In the 15th and 16th centuries, the village overlooked the vast Glaven River Estuary and the marshes were covered at high tide allowing boats to navigate into a harbour close to Cley Church and also up as far as Glandford; as such, Cley was the main port for Holt. In 1649, a series of banks were built to protect the village from flooding but for several historical reasons, the river started to silt up forming an area of outstanding natural beauty and interest.

Today Cley overlooks the internationally famous marshes. The painting by Martin Sexton looking towards Cley Mill is an example of the interesting scenery of the area. Cley has both salt and fresh water marshes, large areas of reedbed and grazing marsh providing a variety of habitats to encourage the local species for which Cley is famous - Bittern, Bearded Tit, Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warblers and a selection of passage waders such as Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pintail etc. have been seen. Other remarkable sequences of rarities are - Purple Heron, Crane, Night Heron, Black Stork, Snowy Owl, Penduline Tit, Spotted Redshank, Red necked Stint, Marsh Sandpiper and Tereck Sandpipe. There are more varieties on the shingle bank; Goldfinch. Linnet and in the winter, Snow Bunting. Cley is one of the few sites in Britain with breeding Bittern, the booming call of the male can sometimes be heard in the early morning or evening. See Bird Watch for recent sightings.

The reserve is run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, formed in 1926 as the Norfolk Naturalists Trust by Dr. Long in the George and Dragon Hotel, being the first of its kind from which all other trusts have emerged. The hotel still retains a close association with the N.N.T. and a popular attraction in the lounge is the ‘Bird Bible’ which records the sightings of rare species and other items relating to the immediate area; it rests upon a splendid brass church lectern.

Today, the village is unspoilt and busy in life but tranquil in embiance. It offers a splendid Glaven Church and one of the finest Windmills dating from 1713 immediately on the doorstep. Other assets of historical interest are an excellent Delicatessen set in the old forge; a Smokehouse producing some of the best Kippers and Oak Smoked Salmon you can purchase; a Pottery making a wide range of both original and useful items to a very high standard; an Art Gallery & Bookshop exhibiting well known local artists.

The area has many other interests - for walkers, the Norfolk Coastal Path which links with the ancient Peddars Way), artists, sailors (boat hire in nearby Blakeney), fishermen, windsurfers, horse riders, cyclists, golfers (with superb courses at Sheringham, Cromer), and a visit to the seal colony on Blakeney Point is a must. Cley is in close proximity to many stately homes, including Holkham Hall (only 8 miles away) - which also boasts one of the finest unspoilt beaches in England, Blickling Hall, Sandringham and Felbrigg Hall.

Accommodation: Guest houses, holiday homes and a two small hotels.
Activities: Bird watching; cycling & walking.
Churches: St Margaret’s (CofE).
Exploring: A small quality art gallery and bookshop; gallery of pottery and jewellry, St Margaret's is one of the Glaven Churches, Windmill (open to the public - check times).
Location: A149 Wells - Sheringham & by-roads to Holt (7 miles)
Nearby: Boat Hire at Blakeney; trips to Blakeney Point seal colony from Morston Quay.
Services: Post Office & newsagents, several local shops including fresh fish shop & smokery, general stores, seafood, delicatessen, art and craft shops, bait, two small country hotels/pubs with a children’s room and gardens; restaurant; tearooms; garden centre specialising in roses.

Archway Cottage Tel: 01992 511303 Coast Road Cley Spaciuous 18th Century cottage [TV] [D] [7] UUU - from £150pw Sympathetically modernised, with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge dining room and kitchen. There is a small walled courtyard garden and garage. One minute from the shops, restaurant, pubs, bird sanctuary and marshes. Chantry is a similar property in Wells.

Arkwrights Cafe Tel: 01263 741108 Beach Road Cley-next-the-Sea Beach cafe with ample parking popular with bird watchers and walkers. The cafe, which is home to Cley Bird Club, offers simple and wholesome food and beverage to those who enjoy the brisk airs of the marshes (NNT). In any season, walk a little of Peddars Way to Blakeney Point and view the immense variety of natural wi

Cley Mill Guest-house Tel: 01263 740209 Coast Road Cley The chance to stay in a windmill with delicious evening dinners. Licenced.

Cley N.T. Nature Reserve Tel: 01263 740008 Watchers Cottage Coast Road Cley Cley Marshes is open all year round (closed Mons except Bank Holidays).

Cley Nurseries Tel: 01263 740892 Holt Road Cley NR25 7TX An extensive range of indoor and outdoor plants. Specialist rose growers. The nurseries probably have the widest range of quality stock of bedding plants, perennials, shrubs and trees in the area. Our nursey-fresh Rose plants are sent out for planting from Oct - Mar. May is the month for bedding plants We now have in stock a wide range of bedding plants and plan ts for hanging baskets, plus flowering shrubs for the summer.

Cley Post Office Tel: 01263 740262 Cley Post Office and newsagents.

Cley Smokehouse Tel: 01263 740282 High Street Cley Locally caught fish smoked on the premises.

Patricia Crowe Tel: 01263 740843 Widfowlers Cottage Cley My hobby of greenhouse gardening has now expanded to four greenhouses. I now grow hundreds of plants suitable for containers or hanging baskets. Customers bring me their empty baskets from March to April and I plant them up and grow them on until by the end of May they are ready for collection, full of summer blooms.

The George & Dragon Hotel Tel: 01263 740652 High Street Cley Charming Edwardian Inn with 8 rooms "Best pub food in Norfolk" (voted by CAMRA). Families welcome. Attractive beer garden with boules.

The Harnser Tel: 01263 740776 High Street Cley Former Coaching Inn with 8 rooms and an A la Carte Restaurant. The restaurant specialises in local produce with fish and shellfish from their own boat. The accommodation in this character building has modern facilities. Winter Breaks:- Enjoy the peace and quiet of North Norfolk for the weekend from £75 per person from Oct - Mar (exc Feb and Christmas) including breakfast and evening meals.

G A Key Tel: 01263 713966 4 High Street Holt Estate Agents

London House Tel: 01263 740824 London House Cley NR25 7RN Guest-house. [TC] [TV] [EN/P]

Made In Cley Tel: 01263 740134 High Street Cley A group of five potters, a goldsmith and a sculptor. All the pottery, jewellry and sculpture in our gallery is designed and handmade on the premises. We present a range of domestic pottery that is both attractive and functional, complemented by porcelain and raku pots. The sculptures are created mainly from stone, their smooth rounded forms and varied surface textures inviting a tactile reponse. Each piece of jewellery is handcrafted and unique, using sterling silver, gold and precious and semi-precious stones.

Marshland (Old Town House) Tel: 01263 740284 High Street Cley NR25 7RB Guest-house with 3 rooms, all en suite or private bathroom. Open all year.

The Old Butchers Book Shop and Gallery Tel: 01263 741212 High Street Cley-next-the-Sea NR25 7RB Book shop and Gallery. The gallery shows many well known local artists and these exhibitions are interspersed with regular "one man" exhibitions (see the diary page for details) and special events. The bookshop offers a wide range of interesting new and secondhand books, many concerned with local history.

Picnic Fayre Delicatessen and Wines Tel: 01263 740587 Cley Forge New Road Cley NR25 7AP Award winning delicatessen set in an historic forge. John Pryor's delicatessen, in the beautiful village of Cley-next-the-Sea offers the finest selection of wines, cheeses and speciality foods produced locally and from around the world. The embience and friendliness of the shop has to be enjoyed a

The Shieling Tel: 01263 740628 Cley-next-the-Sea Small camping site with beautiful views (5 vans)

The Crab Pot Tel: 01263 740218 The Coast Road Cley Quality local shellfish and wet fish, general provisions, fruit and vegetables.

The Three Swallows Tel: 01263 740526 Newgate Green Cley-Next-The-Sea Country hotel and pub with gardens looking over the beautiful Glaven Valley. The buildings date back some 400 years, but within this ancient exterior there are six double, twin and family rooms to the highest modern standards. W/S rates £14.00/£19.50 pp inc full breakfast. The pub, with its bar furniture taken from one of the old Liners, offers a choice of homecooked lunches and dinners.

Tickers Tel: 01603 270457 Cley Holiday Cottage (sleeps 5 + baby).

Whalebone House of Cley Tel: 01263 740336 The High Street Cley Tea rooms with accomodation