Days out
Fairburn Ings
NewtonClosed | Opens tomorrowSee opening timesCome and explore the wonderful Fairburn Ings and discover a landscape shaped by coal mining, now enjoying a second life as a haven for wildlife.
About
Nestled between Leeds, York and Wakefield, Fairburn Ings is an exciting site for family activities and excellent wildlife watching. Over the last 60 years, Fairburn Ings has transitioned from coal face to wild place. An ex-industrial site rich in heritage, this reserve is now an important site for breeding and wintering wildfowl.
Collapsed land is now open water, reedbeds, wet grasslands and wet woodlands. Former coal spoil tips have been transformed into grasslands, deciduous woodlands and lagoons teeming with life. In recent years the reserve has become home to some of the UK’s rarest birds, including Bittern, Bearded Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Little Egret and Spoonbill.
Download our trail map, to help you plan your visit.
At a glance
The car park has 98 spaces, with six Blue Badge spaces. Bicycle racks are available. Blue badge spaces, 100m from the Visitor Centre. No formal drop-off point. Tarmac in the car park and loose gravel elsewhere.
There are no height restrictions. Please be respectful of other visitor access, our team and our neighbours by not parking on the road, verges or in gateways, as it causes an obstruction for residents and emergency services.
The Visitor Centre has an accessible toilet located on the ground floor. The building is raised due to the site flooding but ramp access is available.
The unisex accessible toilet has one toilet, sink and a fold down baby changing table that can be used from a seated position. There are both horizontal and vertical hand rails and colour contrast on critical surfaces. Push buttons on the sink. Emergency alarm cord.
Baby changing facilities are located in a separate toilet block just next to the visitor centre entrance.
The reserve is pushchair and wheelchair friendly. The Discovery Trail is 0.3 miles long (500m). Allow around 10 minutes to complete this trail. Look for grey herons and lapwings. This route is great for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The reserve is pushchair and wheelchair friendly. The Discovery Trail is 0.3 miles long (500m). Allow around 10 minutes to complete this trail. Look for grey herons and lapwings. This route is great for pushchairs and wheelchairs.
The toilets are located in a separate toilet block just next to our visitor centre entrance.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not allowed on the reserve at any time.
Dogs are welcome on the public footpaths and bridleways around the reserve. Please keep to the designated rights of way only. Dog water bowls are available outside the visitor centre. Sorry, dogs aren’t permitted inside the visitor centre and shop other than assistance dogs.
Please keep your dog on a short lead and under control at all times due to the sensitive wildlife, habitats and livestock here. Even if dogs are very well behaved, wildlife and livestock can easily become startled by a loose dog they perceive as a predator.
Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away – it uses up their energy, reducing their chance of survival no matter the season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife here by keeping your dog on a lead and under control.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
See what’s here
This is a great location to spot Kingfishers
The vibrant azure and copper feathers of the Kingfisher make them one of the UK’s most colourful and instantly recognisable birds. But blink and you’ll miss them – they dart along rivers and streams at high speeds. RSPB nature reserves and our care-taking teams provide safe wetland havens for these special birds and their fishy prey.
Read more about how we are working protect these birds and defend their habitats:
Save nature while you staycation
Holidaycottages.co.uk is working with the RSPB to restore UK woodland for future generations to enjoy. Every booking with Holidaycottages.co.uk supports woodland restoration projects at key RSPB reserves around the country, protecting the wildlife that makes the UK an extraordinary place for a holiday.
New to Holidaycottages.co.uk portfolio of handpicked self-catering holiday cottages is the Showcase Collection: Near RSPB Reserves. At these extraordinary homes, immerse yourself in the diverse landscapes of RSPB reserves and get up close to some of the UK’s most cherished native wildlife.
Find out about school visits
Bring your science and geography lessons to life with our curriculum linked sessions run by our learning team on the reserve. We offer a variety of hands on, practical sessions which you can choose from. Find out more about our school visits here.
Contact Fairburn Ings
fairburnings@rspb.org.uk schoolbookings@rspb.org.uk RSPB Fairburn Ings Visitor Centre, Newton Lane, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 2BH 01977 628191