Cley West (Beach Road to East Bank)

This area was the original Cley reserve purchased in 1926. It comprises reedbed, fresh-water scrapes, dykes and grazing meadows in the southern half with brackish lagoons and shingle in the north. There are public and permitted paths round the east, west and south of the reserve and along the shingle to the north. These are open to all at all times. Car parking is available at Beach Rd, the Visitor Centre and East Bank.

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This part of the reserve has four hides. The three Central Hides (Avocet, Daukes and Teal) are accessed by a boardwalk through the reedbed and give views over the scrapes. The fourth, Bishop’s Hide, is accessed by a short path from the southern path and this overlooks Pat’s Pool. There used to be another hide in the north overlooking North Scrape but this was washed away in the 2013 flood and has now been replaced by a viewing screen. Access to these paths and hides is free for NWT members at all times but non-members must purchase a permit from the Visitor Centre before entering.

West Bank, a raised path gives good views over the western side of the reserve and the Glaven Marshes to the west.

Beach Car park, also known as Coastguard’s (which used to be here), is the spot for sea watching and is the start of the walk along Blakeney Point

East Bank, another raised sea wall, is the best place to watch the reedbed for Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers.

The scrapes hold waders and ducks and are well known for breeding Avocets and passage and wintering waders.

North Foreland Wood, the mainly coniferous woodland south of the A149, west of Walsey Hills is a privately owned wood with no public access. It has a small heronry and has had breeding Little Egrets since 2010. In early summer these can often be seen from E Bank standing up in the wood.