Seal watching at Blakeney Point

A grey seal cow and its pup on Blakeney Point | © Hanne Siebers

Blakeney Point is home to England's largest grey seal colony and seal pupping season is a breathtaking wildlife spectacle.

Seal watching at Blakeney Point

Blakeney Point is home to England's largest grey seal colony with around 4,500 pups born between the end of October and mid-January each year.

The best way to get up close and personal with the wildlife on Blakeney Point is with one of the seal boat tour operators that are based at Morston Quay (see below for list of boat operators).

It’s recommended you book ahead to ensure your place on the boats.

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Video

Grey seal pupping season at Blakeney Point

Duncan Halpin, Norfolk Coast Ranger, explains how Blakeney Point has become home to the UK's largest grey seal colony and what to expect during the pupping season, from end-October to mid-January.

Seal boat trips from Morston Quay

We recommend you book a boat trip from Morston Quay if you’re planning to come and see the seals. Views of the seals are much better from a boat.

Several local businesses run boat trips to see the seals. These are not operated by the National Trust, so please raise any queries with the relevant provider.

Beans Boat Trips

Beans Seal Trips have been a family run business for over 50 years. They run seal boat trips throughout the year with daily trips during the summer months as well as regularly through the winter too.

Book with Beans

Bishop's Boats

Bishop's Boats have been running seal-watching trips departing from the picturesque Blakeney harbour and Morston Quay since the early 1960s. This family-run business has two traditional purpose-built clinker construction wooden boats and one smaller boat with trips running seasonally.

Book with Bishop's

John Bean Boat Trips

John Bean Boat Trips has over 80 years of experience sailing at Blakeney Point. They are family run, dog-friendly, and offer entertaining and educational commentary for families, stag & hen parties and TV & media crews.

Book with John Bean

Ptarmigan Seal Trips

A family-run, local business offering daily boat trips out to Blakeney Point in their purpose-built ferry boat, the Ptarmigan. They sail from Morston Quay daily, from April until early November.

Book the Ptarmigan

Temples Seal Trips

The Temple family have been operating boat trips for well over 60 years, with skipper Jim starting when he was just nine years old. The whole family helps to run the business with future generations often on board learning the ropes.

Book with Temples

A group of people sit in boat on the water whilst on a seal-watching trip at Blakeney Point in Norfolk. — Visitors on a seal-watching trip at Blakeney Point | © National Trust Images/Hanne Siebers

Book in advance and arrive early

Trips to visit the seals are very popular and must always be booked in advance. They run at different times according to the tide.

During busy periods the car park at Morston Quay can be full so please allow plenty of time to arrive, park your car and get to your departure point on time.

Come prepared

Even in the summer it can be a lot cooler on the water, with spray coming over the boats. Please make sure you have enough clothing and wear sensible footwear as it can be slippery underfoot.

The length of your trip is approximately one hour. Drinks and snacks are available from the café at Morston Quay.

Bring a camera or binoculars

There's a lot to see on your trip so don't forget to bring your camera to capture those special moments. You'll get up close and have great views of the seals but do bring binoculars if you have them.

Visiting the seals on foot

It is possible to view the colony by walking from Cley beach. Visitors are advised that this is a 6-mile round trip, much of it on shingle, and a protective cordon will limit how close you can get to the main seal colony. For the best experience on foot, wrap up well and bring a pair of binoculars. It is not possible to walk to the colony from other locations.