As visitors to nature reserves are a potential cause of significant disturbance and of habitat damage, and as the benefits of access are often hard to evaluate, considered decisions on its provision and management are necessary. Even for sites which have escorted visits only, the correct siting of paths, screens, fences and facilities is important and for the vast majority of reserves, which are not wardened, access design and the provision of on-site information and interpretation require great care to produce an experience which is both harmless and throughly enjoyable.