Brading Marshes

RSPB Brading Marshes, Brading, Sandown PO36 0BD
01273 775333

What will you see?

Our star species

Buzzard

Listen for their mewing calls, or keep an eye out for them as they soar overhead on sunny days.

Cetti's warbler

Recent colonists of the UK, they are very often hard to see, but their song is unmistakable.

Lapwing

In spring, lapwings breed here. Visit then and you'll see their weird and wonderful displays.

Little egret

These dainty little white herons can be seen in autumn at Brading Marshes.

Wigeon

During winter, flocks of wigeons are a daily sight. Arriving in early September and building to a peak in January.

Buzzards are a spectacular sight, soaring overhead, lapwings swoop over the marshes and you can hear the distinctive song of Cetti's warblers.

Summer can be quiet for birds but it is the best time for butterflies, such as meadow browns, marbled whites and common blues. Green woodpeckers may be seen in the grasslands.

Early autumn is the time for little egrets and common darter dragonflies. Swallows and house martins feed along the river on their journeys south.

Over the winter months, you can see flocks of winter waders. Pods of red stinking iris berries and bright pink spindle berries can be seen on the woodland edge.

About Brading Marshes

Habitat

Brading Marshes is a reserve on the Isle of Wight which encompasses reclaimed marshland and wetland habitats in a coastal setting.

Conservation

RSPB Brading Marshes has developed into a fantastic home for nature, helped by the tremendous support of many individuals, groups and organisations. In addition to RSPB members and supporters, local community members and a tireless team of volunteers, we would particularly like to thank the following organisations for their financial support:

Biffa Award through the Landfill Community Fund
Forestry Commission via English Woodland Grant Scheme (EU and Defra funding)
Heritage Lottery Fund
Natural England through Defra
SITA Trust through the Landfill Community Fund
South East England Development Agency

Partners

Site information

Brading Marshes is the RSPB's first reserve on the Isle of Wight. It covers most of the beautiful valley of the lower River Yar running from the village of Brading to the sea at Bembridge Harbour.

As an important area for wildlife, it is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Natura 2000 site.

Activities and events

Leisure activities

Brading Marshes is great if you are new to birdwatching. You can see migrant breeding birds in spring, and hear cuckoos, blackcaps and chiffchaffs. In winter, spot fieldfares and redwings in hedgerows. Winter wildfowl and waders flock in large groups.

Marshside

Lytchett Fields

Arne

Brading Marshes