Welcome
You'll find Blacktoft Sands nestled on the south bank of the River Ouse, where the waterway widens to become the Humber Estuary. This magical reserve hosts a diverse population of waders, warblers and raptors, which can be easily spotted!
Reedbed covers much of the site and this is Englands largest intertidal reedbed, home to marsh harriers, bearded tits and bittern. Six shallow saline lagoons provide a wildlife spectacle throughout the year. An area of grazing marsh provides a home for wildfowl and waders through the autumn and spring and includes a large seasonally flooded area. Scrub between the hides attracts a great variety of warblers and a thriving colony of tree sparrows.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Reception HideVisitor amenities with dedicated access toilet.First HideTownend Hide Singleton HideReedling HideMarshland HideOusefleet HideThere is level access from the car park to:
Picnic AreaHearing
Visual
General
Getting here
For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.Travel by public transport
The bus stops at the entrance to the reserve.
Travel by taxi
Access visitors are able to use a drop off point directly outside our Reception Hide.
Parking
Our Access Parking is through the main carpark and opposite our picnic area which has access facilities. This reduces the distance to our reception centre to 100m and is adjacent to our toilet block with access toilet facilities. Access visitors are able to use a drop off point directly outside our Reception Hide.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
Our cozy reception hide is located 200m from the main carpark. It is a "wooden hut" construction with french style doors which can be opened leaving 1.8m of access, allowing the largest of mobility aids to fully access, taking advantage of our superb log burner on colder or wetter days. Access to the viewing windows is up a small low gradient even ramp with ample room to turn or space to rest, relax and take in the fabulous wildlife across the marsh.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Reception Hide
The Reception Information Point is situated inside the reception hide - It is an open informal space to greet visitors. Once inside the hide visitors are able to access the continuously lowered viewing area and cozy log burner on colder wetter days. The view across 2 lagoons provides close up views of waders in spring and autumn as well as a plethora of wild fowl, and even watervoles.
Things to See and Do
Public toilet
Visitor amenities with dedicated access toilet.
Our dedicated access toilets are situated in our public amenities block close to our disabled parking and picnic area. It comprises a spacious area in front of and to the right of the toilet with a fixed hand rail to one side and a hinged hand rail on the other. Both hand rails have vertical and horizontal elements. Wash facilities are provided and well defined against a high contrast colour decorating the walls. Baby changing and ostomy changing facilities are also provided with specific waste disposal. We do not have electricity onsite and a cold water only supply.
First Hide
Head right 90m along our Main Trail and explore nature from First Hide. The approach is up a gentle sloped compacted limestone path. Enter through the side hinged door with lever handle into a two storey viewing area. The lower floor allows access visitors direct entry to a lowered viewing screen and removable chairs giving plenty of opportunity for mobility seated people to take in the wildly serene lagoon and reed bed beyond. Further into the hide fixed bench style seating is provided.
Upper floors are accessed by steps which are not suitable for seated mobility visitors. The stairway has a hand rail.
Townend Hide
Head right 200m along our Main Trail and explore nature from Townend Hide. The approach is up a moderately sloped compacted limestone path. Enter through the side hinged door with lever handle into a single storey viewing area. The widened lobby allows access visitors direct entry to a lowered viewing screen and removable chairs giving plenty of opportunity for mobility seated people to take in the wildly serene lagoon, wildlife and reed bed beyond. Further into the hide fixed bench style seating is provided.
Singleton Hide
Head right 400m along our Main Trail and explore nature from Singleton Hide. The approach is up a gentle sloped compacted limestone path. Enter through the side hinged door with lever handle into a single storey viewing area. This allows access visitors direct entry to a lowered viewing screen and removable chairs giving plenty of opportunity for mobility seated people to take in the wildly serene lagoon and reed bed beyond. Further into the hide fixed bench style seating is provided.
Reedling Hide
Head left 140m along our Main Trail and explore nature from Reedling Hide. The approach is up a gentle sloped compacted limestone path. Enter onto the access platform and head to the right with widened area for seated mobility visitors. The lower floor allows access visitors direct entry to a lowered viewing screen and removable chairs giving plenty of opportunity for mobility seated people to take in the wildly serene lagoon and reed bed beyond. Further into the hide fixed bench style seating is provided.
Upper floor is accessed by steps which are not suitable for seated mobility visitors. The stairway has a hand rail.
Marshland Hide
Head right 250m along our Main Trail and explore nature from Marshland Hide. The approach is up a gentle sloped compacted limestone path and level wooden bridge with hand rails at either side. Enter through the side hinged door with lever handle into a single storey viewing area. The lower floor allows access visitors direct entry to a lowered viewing screen and removable chairs giving plenty of opportunity for mobility seated people to take in the wildly serene lagoon and reed bed beyond. Further into the hide movable bench style seating is provided.
Ousefleet Hide
The trail to Ousefleet Hide is grassy therefore can be seasonally wet and muddy making access to Ousefleet hide somewhat problematic for pushchair and seated mobility visitors. In warmer weather the majority of mobility aids/pushchairs will be able to take the somewhat broken pathway from Ousefleet Trail which narrows to 800mm where trees break the compacted limestone path. The entrance is via a hinged wooden door leading directly to two spaces for access visitors at designated lowered viewing point.
Further into the hide fixed bench style seating provides amazing views over the seasonlly flooded lagoon and marsh. During summer the view changes to dry scrubland perfect for summer visitors like grey wagtails.
Adjacent to the hide is a viewing screen accessed down a short wide natural path. The viewing screen has fixed bench style seating boasting panoramas across a permanent lagoon perfect for wildfowl like teal and widgeon.
Getting around outside
Main Trail
Head 400m right along Main Trail down the level compacted limestone path to encounter superb wildlife experiences from First Hide (90m), Townend Hide (200m) and Singleton Hide (400m). This linear trail is surround by coppice, reed bed and scrub which is home to a diverse range of songbirds through out the year. Resting points along the way allow visitors to stop and listen to a variety of buntings and warblers, even the occasional grasshopper warbler. The short, gently sloping approaches to First and Townend hides are compacted limestone leading directly the the entry. Main Trail terminates at Singleton hide. The approach slopes gently up the compacted limestone pathway with diverse habitat on either side towards the entry. Once inside the hide you'll experience vistas across the reed bed. This is a favoured area for watching gently floating marsh harriers.
Designated Walking Trail
Main Trail Left
Head 250m left along Main Trail down the level compacted limestone path to encounter superb wildlife experiences from Reedling hide (140m) and Marshland hide (250m). This linear trail is surround by coppice, reed bed and scrub which is home to a diverse range of songbirds through out the year. Resting points along the way allow visitors to stop and listen to a variety of buntings and warblers, even the occasional grasshopper warbler. The short, gently sloping approaches to First and Townend hides are compacted limestone leading directly the the entry. Main Trail terminates at Singleton hide. The approach slopes gently up the compacted limestone pathway with diverse habitat on either side towards the entry. Once inside the hide you'll experience vistas across thelagoon and reed bed beyond. Bearded tits can be seen flittling through the reeds and wintering water fowl feeding.
Designated Walking Trail
Ousefleet Trail
Heading left along main Trail Ousefleet trail breaks away to the left leading to a grassed pathway for 600m leading a a viewing point over wetland grazing marsh and the amazing Koniks ponies helping conservation work. At the end of Ousefleet trail and short (approx 30m) of compacted but broken limestone leads through a coppiced area to the hide and a viewing screen. The coppiced pathway can be a little tricky to negotiate as trees grow through the pathway. Ousefleet trail is seasonally unsuitable for some seated mobility and wheel chair users as the trail becomes soft and muddy. Ousefleet lagoon viewing screen is to the right of the main hide. From Ousefleet hide spectacular views over seasonally flooded scrub meadow favoured by wintering wild fowl, passage waders and curlew.
Designated Walking Trail
Ouselfleet viewing screen.
To the right of Ousefleet hide lies the permanent lagoon's viewing screen. The short path of compacted limestone is even and wide enough for most mobility aids however it can be seasonally difficult to reach this area. The bench style seating is fixed. The lagoon is a favourite spot for breeding little grebes and dragonflies alike.
Designated Walking Trail
Car park to reception trail.
The car park to reception hide trail (200m) is over 2m wide and passes though a coppiced area and past a grassed overspill car park, wildlife pond, picnic area and tree sparrow viewing point. The tree sparrow viewing point is at the apex of a small slope of compacted limestone over the Humber's essential floodbank. From the viewing point vistas across the newly created wild flower meadow, Horseshoe meadow.
First Hide
Reedling Hide
Ousefleet Hide
Townend Hide
Marshland Hide
Singleton Hide
Picnic Area
Picnic Area
Nestled in a coppiced area directly across from access parking this area allows visitors to sit, relax and enjoy food whilst taking in the amazing song birds that call Blacktoft home. This serene area id grassed. It attracts robins, blackbirds, thrushes and wrens as well as a variety of passing migrants like fieldfare and redwing. It's at it's absolute best in spring when breeding tree sparrows take full advantage of the nesting boxes in this area. Please bring your own picnic as refreshments available are limited.
Horseshoe meadow
This area can only be viewed from the Tree Sparrow viewing point and has no access.
Customer care support
Emergency evacuation procedures
There is a battery powered emergency call alarm system within the access toilets. This is not connected to a central alarm system as there is no access to electrcity on site.
Customer care support