Apr 25 2014
Although we drove through a number of heavy showers, by the time we got to Shapwick it was fairly bright and it got brighter and warmer as the day progressed. We stopped at the Avalon Centre but it was a very basic collection of portacabins rather than the posh visitor centre we were imagining so we used the facilities, had a look at some information boards and headed off for the car park between Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath reserves.
Apr 25 2014
In the morning we checked out early from the hotel and headed off to Slimbridge for early doors. The official opening time is 9.30am but if you are a member you are allowed to access the hides along the right hand side of the reserve (all the way down to the Holdern Tower) by going through the little gate by the cottages to the right of the reserve. You are allowed to do this from 8 am onwards but they frequently check people for their membership cards to stop any avoidance on the part of non-members of paying their entry fee.