RSPB Minsmere Reviews Summary

Visitor Experience

Pros:

• "The staff were very helpful explaining the routes you can take around the site."
• "Friendly welcoming staff wearing masks & socially aware, happy to give info & advice from behind their glass protection of the visitors centre with well kept public & disability friendly ablutions."
• "The visitor center is modern and very impressive, they have a gift shop and fantastic cafe."
• "Great for kids to explore and good activity centre with lots going on."
• "The knowledgeable staff and volunteers provide valuable insights and guidance, enhancing the overall experience."
• "Everyone very friendly, easy parking, good shop and cafe."
• "The staff are cheerful, helpful and friendly."

Cons:

• "It is quite expensive (£9 an adult, £5 per child)."
• "Unfortunately not so many birds as bird flu had its effect."
• "Nice reserve, but spoiled somewhat by the constant signage decrying Sizewell C as some environmental holocaust."
• "Also the over zealous membership seller by the door was quite persistent and rather rude when we said we weren't interested."
• "They approached us in one of the hides very aggressively asking if we were in a bubble and checking our masks."
• "Wanted to spend the morning with the family but were left to feel extremely unwelcome."
• "The only problem is poor signs getting there and some paths not well marked."

Facilities

Pros:

• "There are toilets and a cafe as well."
• "Toilets are down some stairs but there is a toilet accessible for wheelchair users."
• "Several clearly marked walks, lots of hides, great cafe & shop."
• "Spacious hides with good views."
• "The shop has a wide range of RSPB items and wildlife related products."
• "Good facilities on site, nice big car park and plenty of trails and hides."
• "The cafe menu was excellent and it was good to see plenty of savoury vegan options."

Cons:

• "Food a tad pricey, bring sarnies."
• "Enjoyed our visit... No paper map available (to save the planet - as if!). You are told to take a photo with your of a map, but trying to see this in bright sunlight is impossible."
• "Popped in for a coffee and asked if I could go out a different entrance to the one I came in, was asked to make a donation."
• "No dogs. Please consider installing a sign near the main road to advertise this - the A4-laminated printout near the 'visitor center' is easily missed."
• "Disappointing, not somewhere to see birds close, need a Hubble telescope really."
• "The toilets were smelly and weren't as clean as they should be (and are on other reserves)."
• "The cafeteria on site was dissapointing however considering the popularity of the venue. Food served not particularly appetising."

Nature & Wildlife

Pros:

• "Every twitchers dream."
• "I love the entire place. It's just beautiful, calm and peaceful."
• "What agreat place to see wildlife, not just birds. Impressed to see ant lion traps just by the visitor centre and hummingbird hawk moths."
• "Always lots of wildlife to see."
• "Fantastic place to see a good variety of different birds & butterflies in fact wildlife in general."
• "It was lovely to see them on the water in their natural habitat."
• "A huge variety of birds to spot, varying depending on the time of year."

Cons:

• "There were pleasant walks around the reserve but we did not see many birds apart from the rare buff-breasted sandpiper."
• "We visited around 5ish in the evening to look for nightjars... It was desolate no wildlife at all."
• "From the areas we visited we unfortunately did not see many birds and certainly no unusual ones."
• "Not many birds (waders & waterfowl) around but understandable as lack of water due to drought."
• "The only down side is that the hides are not close enough to the bird areas to get decent photos. I use a 600mm lens and is hopeless."
• "We went for the Starling murmurations, but unfortunately missed them by a day."
• "we couldn't spot stag anywhere, must be the weather as it is changing."