Much of the area around Norfolks coastline was wrestled from the sea by the building of dykes and sea walls going back to beyond Roman times.  After the floods of 1953 many of the sea walls were considered too expensive to repair and this was the case in the village of Titchwell.  Then in 1970 a pair of breeding Montagu Harries were  spotted in the reeds on these marshes now etched by veins of saltwater, and the rest as they say is history.

For by 1972 the RSPB had acquired the marshes around here and Titchwell Reserve came into being. The Titchwell reserve is one of the most popular reserves in Norfolk situated on a large site with a mixture of habitats including fen and marshes, reedbeds and tidal creeks.

This reserve attracts many birds including waders and dabbling duck while damp meadows provide a site for winter geese and grazing duck. It has three hides and several trails and even offers binoculars for hire at its visitors centre. Beyond the managed nature reserve there is a more extensive area of fields and saltings and it is possible to walk out to a fine extensive firm shimmering sands stretch as far as the eye can see, with rolling white horses breaking on the shore.

The attractive church of St. Mary the Virgin has an eleventh century round tower.  In the village are two very good hotels both open for food and drink.  For places to stay both in Titchwell and close by visit our accommodation pages which list - hotels - self catering - bed and breakfast - camping and caravanning - guest houses - and inns for the holiday maker.

For golf enthusiasts there is the Royal West Norfolk Golf course at Brancaster.  For a spot of retail therapy Burnham Market offer stylish shops and galleries together with an array of good pubs and eateries. For sailing try Brancaster Staithe where sailing is available as well as a sailing school providing water sports training and hire as well as a full range of leisure wear, equipment and accessories.

Since Roman times shellfish has been harvested around here with some 250 tons of oysters and mussels grown each year in the creek. Scolt Head Island is a Nature Conservation Area and has the largest breeding colony of Sandwich Terns making it ideal venue for the bird watcher, the island can be accessed from the Brancaster Staithe harbour by small ferry boats which take visitors out to the reserve in the long summer months.