Blakeney Seal Trip: a Review
On the windswept coast of Norfolk lies a hidden gem – a Blakeney seal trip. If you’re a nature lover or just enjoy unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences then a seal watching boat trip at Blakeney is made for you.
If you’re wondering whether a seal watching boat trip is worth the effort or cost, that’s where I come in. As a resident of the East Anglia region I’ve been able to visit Norfolk easily. I’ve experienced the seal watching boat trip at Blakeney for myself and it’s undoubtedly one of the best slow travel activities you can do in Norfolk.
Despite the fact that it was so bitingly cold that I couldn’t feel my fingers, my Blakeney seal watching trip was a joy. The gentle lull of the boat as it cuts through the water and the thrill of catching your first glimpse of a seal basking on the shore are an opportunity to immerse yourself fully in the beauty of nature.
So join me and discover a journey to Blakeney Point – where the seals are waiting for you.
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Blakeney seal trip prices
The cost of a Blakeney seal trip is pretty much the same across the different companies that provide it.
A ticket costs £25 in the winter and £20 the rest of the year. Kids tickets cost £10.
If you’re unsure how much to tip at the end of your seal trip, read my guide to tipping in the UK.
How to get tickets?
Booking in advance is required for a Blakeney seal trip. Ring up the company you choose to go with to book your place. If you book with Temples Seal Trips (and many other) you won’t need to pay until you go to collect your ticket.
Pick your ticket up on the day from the collection point and pay in person. Temples have a card reader but it’s a good idea to take cash just in case the card machine isn’t working
How long are the Blakeney seal trips?
The boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney typically lasts one hour.
However, depending on the tide and time of year, some seal watching trips also include an additional half an hour walking on the actual point at Blakeney. On these trips you can visit the blue old Lifeboat hut. The trip I took was during early spring so didn’t include this option.
What’s it like on a Blakeney seal trip?
The boat
The first thing I noticed about the Temples boat trip was that the boat was sparkling clean, in its red and white colours it stood out against the sandy backdrop of the harbour.
There are bench seats all around the edge of the boat and it’s a sturdy vessel, which meant the trip was comfortable. ‘Mi Amor’, who usually gets seasick, declared it the best boat he’d ever been on – high praise indeed.
The usual safety equipment is included (life jackets and life ring) and the whole boat is actually a life raft, so it felt very safe and I was able to stand up to take photos.
The scenery
Blakeney Point shape changes each year as the longshore drift forms the natural harbour. Our Captain reliably informed us that the point grows by 10 metres every year.
The water in the harbour is incredibly shallow, at only a few feet deep, but it doesn’t appear that way as the boat glides smoothly out to Blakeney point. The boat never goes out into the open sea.
On the way to see the seals you’ll see all kinds of birds which your Captain will point out to you. The landscape is flat in this part of the world, providing a sense of infinity as you gaze across the East Anglian peninsula.
You’ll travel out past the old Lifeboat hut that actually used to sit right on the shore but is now several metres back, due to the way the landscape has evolved.
The seals
The first seal I spotted was basking on its own on a spit of land. That was a joy to see. After that, we headed further out, and I was pleased to see a good number of seals in a group on the point.
We were informed that this group included a very boisterous male seal who had apparently taken to assassinating other seals. High drama in the natural world.
The seals stayed where they were so unfortunately we didn’t see any swimming around the boat.
In order to protect the seals, the boats stay a safe distance away from them but we spent a good amount of time passing by in different directions so that everyone on the boat got a good view. There was plenty of time for photos.
The seals at Blakeney are both common seals and grey seals. During pupping season thousands of baby seals are born at Blakeney.
The boat trip I went on with Temples was made into an extra special experience by the wonderful Captain and his great sense of humour and local knowledge. He kept us entertained with interesting information, which really made the trip.
It became clear how much the Temples team care about the seals when some walkers were spotted on Blakeney Point getting too close to the seals and our Captain tried to warn them away over the boat’s speaker system.
Where does a Blakeney seal trip leave from?
The departure point for Blakeney seal trips can be a little confusing. Although the seal trips go to Blakeney Point, most actually leave from nearby Morston Quay. So check the arrangements carefully with your chosen company.
With Temples seal boat trips you pick up your tickets from the Anchor pub in Morston or at their white van at Morston Quay.
Make sure you arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This is to give enough time for you to pay for your tickets, board the boat and to fit with the tide at the harbour.
If you’re late, in the busy summer you might find your space has gone and you don’t want to miss out on seeing the beautiful Norfolk seals.
Whilst you’re waiting, you can grab a drink and a snack from the National Trust hut. Even more exciting is the information point next door which was selling mystery books and a chocolate bar for only £2.50 on my visit. That was my evening sorted afterwards.
The harbour area is quite large so it’s fun to take a walk around and look at the different boats. There are toilets available to use at the harbour.
When I arrived, I was surprised to find the boats seemingly stuck in a very dry sand bed and I started to wonder if the trip would be able to take place. However, the tidal water filled up the harbour incredibly quickly and the boat was able to set sail at the allocated time. So don’t let the sandy surroundings put you off.
How to get to the Blakeney seal trips?
It’s easy to reach Morston Quay by regular bus from Sheringham. The Norfolk Coasthopper CH1 leaves from outside North Norfolk Railway station in Sheringham and takes half an hour to get to Morston.
The bus stop if you’re coming from the south is next to the Anchor pub in Morston. The bus stopped just by the small triangle of village green for the return journey, in the direction of Sheringham.
You can also use the Coasthopper bus to get to to Morston Quay from other key locations along the coast, like Cromer, Cley-next-the-sea and Blakeney.
There’s a train station at Sheringham with connections to Norwich so you can easily plan a day trip to go on a Blakeney seal boat trip from places like Cambridge and London. Or book in to the YHA Sheringham and make a weekend of it. You can book your train tickets in advance on thetrainline.com.
Parking is available at Morston Quay from £4 (free if you hold a National Trust membership).
Best time of year for a seal watching trip at Blakeney Point
Seal pups are born in their thousands at Blakeney. During the summer, the common seal pups are born and from November and December is grey seal pupping season. So, if you want to see the pups book a trip during the pupping season months.
After pupping season, and before the weather warms up, there are a few spring months when the seals are fewer in number and the temperatures are cold. The advantage of going during this time is that the boat trip is likely to be less full. If you’re not bothered about seeing the baby seals (and don’t mind the cold) this is a good time to go.
It was freezing cold on my trip in early March, so you will need a coat, hat, gloves etc for any winter and spring trip. Even during the summer months, it can be windy out on the water so it would be a good idea to take a light jacket or jumper.
What else is there to do nearby?
Other things to do near the Blakeney seal trips include:
- Eat at the local Anchor pub in Morston.
- Take a walk to Blakeney village.
- Head down the coast for lots of things to do in Sheringham.
- Visit picture postcard pretty Cley-next-the-Sea and check out the crab shack, to sample the local delicacy.
Blakeney seal trip companies
I chose to take my seal watching trip with Temples, but there are several other Blakeney seal trip companies available:
Are Blakeney seal trips dog friendly?
Yes, Blakeney seal trips are dog friendly and there was a dog on the trip I took with Temples Seal Trips. I’m scared of dogs though so that was actually a bit of a negative for me.
Wrap up: Blakeney seal trip
A boat trip at Blakeney is one the best places for Norfolk seal watching. The slow travel mode of transport and the vast flat Anglian landscape is a mesmerising combination. At the end of my seal trip I felt that it had been a privilege to experience the Blakeney seals in their natural habitat.