Short birdwatching visit · British Trust for Ornithology
Nunnery Lakes Reserve
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- year-round
- Headline birds
- Kingfisher · Gadwall
- Parking
- Parking is available at The Nunnery headquarters and on Nuns’ Bridges Road.
- Hides
- Not stated by the operator
- Step-free
- Most paths are unsuitable for wheelchairs apart from Arlington Way; contact BTO in advance about arranged access.
Thetford · IP24 2PU
Nunnery Lakes offers lakes, riverside walking and several Breckland habitats within reach of Thetford. Former gravel workings sit alongside wet woodland, flood meadow and dry sandy ground, allowing a varied birding walk without a long cross-country drive. BTO’s seasonal lists document resident waterbirds and woodland birds alongside winter visitors. The Discovery Trail provides a useful way to explore slowly, with interpretation panels helping first-time visitors understand the landscape. This is a good option for combining a town visit with a quiet waterside walk.
Birds and seasons
- Kingfisher · Headline bird — Typically year-round Source for Kingfisher
- Gadwall · Headline bird — Typically autumn and winter Source for Gadwall
- Tufted Duck — Typically year-round Source for Tufted Duck
- Siskin — Typically autumn and winter Source for Siskin
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Paths
- Waymarked paths and the Discovery Trail link the lakes with the riverside approaches.
- Toilets
- Toilets behind BTO headquarters are available during office hours.
- Parking
- Parking is available at The Nunnery headquarters and on Nuns’ Bridges Road.
- Dogs
- Dogs must be kept on a lead.
- Access notes
- Most paths are unsuitable for wheelchairs apart from Arlington Way; contact BTO in advance about arranged access.
- Step-free access
- Most paths are unsuitable for wheelchairs apart from Arlington Way; contact BTO in advance about arranged access.
Getting there: BTO describes the entrance as a twenty-minute walk or bus ride from Thetford station.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- East Wretham Heath · 4.6 straight-line miles
- Lynford Arboretum · 8.1 straight-line miles
- Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve · 9.5 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: Lackford Lakes, 8.6 miles away in a straight line.
- East Wretham Heath · 4.6 miles in a straight line
- Cranberry Rough · 7.9 miles in a straight line
- Lynford Arboretum · 8.1 miles in a straight line