Take a delightful stroll, whatever the time of year, through the woodlands at Wassand and weave your way to the stunning vista from the viewing hide nestling on the edge of the Mere – Yorkshire’s largest freshwater lake.
Open: The hide and woodland trail are open all year round (except Christmas day) from 10:30am.
Tickets (providing a code to the electronic entry door to the hide)
£3.50 p/p, available from 10:30am at East Lodge, the first house after Wassand Estate entrance on the right (all year excluding Christmas Day)
If you wish to come earlier, or will be making a journey to get to us, please call Mrs Shirley Power first: 01964 537474 or 07767 039794 so arrangements can be made if she is not on the property at the time of your visit.
Members of the Wassand Wildlife Society have annual or half yearly access to the hide.
Car parking: is available at the Hall.
Distance: 30 mins walk each way to the hide on woodland trails (not disabled accessible).
Warden: Mr George Bennett – 01964 532251 or 07972 05841
Constructed in 2013 by the Wassand Estate craftsmen in their workshop at the Estate’s cost with assisted funding from LEADER, the hide offers a birds-eye view across the water and is fringed by reedbeds on either side. During the summer, expect to hear the rattling calls of reed and cettis warblers and other migrants from just a few feet away, whilst swallows, martins and swifts whizz above the water. Autumn and winter is also a fantastic time to visit with an impressive array of thousands of ducks in their finest attire including goldeneye and regular visits from grebes and divers taking shelter from the sea. The woodland is home to a wide range of butterflies and birds including green and great spotted woodpeckers, and non-venomous grass snakes can often be found basking alongside the path in the spring sunshine. Birds of prey include frequent sightings of marsh harriers hunting the reed-fringes, with passing red kites from the nearby Wolds also possible too. Other special visitors include bitterns and a great white egret in 2013, and the autumn gatherings of little gulls are some of the largest in the country. The hide includes a number of easy to follow wildlife identification boards.
The very latest wildlife sightings can be found here: hornseamere.wordpress.com
The Wassand Bird Hide and Hornsea Mere are one of a number of locations forming the ‘Yorkshire Nature Triangle’ – bringing together the best wildlife-watching opportunities in East Yorkshire. To find out more or plan your next visit go to yorkshirenaturetriangle.org.uk
Join the Wassand Wildlife Society: annual or half yearly access to the Wassand Bird Hide. Details can be found here.
