Norfolk

Blakeney Point coastal walk

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 wildlife.

Near to

Blakeney National Nature Reserve

Start point

Cley Beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453

Trail information

View route

Print trail

Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 0 (km: 0)

Short trail

DistanceMiles: 7 (km: 11.2)

Duration3 hours

Not suitable for dogs

*Much of the route is on soft shingle, which can be difficult to walk on. Not suitable for pushchairs. This route is possible at all states of the tide, except during extreme weather, but is an easier walk at low tide. Important areas for breeding seals are fenced off and access is restricted, which includes much of the western end of the Point. Please follow on-site signage.

Wildlife and restrictions

Blakeney Point is an important area for breeding wildlife. Please obey all signs and do not cross any fence lines. Some the birds are protected and it is a prosecutable offence to disturb them. It is not possible to see the seal colony on Blakeney Point on foot outside of the pupping and breeding season (between late October and mid-January). If you wish to see the seals during the spring and summer months, then please hop on a boat from Morston Quay.

Address
Cley Beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Sheringham 8 miles (12km) east of Cley, then take Coasthopper bus to Cley.
On foot
Coastal path runs 45 miles from Hunstanton to Cromer, passing Cley Beach.
By ferry
The best way to see the seals is by taking a seal trip from Morston Quay.
By bus
Norfolk Coasthopper, Cromer to Wells-Next-The-Sea. Bus stops at top of Beach Road, Cley - it's a 1 mile (1.6km) walk along Beach Road to Cley.
Cycling
Norfolk Coast Cycleway (National Cycle Route 30) runs along quiet lanes from King’s Lynn to Cromer; it's a short detour to Cley Beach.
By road
A149 King’s Lynn to Cromer coast road; Cley Beach car park is signposted ‘Beach’ from A149 on edge of Cley village.
Total stages: 4
Total stages: 4
Start point
Cley Beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453
Stage 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. Half way along the ridge you will come across the Watch House From here, continue along the beach for another mile.
The shingle ridge of Blakeney Point | © National Trust Images / Alex Green
Stage 2
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 and fence line on your right. During the pupping season, there may be seals outside of the fence lines. Ensure you give them a wide berth as they can be particularly aggressive, especially if they have a pup. **Please note** depending on where pupping seals are located, this maybe as far as you are able to safely walk. In this situation we will have closed the walk from section two for public safety. We apologise in advance for any disappointment caused.
Stage 3
Once you reach the crest of the boardwalk you have arrived at the end of the walk. From here you get fantastic, elevated views of the seal pup colony and surrounding dunes during the mating and pupping season (between late October and mid-January). Please do not enter fenced areas as this is for your own safety as well as that of the seals. From here follow your route back to Cley Beach car park.
The Grey Seal Colony at Blakeney Point, at sunset. | © National Trust Images / Ian Ward
Stage 4
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.
End point
Cley Beach, Norfolk Wildlife Trust car park, grid ref: TG048453
Trail map
Blakeney Point Coastal Walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
You made it
Share your experience

Trail

Blakeney to Stiffkey coastal walk

Enjoy views across Norfolk's open landscape on this coastal walk, starting at Blakeney Nature Reserve and taking in Morston and Stiffkey salt marshes.

The view of Blakeney Freshes from Friary Hills at Blakeney National Nature Reserve, Norfolk

Trail

Blakeney Freshes coastal wildlife walk

This family-friendly circular walk through Blakeney village and around Blakeney Freshes offers impressive coastal views and is ideal for spotting birds and wildlife.

The Mausoleum Pyramid, designed by Joseph Bonomi 1796-97, on the Blickling Estate, Norfolk

Trail

Blickling mausoleum walk

This historical scenic stroll through woods and open land at Blickling Park leads you to its striking Mausoleum. Look out for barn owls along the way.