Days out
Saltholme
Haverton HillClosed | Opens 9:30 amSee opening timesWander through our wetlands and discover the wealth of wildlife here at Saltholme, from Common Terns and Avocets to dragonflies and moths. Refuel in the café, then little ones can enjoy the wild play area and discovery zone. Join us for pond dipping, meadow sweeping or a Saltholme Safari!
About
⚠ We do not allow drones to be flown over any part of RSPB Saltholme. ⚠
If you're new to birdwatching, Saltholme is the perfect place to start. These family-friendly wetlands feature a vibrant Visitor Centre, new hides and screens, a cafe, play area and accessible trails, helping you discover lots of wildlife.
Designed to put you at the heart of the action, the site has four wildlife viewing hides, along with viewing screens and a viewing gallery in the visitor centre, to help you get closer to wildlife. But that’s not all - from early spring to mid-summer, plants and flowers bloom in the walled garden, designed by gardener Chris Beardshaw.
Out on the reserve, reedbeds are the beating heart of Saltholme. Here, Water Rails, Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers thrive. Elsewhere you can explore pools, wet grasslands and a meadow, teeming with life. You'll find one of the UK’s largest inland breeding colonies of Common Tern, which arrive each spring and nest on the cockleshell-covered islands in our open pools. The wet grasslands are home to nationally important numbers of wintering wildfowl and waders, including Golden Plover, Lapwing and Wigeon, which graze the grass and seek out minibeasts.
Download our trail map, to help you plan your visit.
At a glance
100 spaces. 7 Blue Badge spaces. Blue Badge spaces are 43 yards (40 m) from the visitor centre. Blue Badge spaces are tarmac. The main car park surface is bound gravel. Overflow area is grass-covered hard standing. No formal drop-off point but drop off possible next to the visitor centre.
Coach drop-off point 103 yards (95 m) from visitor centre, with dropped curb. No lighting in car park. No height restriction barrier. No overnight parking or camping. Bicycle racks available. Please don't park on the road, verges or in gateways, as it causes an obstruction for residents and emergency services.
Open daily, 9.30am-5pm (4pm 1 November-31 March). They are located on the ground floor and first floor of our visitor centre.
Open daily, 9.30am-5pm (4pm 1 November-31 March). Our baby changing facilities are located in our toilets on the ground floor and first floor of our visitor centre.
The level, circular walk around our trails makes RSPB Saltholme the perfect place for a stroll in nature with a pushchair. You and the little ones can spot ducks and geese on the pools, taking in the stunning views across the reserve and fresh air as you go.
Level, circular trails.
Open daily, 9.30am-5pm (4pm 1 November-31 March). They are located on the ground floor of our visitor centre.
BBQs are a fire risk, endangering other people and the precious wildlife and habitats here. They are not permitted on the reserve at any time.
Sorry, dogs are not permitted on the nature reserve (except assistance dogs), due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
Disturbing wildlife does more than simply causing it to move away; it uses up their energy, decreasing their chance of survival regardless of season. Thank you for protecting the special wildlife by not exercising your dog here.
Assistance dogs are welcome in all parts of the reserve.
See what’s here
Contact Saltholme
saltholme@rspb.org.uk Saltholme, Seaton Carew Rd, Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, TS2 1TU 01642 546625