RSPB Ham Wall
Shepton Mallet, Wells & Glastonbury
Discover a place teaming with amazing wildlife, panoramic views and the sound of the reeds swaying in the wind at RSPB Ham Wall. You might be lucky enough to see or hear secretive bitterns, stunning great white egrets, elusive otters, swimming water voles, chorusing Iberian water frogs, hunting barn owls, the blue flash of a kingfisher or skittish roe deer which all call this place home. Discover the sights and sounds of this magical wetland, created by the RSPB when peat extraction ended on the site. Enjoy the stunning views across the marshes to Glastonbury Tor and follow secluded paths winding through the mystical landscape.
Each season brings a different experience in spring bird song fills the air, including the evocative ‘boom’ of the mystical bittern, and fledglings can be seen making their first hop, flit, and fly into the world while in late autumn and winter at dusk the sky is filled with swirling masses of birds feeding or coming into roost until dawn when they erupt out of the reeds – an experience not to be missed! Icy weather in winter can be the best time to see otters as they frolic and skid across the ice. Ham Wall provides an unforgettable day out for the whole family no matter the season.
We run exciting events throughout the year at weekends and during school holidays ranging from spooky pumpkin trails at Halloween to bug hunts, night walks and canoeing during the summer. Join one of our events to discover something new. We have a reedbed climbing frame and children’s viewing tower located in our play area on the Reedbed Loop. The main path through the reserve is wide and flat (with an incline either side of the railway bridge) making it pushchair friendly. It’s also a local cycle route - great for family bike rides away from traffic.
Car Parking £3 per car all day. RSPB Members and Blue Badge holders free. RSPB Members display membership car face down on dashboard for free parking.
Dogs on a short lead are welcome on the main reserve path and public footpath (Ham Wall loop) only.
For information about accessibility see our accessibility guide here: https://www.accessibilityguides.org/content/rspb-ham-wall-0
For latest news and updates please see our Facebook and Twitter.
Opening Hours:
- Reserve: Open Daily Dawn – Dusk
- Car Park and Toilets: Open Daily 5am-6.30pm, 1 November-31 January, 5am-8pm, 1 February-31 March, 5am-10pm, 1 April-30 August, 5am-8pm, 1 September-31 October.
- Info Point: Open Daily 10 am – 4 pm
- Takeaway Refreshments: Open 10 am – 4 pm on weekends and as often during the week as we have a volunteer.
How to get here by road:
From Glastonbury: Take the B3151 to Wedmore. At the village of Meare, go past the garage on your left, then follow the brown sign, taking the second left into Ashcott Road. The reserve entrance is 1 mile on the left, after the Railway Inn.
From the M5: Leave at Junction 23 and take the A39 to Glastonbury for 7 miles until you see signs for Avalon Marshes Centre, turn left onto Shapwick Hill and carry on into the village and past the church. Continue on through the village and stay on the same road for 1 mile until you reach the Avalon Marshes Centre on your right. Continue past the Avalon Marshes Centre taking the next right at Back Lane in Westhay. At the end of Back Lane turn right onto Main Road.
Follow Main Road for about 1.5 miles through the village of Meare past Meare Manor on your left. Here you will see a brown sign directing you to take the next right. You will reach a narrow part of the road with a colourful painted fence on your left. Here you need to turn right onto Ashcott Road. The reserve entrance is 1 mile on the left after the Railway Inn.
