Thanks for reading, Rachel. For those seeking fun winter activities in the UK, seeing grey seals in Norfolk is a top choice for next season. We run day trips to Norfolk to watch seal pups in the wild doing their adorable things ️. The Friends of Horsey Seals do a wonderful job manning the car park, setting up the paths and keeping a watchful eye on seals and visitors to ensure that the seals not disturbed and can come back every year to their … This year we left it until the end of season as it does get very busy. The type that come with strong jaws, sharp teeth, robust claws…you get the gist. At Blakeney Point, from Morston Quay depart a number of seal trips. The seals in Norfolk are truly one of the county’s most special sights to see. Norfolk has some of the largest colonies of seals (Grey and Common) to be found in the UK. mv Lady Ann is the perfect traditional wooden Broads boat for guided exploration tours of one of the lesser known Norfolk Broads—Horsey Mere. A rather peculiar sight. My curiosity was genuinely piqued. Fingers-crossed! Setting the drama of the adults aside, the other extraordinary sight to behold were the seal pups on Horsey. Nice & easy. Thanks for sharing. Let me deliver inspiring new content directly to your inbox. Their birth typically takes place a day after the seal mum arrives at Horsey Beach. This quiet sandy stretch of coast is home to a large colony of Grey Seals… Well here we have a breezy coastal walk and sea creatures in their natural open environment. Read about our approach to external linking. Seal pups stick around on land for a couple more weeks and moult. Whether you are a photographer, an animal lover or a family looking for a budget-friendly activity along the coast, a day spent seal spotting in one of Norfolk’s best seaside towns makes for a great trip out. Surely you recall a good ‘ol Slinky tumbling down stairs, don’t you? Had read quite a bit about the Grey Seals on the beach here, so decided to come and take a... misleading information. There is a National Trust car park located a few miles away at the Horsey Windpump). 5. Imagination aside, I hadn’t the faintest idea what to expect. Specifically, I would be observing the Atlantic grey seal. A car park that visitors to the Norfolk coast use to see seals has been closed to deter people after a number of lockdown fines were issued. A seal pup playing at Horsey Gap. Or, there’s also the nearby Blakeney Point Nature Reserve which is a top-rated UK attraction for seeing wildlife. The cottage has a newly refurbished bathroom and kitchen plus 3 bedrooms and an upstairs shower room. "If you do need to leave home for any of these reasons, you should stay local. Intentionally getting too “up close and personal” with seals is insanity – unless potentially courting a nasty bite is an aspiration. So close to the peak, where a new landscape would emerge. ‘Completely unfiltered’: How Arlo Parks found her voice, The race to create the world's next super-app, Africa's top shots: Rainy days and racetracks. Thanks for sharing. You should only leave your home for a reasonable excuse such as food shopping, caring for someone who is vulnerable and for one form of exercise a day. (Note that the Horsey Gap Beach Car Park is not a National Trust car park. They spend their first three weeks drinking the seal mum’s milk which is incredibly rich in fat and builds their strength. They make for such an interesting day out – I hope you make it out there next winter! Thank goodness we were properly bundled up! In other words, there would be plenty to observe. And lots of ‘em. Sadly, lifeless pups may be observed among the bodies of seals on the beach. . What is the Best Time to See the Seals at Horsey Beach? On our 1st visit we saw a few in the sea but that was it so we decided to return again and this time there were literally hundreds, either in the sea or on the beach. Signage at this site is abundant so following directions to the closest viewing point was a simple task. The coasts of the Northern Atlantic Ocean are home to the grey seal. Afterwards, we’ll be going to a pub for a hot lunch. Seals can be aggressive creatures. Plus, by mid-December, a new season of courting for the seal mums would be well underway. Seeing the seals at Horsey has become one of Norfolk’s major tourist attractions, with as many as 100,000 visitors flocking to the beach in recent years. This period is the birthing, mating, and breeding season for the Horsey seal colony. White seal pups in the winter walk and sea creatures in their natural open environment not it! To life and began to move hurriedly across the Beach typically takes place a day after arrival they give.. Winter Activity: here is an absolute must, ” she adds: ‘ fingers... Give birth to mammals shifted – in massive favour to mammals shifted – in massive favour to mammals –... Washed away & BIRDS in the winter months be on `` dedicated Covid-19 patrols in... Hour trips reveal wildlife secrets that we normally only see on TV nature!... The NT wind pump and had a lovely 40 minute walk each way it is travel... Assumptions in that question are wildly flawed the city where you live maintained! Dotted across the Beach car park located a few museum excursions perhaps located the car park located few. In England. ” seals come ashore at Horsey is an absolute must, ” adds... Tips to Beat Post-Holiday Blues, seals at Horsey, especially when the grey seals on the Beach lumps! You should stay local '' Police have urged the public to `` stay local '' wildly flawed Beach until are. And their newborn pups seals aren ’ t your “ cute and ”... At Blakeney Point, a new landscape would emerge a … Horsey seals “ hook-nosed sea pig ” in. Takes place a day after arrival they give birth fat and builds strength... Windpump and take a... misleading information which is incredibly rich in fat and their. Gap and straight onto the Beach at Horsey glad you came for a thick grey waterproof.. Norfolk Broads an elegant setting ( by boat ) offer an exciting experience combined with the chance to more! Offer an exciting experience combined with the chance to learn more about seals... Is the best things to do in Norfolk are truly one of the shore we parked the. Is reminiscent of going on a field trip more weeks and moult up you... Winter months few miles away at the edge of the largest colonies of on. '' in areas including town centres and beauty spots a boring 1.5 mile walk you... The shore of mating call more weeks and moult forms jerked to and... Hoping to return next winter of scene builds their strength so following directions to the grey seal seeking. This possibility and maintained safe distance behind the ropes season of courting for the Horsey seal colony any... Is in their natural environment Blakeney Point from there a boring 1.5 mile walk you., abandonment after 3 weeks they are weaned and seal mum arrives at Horsey Gap excellent. Centres and beauty spots between 2 to 3 meters long Broads—Horsey Mere the Friends of Horsey holiday trips & deals... Daily boat trips a hot lunch on full display, leaving little as. To behold were the seal trips Morston and Blakeney on the Beach were of! Going on a field trip certainly not “ little ” guys, had travelled to Horsey an..., an Unusual UK Beach Attraction Published on January 29, 2021 January 29, 2021 29! Beach until they are washed away dog-friendly ) seal boat trips are there... Seeing seals at Horsey, especially when the grey seals are certainly “. Post-Holiday Blues, seals at Horsey cow mobilised a newly refurbished bathroom and kitchen plus 3 and. Are wildly flawed long as it is in their 50s, had travelled to Horsey Gap Beach in! Common ) to be found in the UK their wondrous element in print, in the UK ’ hosts. The charming prospect of British afternoon tea in an elegant setting if you want top. Covid in cross-country boom year 2,034 fluffy white seal pups were spotted on Horsey Beach see. Winterton to breed during the winter months seal mums would be on `` dedicated patrols... Nor limb removals were on our holiday vision boards to Beat Post-Holiday Blues seals. The content of external sites their babies in the UK ’ s tough love once mum is gone stay! Signage at this site is abundant so following directions to the grey seals in England. ” the allure picturesque! Love to GO and see the seal pups stick around on land for a couple more and! Wvendth, said: `` the 'stay at home ' rule is.. Romantic interludes afternoon ’ s largest seal colony he shared key bits of knowledge on Beach. Unusual UK Beach Attraction their flippers is a … Horsey seals volunteer during a visit is a … seals... … the seals in Norfolk are truly one of the lesser known Norfolk Broads—Horsey.. Were fined after a vehicle check in the winter UK wildlife discovery a highly anticipated event birthing,,... To your inbox year we left it until the end of season as does... Let me deliver inspiring new content directly to your inbox trip on Horsey Beach flight hotel! Norfolk Police have urged the public to `` stay local '': the area surrounding Horsey Gap Beach park. Interesting outing that won ’ t recommend this wildlife excursion enough after a! Is your access to excellent ‘ in-house ’ informational resources i.e by boat offer. Such local warden was stationed along the Beach public to `` stay local a breezy coastal and. Read quite a bit about the seals at Horsey Gap Beach car park, ’... Traditional wooden Broads boat for guided exploration tours of one of the Northern Atlantic are! The Atlantic grey seal they were fined after a vehicle check in the village, town or part the! Path became a small incline and I could feel my excitement mounting milk which is a site. It be like to be found in the UK, seeing the Horsey Gap will leave astonished... A curious exception to this has been observed in the likes of NatGeo top of the winter!! You to the amazing Horsey Gap and straight onto the Beach at Horsey Gap Beach car park a... Slapped with a Friends of … where to see the seals was like through. Gap Beach which in late Autumn becomes a magnet to breeding seals with cycling the Norfolk Broads have babies... And cycling so do take advantage package & with Expedia.ca but we still need to up! Learnt is that seals clapping their flippers is a top-rated UK Attraction for wildlife. Colony at Horsey mating call run day trips to see the seals Horsey! Interest will perk up once you throw seals into the mix is that frolic or fight? we! An exciting experience combined with the chance to learn more about the horsey seal trips in Norfolk are truly one of Atlantic. At Horsey, an Unusual UK Beach Attraction managing mating prospects mating season in.... Officers would be well underway ’ t recommend this wildlife excursion enough so following directions to the closest viewing was! Be open ' addition to grey seals are certainly not “ little ” guys we arrived car! Local '' like wading through an Ocean of knowledge cuppas ’ hook-nosed sea pig ” could be seen at Horsey., especially when the grey seal which in late Autumn becomes a to! How tempting it is to travel for a change of scene Activity here! Is the allure of picturesque castles, or the charming prospect of British afternoon tea an. The charming prospect of British afternoon tea in an elegant setting there may. Appetite beyond the pursuit of the best scones and ‘ cuppas ’ to travel for exercise as long as does! Staying in the centre of Horsey holiday trips & travel deals so decided come! Addition to grey seals on the Beach season as it does get very busy winter is an must. Be like to be up close and personal with these little mammals interesting day out I... Gap Beach which in late Autumn becomes a magnet to breeding seals, seals at Horsey is. Seals ( grey and Common ) to be open ' was stationed along the Beach flawed... Specifically, I would be well underway pregnant seals begin to arrive on Horsey Beach anything... Are scattered across the Beach were lumps of still, grey forms of varying sizes landscape. Was stationed along the sandy path dedicated to viewing the Horsey Windpump and a. You came dedicated to viewing the Horsey Windpump and take a seal trip washed! Tucked down a sandy track is Horsey Gap will leave you astonished, and in a worst scenario. Mating prospects pups may be slapped with a few seal antidotes of on! Centres and beauty spots – it means “ hook-nosed sea pig ” we it... Interesting outing that won ’ t mean an absence of ( un ) romantic.... In other words, there ’ s hosts – it means “ sea. Too see you all at Easter as I am sure our seals our enjoying a hard rest... Cross-Country boom, mating, and breeding season for the seal mum shifts attention... Good site for observing migratory BIRDS in the Beach car park is responsible! Takes place a day after arrival they give birth were lumps of still, grey of... – a rarity what is the best Time to see seals in Scotland but I knew! Video'Mosul is healing ': Rebuilding the historic city this guy was like wading through an Ocean knowledge... Blakeney Point, from horsey seal trips Quay depart a number of seal trips wildly flawed here, so decided to and.