Dingle Marshes

Address: RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3BY

Grid ref: TM479707

Dingle Marshes is an enticing mix of habitats that include freshwater reedbed, shingle, coastal grazing marsh and saline lagoons. They attract a wide variety of wildlife. So listen for booming bitterns. Watch for skydancing marsh harriers. Or marvel at yellow-horned poppy and sea kale under the wide Suffolk skies.

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.

Car park cost: Free

Facilities

No visitor centre
Car park off-site
Toilets off-site
Accessible toilets off-site
No Refreshments
Viewing point
Nature trails
Shop off-site

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

The nearest station is Darsham.

By bus

You can use Suffolk Link, a demand-responsive bus that can collect you from Leiston, Saxmundham and surrounding villages. This must be booked in advance by calling 01728 833526.

By bike

National Route 42 of the National Cycle Network.

By road

From Westleton, turn left onto B1125, towards Blythburgh. After passing village green, turn right towards Dunwich and RSPB Minsmere. Follow minor road, ignoring right turns to RSPB Minsmere and NT Dunwich Heath, until you enter Dunwich village. Continue through village, passing ruined Greyfriars Abbey on right, then fork right into beach car park.

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

Dingle Marshes can be accessed on foot from Walberswick village (or from Southwold via the seasonal foot ferry).

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

11 degrees, Sunny day

Contact Dingle Marshes

RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve, Westleton, Saxmundham, Suffolk IP17 3BY
minsmere@rspb.org.uk
01728 648281
@RSPBMinsmere
Find us on facebook

What will you see?

Our star species

Avocet

Watch out for avocets swinging their long, curved bills to and fro as they step gracefully through the pools.

Bittern

Visit in spring to hear male bitterns 'booming' or summer to watch the parents making feeding flights.

Marsh harrier

Marsh harriers can be seen at any time of year at Dingle Marshes.

Stonechat

Pairs remain together throughout the year and you can see family groups in summer.

Wigeon

During winter, flocks of wigeons are a daily sight.

In spring, look for marsh harriers 'sky-dancing' above the reedbed. Listen for booming bitterns and pinging bearded tits. Redshanks and lapwings nest on the grazing marshes and avocets on the shore pools.

In summer you can see migrant wading birds in the shore pools, including spotted redshanks and greenshanks. Take care not to disturb nesting little terns, ringed plovers and skylarks on the shingle.

Autumn is an time to spot migrant wading birds, including greenshanks and grey plovers. Large flocks of wigeons, teals and other ducks return for the winter. Look for rutting red deer in the nearby forest. Large flocks of starlings often roost in the Westwood Marshes reedbed.

During winter, a variety of ducks and wading birds use the marshes. Flocks of linnets, twites and sometimes snow buntings visit the saltmarsh and tidal pools in search of seeds. A dusk visit should produce marsh harriers and hen harriers heading to roost in the reedbed, and there are usually up to 60,000 starlings roosting.

About Dingle Marshes

Habitat

Dingle Marshes is a superb mixture of coastal and freshwater habitats bordered by forest and heathland.

The freshwater reedbeds are home to important numbers of breeding bitterns, marsh harriers and bearded tits. In summer they are alive with singing warblers. These are protected from the sea by a vegetated shingle bank, which is important for plants such as sea kale and yellow horned-poppy.

Conservation

Dingle Marshes forms part of one of the largest freshwater reedbeds in the UK. The reeds are cut annually to provide ideal habitat for breeding bitterns, bearded tits and marsh harriers. These reedbeds are increasingly vulnerable to saltwater incursion during winter storms.

The reserve is bounded on the east, and protected from the sea, by a long shingle spit. This is home to rare shingle flora such as sea kale, yellow horned-poppy and sea pea, and a colony of little terns nests on the shingle each spring. The shingle birds and flora are extremely vulnerable to disturbance, and parts of the shingle may be fenced to reduce trampling.

Partners

Little Tern Recovery Project is generously supported by the EU LIFE+ Nature Programme.

Site information

There is a small hide overlooking the reedbed, which is accessed along forest tracks within Dunwich Forest. Within the forest you may see crossbills, goldcrests and siskins, hear singing woodlarks in spring, or spot red deer in autumn. The circular walk involves more than one mile on shingle. Access is from the Dunwich Beach car park, where there are toilets and a fish and chip shop. Food is also available at the nearby Ship Inn.