Discover more at Orford Ness National Nature Reserve
Find out when Orford Ness is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Orford Ness is a perfect destination for a group day out, whether you’re looking for a guided walking tour to focus on its landscape, wildlife and military history, or a special interest tour to explore the reserve from a particular angle. Find out the kinds of tours available at Orford Ness, the best time of year to visit as a group, how to book and more.
When you visit as a group, you have the chance to take a tour that covers the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) area, which is not usually open to the general public. For health and safety reasons, access inside the AWRE buildings isn’t permitted, but the tours will take you as close to the buildings as possible.
Available tours include:
The Ness is best experienced on foot, and we offer a choice of half-day walks (three hours) or full-day walks (six hours) to explore the site. The tours cover the landscape and wildlife of the Ness alongside its military history, but we can adapt the subject matter to suit the interests of your group.
Group bookings are for a minimum of 12 but we can accommodate up to 24 people on a guided walking tour.
If you prefer not to walk, we can arrange tours of Orford Ness in our vehicle-drawn passenger trailer. While most of the tour will be driven, some short walks will be required if you’d like to see the displays inside buildings.
Group bookings are for a minimum of 12 but we can accommodate up to 24 people on the trailer.
We can also tailor tours towards specific interests such as photography. The tours usually last all day and include the support of a ranger and professional experts.
Special interest tours are normally operated on days when we are closed to the general public to allow for a closer look at the landscape of Orford Ness. These tours are usually limited to 12 people.
If you're planning a group visit you can request our free Travel Trade Pass and you and a friend or colleague will gain free entry to over 300 of our places throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland for 12 months. There’s nothing quite like seeing or experiencing somewhere for yourself to help you plan a successful visit. To receive your pass, call 0344 249 1895 or email us at traveltrade@nationaltrust.org.uk
Registered tourist board guides (on production of a valid badge), coach drivers and tour leaders escorting groups of 15 or more. National Trust members also receive free entry, so it is at your discretion whether to refund the entrance fee to members if you have included it in your package – this is not refunded by the National Trust.
Members must bring their current membership cards with them to avoid paying the full group rate. If any of your group would like to join the National Trust please direct them to our Membership page or call 0344 800 1895.
We welcome groups to Orford Ness throughout the visitor season, from Easter to October. However, as space for group visits and tours is limited during the peak summer months of July and August, we encourage you to consider visiting in our quieter periods. This also means that you’ll be able to explore the Ness on days when we’re not usually open to the general public.
We recommend that you allow at least three hours for your visit, so that your group has a good overview of the site. If you are looking for a longer tour, we also offer full day options.
For more information and to book, please contact us on 01394 450900 or email orfordness@nationaltrust.org.uk and we’ll be happy to discuss your requirements. As we have limited capacity, we ask that you give us as much notice as possible to avoid disappointment.
Please note that group bookings are subject to availability and operational requirements. We recommend that you don’t make any travel or other arrangements until we’ve confirmed your tour booking.
Find out when Orford Ness is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Orford Ness has created over 10 miles of coastline and over 2,000 acres of land. Visit the rich and varied habitats on this internationally significant nature reserve.
Find out what you'll discover inside the many fascinating military buildings you'll see as you walk through Orford Ness.
If you’re planning educational group visits to National Trust places, then you could benefit from an Education Group Access Pass, which gives you free admission for a year.
If you're planning a trip in England, Wales and Northern Ireland this year, buy a National Trust Explorer Pass for entry to most of the places in our care. With 4-, 8- and 14-day options available, the pass can be tailored to fit your trip. Discover where you can visit with the Explorer Pass and how to buy yours.
Visiting us with a group? Then our answers to your frequently asked questions might help with any question you may have.