Watch tens of thousands of red knot take flight over The Wash on high spring tides. Stay at our coastal bases in Hunstanton, Heacham, or Holme-next-the-Sea and walk straight to the sea wall along the King Charles III England Coast Path.
RSPB Snettisham Wader Spectacle 2026, High Tide Dates & Stays
Every autumn and winter, North Norfolk witnesses one of the greatest wildlife performances on earth. As extreme high spring tides cover the mudflats of The Wash, over 100,000 wading birds, predominantly red knot, dunlin, and oystercatchers, are forced off their feeding grounds all at once. They take to the sky in dense, whirling clouds before settling on the saline lagoons at RSPB Snettisham.
Because these displays depend on water levels reaching over 7.0 metres, the spectacle only happens on a handful of specific dates each season.
Upcoming High Spring Tide Dates (Autumn 2026)
Below are the official morning high spring tide dates when the Wader Spectacle occurs at RSPB Snettisham. Visitors must arrive at the sea wall 1.5 to 2 hours before the high tide time to watch the birds take flight as the tide comes in.
| Date | High Tide Time | RSPB Car Park Opens | Spectacle Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | 06:45 AM | 04:45 AM | 05:00 AM – 07:15 AM |
| Thursday, 29 October 2026 | 07:30 AM | 05:30 AM | 05:45 AM – 08:00 AM |
| Friday, 30 October 2026 | 08:15 AM | 06:15 AM | 06:30 AM – 08:45 AM |
| Saturday, 31 October 2026 | 09:00 AM | 07:00 AM | 07:15 AM – 09:30 AM |
| Thursday, 26 November 2026 | 06:30 AM | 04:30 AM | 04:45 AM – 07:00 AM |
| Friday, 27 November 2026 | 07:15 AM | 05:15 AM | 05:30 AM – 07:45 AM |
| Saturday, 28 November 2026 | 08:00 AM | 06:00 AM | 06:15 AM – 08:30 AM |
Skip the Reserve Car Park Ticket Queue
Stay over at our Hunstanton, Heacham, or Holme bases and walk or cycle straight to the sea wall along the coast path.
How to Experience the Snettisham Roost
1. Avoid the Parking Bottleneck
The official RSPB car park requires advance booking on spectacle dates and routinely sells out. Guests staying at mYminiBreak coastal sites (Hunstanton Beach Farm, Heacham, or Holme) can join the King Charles III England Coast Path on foot or by bike, bypassing traffic and walking straight to the hides.
2. The WWII History Beneath the Hides
The lagoons where the waders gather were originally created during WWII by Italian and German prisoners of war stationed at Camp 255 (Snettisham Scalp), who excavated shingle for airfield runways. Today, those hand-dug pits form one of the UK’s premier wildlife sanctuaries. You can read the full history on our Camp 255 Heritage Page.
3. What to Pack
Coastal North Norfolk mornings in October and November are cold and windy. Bring warm layers, a windproof jacket, stout waterproof footwear or wellies, a flask of warm coffee, and binoculars or a spotting scope.
Dog Rules at RSPB Snettisham
While mYminiBreak accommodation is 100% dog-friendly, dogs are not permitted on the sea wall or near the hides at RSPB Snettisham during high tide roosts to avoid disturbing the resting birds. If traveling with your dog, we recommend taking turns at the sea wall or exploring the nearby coast path trails where dogs are welcome on leads.