Blakeney Point Coastal walk, Blakeney, Norfolk
Take a leisurely, but active stroll, along Blakeney Point’s 4 mile-long (6.4km) shingle spit to the sand dunes near the Lifeboat House, home to a variety of unusual plants, and looking out for both grey and common seals on the way.
Wildlife and restrictions
This area is an internationally important breeding ground for for sea bird colonies, so please note that seasonal dog restrictions are in place between 1 April and 15 August to protect the breeding birds. During this time dogs are not allowed on Blakeney Point. For the rest of the year dogs are welcome on a lead or under close control. Walk ideal for active families who don't mind walking on soft shingle.
Map
Start:
Cley beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453
1
From the car park walk onto the shingle ridge towards the sea and turn left. If the tide is out, you can walk along the beach, which is a slightly easier surface to walk. The shingle ridge, which begins at Weybourne, is 8 miles (12km) long. and has grown westwards over time, forming Blakeney Point spit. Vegetated shingle is a rare habitat, home to scarce plants such as horned sea poppy, sea pea and shrubby sea blight. Please give any fenced areas a wide berth to minimise disturbance to nesting birds.
2
After 1.5 miles (2.4km) you reach the Watch House, also known as Halfway House. It was built in the 19th century as a look-out for smugglers, then used by the coastguard and later the Girl Guides Association. It's now rented out as basic holiday accommodation. From here, continue along the beach for another mile.
Nesting birds
Ringed plovers, oystercatchers and little terns make their simple, camouflaged nests on the shingle beach, making them vulnerable to disturbance and trampling, so please be aware of birds breeding on the beach. We fence the larger concentrations but birds nest all over the shingle beaches and dunes. Please help by keeping away from the fenced areas.
3
At the start of the main dunes walk onto the top of the ridge and turn left, away from the sea, along a track towards the blue Lifeboat House, keeping the main dunes on your right.
Sand Dunes and Sea Lavender
Towards the end of the Point, large sand dunes have formed. They've been colonised by marram grass, a species of grass with long roots that help to secure the dunes. There are great views of the whole reserve from the top of the boardwalk that crosses the main dunes. Four species of sea lavender can be found on the reserve and in the summer it forms purple carpets on the saltmarsh. The rare habitats of saltmarsh, shingle and sand dune host an array of unusual plant species, such as sea heath and glasswort.
4
To the right of the Lifeboat House is a boardwalk that leads to the beach. Follow this through the dunes and continue out onto the beach. At low tide from point 5 on the map, you may be able to spot the seals on the tidal sands to your left. Beyond this Point there is no access to the west further along the beach, to afford protection to breeding terns and seals hauled-out on the beach.
Old Lifeboat House
In 1910, University College London purchased the Old Lifeboat House at Blakeney Point, and in 1913 established a purpose built laboratory. The Old Lifeboat House now also acts as an information centre.
5
From here, turn right and walk along the beach, with the sea on your left, returning all the way to Cley beach car park.
Blakeney Grey Seals
Common and grey seals can be seen bobbing in the sea or hauled out on the sands at low tide. During the spring and summer seals can only be viewed on the sands at the western end of the Point at low tide. Grey seal numbers on the Point increase in late autumn, which is the start of their breeding season. Common seals have their pups in the summer, although few pups are born at Blakeney, large numbers of adults are usually present in the summer.
End:
Cley beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453