What's here? at Bowers Marsh
Available on site
We’ve taken the difficult decision to close the car park at RSPB Bowers Marsh to help reduce anti-social behaviour, prioritise health and safety of staff and volunteers, and promote a safe, enjoyable experience for visitors to the reserve. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank visitors for their cooperation. We will continue to review the use of the car park and at busy times we may temporarily reopen the car park.
Two picnic areas, one near the car park and one on the Wetland trail near to the saline lagoon.
Visitors are welcome to consume their own food and drink here.
Three viewing points. Old Saltings 900 m (2952 ft), East Haven is 1.2 km and Great Pound is 3.2 km from car park.
Old Saltings has two benches with backrests.
Three suggested nature trails - 1 km Hedgerow Stroll, 2 km Lapwing Trail and the 5 km Wetland Trail.
Not all paths are pushchair and wheelchair friendly.
The Thames Estuary Path and the England Coastal Path runs through this reserve. All with benches with backrests.
The Wetland trail additionally has log ‘perches’.
All surfaced with compacted granite fines and approximately 3.5 m (138 inches) wide. Relatively flat, with the exception of a gradient of 1 in 100 to the highest point in the north east corner near to Rookery Farm.
There is no cafe or shop here, the nearest places for food and drinks are in Benfleet. We recommend you bring your own food and drinks if this is likely to affect your visit.
There is no visitor centre here and this reserve does not have any staff on site.
Not available on site
The nearest public toilets can be found at Benfleet train station which is around six miles away.
There are no changing facilities here. The nearest public toilets can be found at Benfleet train station which is around six miles away.
Pushchair Accessible
Pushchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
Wheelchair Accessible
The nearest public toilets can be found at Benfleet train station which is around six miles away.
Restrictions
Dogs are not permitted on the reserve trails, except assistance dogs due to the sensitive wildlife and habitats here.
To avoid disturbance we ask that dogs are only walked on the public footpaths on the nature reserve and that they are kept on leads. There are no dog waste bins so please come prepared to take your waste home with you.
Assistance dogs are allowed at all times. There are no dog waste bins so please come prepared to take your waste home with you.
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.