Welcome
RSPB Rye Meads is a wetland nature reserve situated beside the River Lea. You can explore the reserve throughout the year, and get close to some fantastic wildlife including breeding kingfishers and terns in spring and summer, and a variety of ducks and waders during colder months. You can take part in activities such as pond dipping during the school holidays, and there is also a Sensory Trail available.
As an urban reserve, Rye Meads has close rail and bus links, as well as active travel routes along the River Lea.
The car park, visitor centre, classrooms and toilets are on one level with no steps or kerbs.
For queries or assistance please phone 01992 708383 or email rye.meads@rspb.org.uk.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
ReceptionDisabled ToiletLadies ToiletMale ToiletsClassroomsThere is level access from the car park to:
Visitor Centre Picnic AreaHearing
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
Please note that Rye House Train Station only has step-free access on the southbound platform (from Hertford East, Ware, St Margarets).
Parking
The parking charge is £4 per vehicle for non-RSPB members. Parking is free for members of the RSPB and blue badge holders ,
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
There are double doors at the visitor centre entrance that you pull towards you to open. Each door is 840mm wide. There is a small (20mm) sloped threshold between the paths and the interior of the Visitor Centre. There are always staff and volunteers around that will be happy to lend a hand if you would like.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Reception
Our Reception area is an open space located in our Visitor Centre and is comprised of pods where we can greet visitors.
A portable hearing loop is available for those hard of hearing, as well as communication cards for those with communication difficulties.
Public toilet
Disabled Toilet
The disabled toilet also contains baby changing facilities.
Public toilet
Ladies Toilet
The female toilets consist of three cubicles, with one containing a sanitary bin.
There are small step-stools in each of the toilet facilities to ensure everyone can reach the sinks/urinals.
Public toilet
Male Toilets
The male toilets consist of one cubicle and three urinals.
There are small step-stools in each of the toilet facilities to ensure everyone can reach the sinks/urinals.
Classrooms
Getting around outside
Main On-Reserve Trail
The paths at RSPB Rye Meads are mostly on flat paths and boardwalks or are accessible by wooden ramps. Paths are natural or semi-natural (gravel) and so can be bumpy, muddy or wet.
The LAPWING HIDE is accessed via the car park path, in the opposite direction to the Visitor Centre, and overlooks a meadow managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. There is a ramp to access the Hide which has handrails either side, and is 1000mm in width with a 1:12 gradient. A right turn into an open arch entrance (900mm wide) with a 35mm raised lip leads to a small porch and the door to the Hide. The door is 900mm wide, and opens inwards with a lever handle 1180mm high. The hide is level throughout and has fixed benches with a 780mm high shelf, plus a space for wheelchairs on the left. The bottom edge of the window is 920mm from the ground. There are six panels of larger unopenable windows and some that can be opened upwards from a seated position, including in the wheelchair accessible space. The windows open upwards (make sure the catch is engaged when opening).
The DRAPER HIDE is approximately 0.25km from the Visitor Centre and is accessed by a 1200mm ramp with handrails either side. The ramp is mostly 1:11 in gradient but there is a short section (under a metre) that is 1:7. The door to the hide is 870mm wide, with a lever handle 1170mm. The hide is level throughout and has fixed benches and a wheelchair accessible bay. The fixed benches have a shelf 900mm high and bottom edge of the windows 1070mm high. The wheelchair accessible space has a shelf 780mm high and bottom edge of the windows 920mm high. All windows open upwards (make sure the catch is engaged when opening).
After the Draper Hide is a path through a 'tunnel' of trees, and following this there is a short bridge, and a ramp or stairs (all 1200mm wide) to navigate a sloped bank. Leading up to the bridge is a very short (700mm) concreted ramp at a 1:5 gradient. The zig-zag ramp has an approximate gradient of 1:12 and has handrails on either side. Alternatively there are 12 steps, each are 150mm in height, and are 190mm deep. These also have handrails.
The ASHBY HIDE is approximately 0.5km from the Visitor Centre and is accessed by a a small slope of 1:20 and a level bridge. the door is 900mm wide and opens inwards, with a lever handle 1155mm high. There are large open windows from 900mm high to ceiling level. There is a fixed bench, and wheelchair accesible space, with each having a ledge underneath the windows.
The Tern and Gadwall hides are approximately 0.8km from the Visitor Centre and can be accessed by a long ramp or steps both of which have handrails either side. The ramp has a 1600mm section at a 1:10 gradient, and other sections between 1:14 and 1:20, with resting places along its length. The 12 steps are 140mm high each, and are 250mm deep. This ramp is not passable by our hirable Quingo scooter, so this would need to be parked at the bottom and the hides accessed on foot.
The GADWALL HIDE is approximately 0.8km from the Visitor Centre. The entry has a 2360mm ramp of 1:6 gradient, or three steps 130mm high and 150mm deep, leading to a 90 degree turn into an open archway 900mm wide. There are fixed benches with windows that can be lifted upwards from a seated position (make sure the catch is engaged when opening), with ledges 920mm high and the bottom edge of the window 1180mm high. At the end of the hide there is a wheelchair bay, accessed by a short (600mm) ramp that is 1:3 gradient. A light hinged seat can easily be lifted into a clasp 1400mm high for wheelchair access to a space 800mm wide. This bay has a large non-opening window and a ledge 1000mm high.
The TERN HIDE is approximately 0.8km from the Visitor Centre. The entry has a 2400mm ramp of 1:6 gradient leading into an open archway 840mm wide. There are fixed benches with windows that can be lifted upwards from a seated position (make sure the catch is engaged when opening), with ledges 890mm high and the bottom edge of the window 1140mm high. At the end of the hide there is a wheelchair bay, accessed by a short (400mm) ramp that is 1:4 gradient. A light hinged seat can easily be lifted into a clasp 1460mm high for wheelchair access to a space 800mm wide. This bay has a large non-opening window and a ledge 890mm high.
The main route to the Kingfisher Viewing Hub is along a boardwalk that is mostly flat with some gentle gradients (approx 1:18) and a resting bench half way along.
The KINGFISHER VIEWING HUB is approximately 1.1km from the Visitor Centre and is accessed by a 1:12 gradient sloped path. The double doors are 900mm wide each and open inwards with a lever handle 1040mm high/ This opens into a lobby, and an open archway 1150mm wide. The first section contains large paned windows with ample wheelchair space as well as a two-level tiered seat 400mm and 800mm high. A 900mm wide interior door connects to a section with five openable windows that can be lifted upwards from a seated position (make sure the catch is engaged when opening) and movable benches. Four windows have ledges 970mm high and a window bottom edge 1120mm high. One window is lower and designed for wheelchair access although the bench will need to be moved. The ledge is 820mm high and bottom edge of the window 950mm high. There is also a 900mm wide door to exit this section which opens inwards with a lever handle 1000mm high.
The path continues to a one-way turnstile or locked gate (approximately 1.4km from the Visitor Centre), which can be used to exit the reserve, or round to the Warbler Hide (approximately 1.7km from the Visitor Centre). The Warbler Hide, and the paths beyond the turnstile/gate are managed by the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust; for more information on these areas please visit their website. If you need to use the gate as part of your visit, the code can be obtained from staff at our Visitor Centre but please note it is exit only. Through the turnstile, you can follow a public footpath (mixed grass/mud and gravel sections) which can be used to travel in a loop back to Rye Road, and then to the car park at RSPB Rye Meads. This is mostly via a footpath although a short section will need to be carried out on the road. Our hirable Quingo scooter is not permitted beyond the turnstile/gate as the surface is not suitable. The looped route from the Visitor Centre, through the turnstile, and back around to the Visitor Centre, is approximately 3.1km.
Designated Walking Trail
Seasonal Path
The seasonal path offers an alternative route through the reserve's reedbed. It is accessed through a gate before getting to the Tern and Gadwall Hides, and exits near the Kingfisher Viewing Hub. The path is over grass and is therefore not suitable for mobility scooters and not ideal for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
Designated Walking Trail
Exterior Loop from Turnstile to Car Park
The area is not managed by the RSPB (public footpath) and the Otter Hide is managed by the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife trust.
To complete the loop from the turnstile to the car park, a section of the path is on grass, and a further section is along a road.
The Lapwing Hide
Otter Hide
The Draper Hide
The Ashby Hide
The Gadwall Hide
The Tern Hide
Kingfisher Viewing Hub
Picnic Area
Visitor Centre Picnic Area
Customer care support
A motorised buggy (Quingo) is available to borrow (free of charge) from the visitor centre for use on the reserve – you are advised to book this in advance where possible. Donations for the upkeep of the Quingo and wheelchair are gratefully received.
We have communication cards available in the Visitor Centre to help provide infromation on key facilities
Emergency evacuation procedures
Customer care support
In partnership with Sense.org and OS Maps we have created a Sensory Trail around the reserve. Please visit our website for more details.