Far Ings National Nature Reserve

Far Ings

Barrie Wilkinson

Bittern

Jamie Hall

Far Ings

Barrie Wilkinson

Far Ings

Emily Cunningham

Marsh Harrier

Mandy West

A chain of flooded clay pits and extensive reedbeds along the Humber Bank.

Location

Far Ings Road
Far Ings
Barton-upon-Humber
DN18 5RG

OS Map Reference

TA 011 229
A static map of Far Ings National Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
59 hectares
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Parking information

Ness End car park is open daily from 8am - 6pm, the Visitor Centre car park is open 9am - 5pm (or dusk if earlier)

Bicycle parking

Sheffield racks in the Visitor Centre and a wheelbender cycle rack in the Ness End car park, cycling is not permitting within the nature reserve

Grazing animals

Sheep

Walking trails

There are three waymarked visitors' routes

Access

Many paths are suitable for wheelchairs (except for closed gates when sheep are present), and there is disabled access to two bird hides

Dogs

No dogs permitted

Assistance dogs only

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Facilities

Visitor centre
Bird hides
Toilets
Shop
Picnic area
Accessible toilet
Baby changing facilities
Disabled parking

When to visit

Opening times

Reserve open all year round
Visitor Centre open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm
Visitor Centre closed 23 December - 31 December for Christmas. Re-opening on Mon Jan 1st

Best time to visit

January to December

About the reserve

This chain of flooded clay pits and extensive reed beds along the Humber bank from west of Barton-upon-Humber to New Holland is a legacy of the brick and tile industry. The site comprise the open water of Ness Lake, large areas of reed bed, grassland, hedgerow and scrub. The Visitor Centre has wonderful panoramic views across the reserve and the estuary, along with a gift shop and refreshments.

In spring and autumn you can see migration in action. Pipits, finches, swallows, martins, swifts, larks, starlings, waders and wildfowl move along the estuary. In late summer the reedbeds are important hirundine roosts. Autumn and winter reward the observer on the Humber bank with sightings of redshank, wigeon, black-tailed godwit, skeins of pink-footed geese and many more species. Among the wildfowl which spend the winter months on the pits within the reserve, look for the diminutive teal.

There are bitterns on the reserve all year and they are seen in various locations across the reserve. It is possible to hear them ‘booming’ in the spring from about March. A good location to try is the double decker hide at Ness End Farm, bitterns are seen from here on a regular but infrequent basis – they are very shy birds and good at hiding.

Please visit our main Far Ings page for further information.

Location information

Far Ings location PDF

By car, leave the A15 at the A1077 turn-off (last exit before the Humber Bridge). Take the first exit from the roundabout, then the first right (look for the brown tourist signs). At the bottom of the hill, turn right. The entrance to the reserve is on the left.

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Contact us

Environmental designation

National Nature Reserve (NNR)