Seal watching at Blakeney Point in winter

Seals at the Blakeney National Nature Reserve

Blakeney Point is home to England's largest grey seal colony with over 3,000 pups born each winter. Here is some handy advice if you would like to visit the seals this winter.

The grey seal colony at Blakeney Point has grown from humble beginnings with just 25 pups born in 2001 to England's largest colony with 3,012 pups born over winter 2018/19. It is a wildlife spectacular in Norfolk with many visitors coming to see the seals all throughout the year.

Grey seals on Blakeney Point

Learn more about grey seals and why they call Blakeney Point home.

Help to protect the seals and yourselves

The best way to see the seals is by boat

We recommend you book a seal boat trip from Morston Quay if you’re planning to come and see the seals this winter. Seals are easily disturbed by people and they need plenty of space. You’ll also be able to get a better view from the boat of them hauled up on the beach.

two large brown coloured grey seals fighting on a sandy beach with the sea behind them

Keep your distance and follow advice

Seals are wild animals and can be extremely vicious. A bite would require immediate hospital treatment and so it’s best for your safety and theirs, to keep your distance. We recommend bringing binoculars or a long lens for photography (for personal use only, commercial photography is not permitted).

Grey seal colony at Blakeney Point, Norfolk

Ensure you stick to designated areas

Fence lines are erected on Blakeney Point to protect not just the seals but yourself. Never cross a fence line and follow all signs you come across. We'd rather you left dogs at home but if you must bring your four-legged friend with you then they must be kept on a short lead (a metre) at all times.

Book a seal trip

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.

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 help run the business with future generations often on board learning the ropes.

Spotted a lone seal pup?

a fluffy white grey seal pup with a greying face sat on golden sand with some green marram grass in the fore ground

Lone pups

A seal pup on its own may not necessarily mean it has been abandoned or is in distress. Pups are occasionally left by their mothers for short periods of time, which is perfectly normal. The pup may also cry which may sound distressing to you but they are perfectly fine. The most important thing to remember is to always keep your distance and not approach a seal, as this can cause unnecessary stress.

Not quite ready to swim

Up until the pups are three weeks of age they are covered in white downy fur and are not ready to swim, so please do not try to encourage them into the water. Pups moult their white fur at around three weeks, which can leave them looking a bit patchy, but again, this is perfectly normal.

snowy white seal pup sitting on the beach

Get in contact

If you're worried about a seal pup then you can call our team during office hours on 01263 740241. Outside of these hours you can contact the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. Do not attempt to move the pup yourself.