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Bishops Boats Seal Trips

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BISHOPS BOATS SEAL TRIPS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Bishops Boats Seal Trips

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Bishops Boats Seal Trips - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Blakeney seal trips with Beans Boats

Daily boat trips to see the SEALS & BIRDS in their natural environment at BLAKENEY POINT

To Book Call: 01263 740505 (08.30am - 5.00pm)

Key information.

• YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK ADVANCE - currently only by phone, we will retain your number in the unlikely event we need to contact you.
• YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EMBARK / DISEMBARK WITH SOME GENTLE ASSISTANCE FROM THE CREW
• PAYMENT IS TO BE MADE ON THE DAY. Card payment is often available but not guaranteed due to poor WiFi connection on the quayside so please arrive with cash just in case (the correct amount wherever possible to minimise handling.)
• THE NATIONAL TRUST HAVE TOILETS & A CAFÉ ON MORSTON QUAY. Please note toilet facilities are limited so please allow extra time.
• THE SEAL TRIP DURATION IS APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR
• PLEASE FOLLOW CREW INSTRUCTIONS – we reserve the right to refuse passage for anyone behaving in an anti-social manner
• IF YOU NEED TO CANCEL CONTACT OUR BOOKING HOTLINE ON: 01263 740505 (Out of hours for CANCELLATIONS ONLY 07972 148776 ). - Please DO notify us if you have pre-booked and are not coming as seats are strictly limited and we will be able to re-allocate your booking
• TRIPS ARE DEPENDENT ON THE TIDE SO PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE TIME. Look out for the crew in ORANGE and the ORANGE AND WHITE boats

We look forward to seeing you and... don’t forget your camera!

With over 80 years experience of operating in Blakeney Harbour, a trip to the Blakeney Seals with Beans Boats offers a rare opportunity to get ‘up close and personal ’ to the resident Grey seal and Common Seal colonies without causing disturbance.

After boarding one of our five custom ferries at Morston we head up Morston Creek and out into Blakeney Harbour. Relax and enjoy the beautiful Norfolk Coastline from the shelter of the harbour or keep an eye out for resident and migrating birds.

As Blakeney Point is one of the most important sites for migrating birds in Europe, there's plenty to see on our way to the Seal Colony. Passing the old Blakeney Lifeboat station our crew tell you something of the local history and about the harbour before you arrive at the end of Blakeney Point where Common and Grey Seals can usually be found hauled out. We spend time getting in close and turning to allow plenty of opportunity for photos, inquisitive seals will also frequently pop out around the boat.

Adults: £20, Children £10 (14 & under) , Under 2's: free

As seats are now limited - to avoid disappointment we strongly advise you to book

All our ferries leave from MORSTON QUAY see trip times. You will receive details of departure point, time and where to collect your tickets when you book. For more details Prices and Booking Page.

Pictures from our trips click to enlarge

• Wed.12th Jun. : 10.30 * & 11.30 *
• Thu.13th Jun. : 11.00 * & 12.00 *
• Fri.14th Jun. : 11.00 * & 12.00 *
• Sat.15th Jun. : 12.00 * & 13.00 *
• (* no landing on Blakeney Point)

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Blakeney Seal Trip: a Review

• 20 March 2024

On the windswept coast of Norfolk lies a hidden gem – a Blakeney seal trip. If you’re a nature lover or just enjoy unique and off-the-beaten-path experiences then a seal watching boat trip at Blakeney is made for you.

If you’re wondering whether a seal watching boat trip is worth the effort or cost, that’s where I come in. As a resident of the East Anglia region I’ve been able to visit Norfolk easily. I’ve experienced the seal watching boat trip at Blakeney for myself and it’s undoubtedly one of the best slow travel activities you can do in Norfolk.

Despite the fact that it was so bitingly cold that I couldn’t feel my fingers, my Blakeney seal watching trip was a joy. The gentle lull of the boat as it cuts through the water and the thrill of catching your first glimpse of a seal basking on the shore are an opportunity to immerse yourself fully in the beauty of nature.

So join me and discover a journey to Blakeney Point – where the seals are waiting for you.

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Blakeney seal trip prices, how to get tickets, how long are the blakeney seal trips, what’s it like on a blakeney seal trip, where does a blakeney seal trip leave from, how to get to the blakeney seal trips, best time of year for a seal watching trip at blakeney point, what else is there to do nearby, blakeney seal trip companies, are blakeney seal trips dog friendly, wrap up: blakeney seal trip.

Some posts on this site contain affiliate links to products or services I’ve found useful. If you make a purchase through these links I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). This helps keep the travel blog running, so thank you.

The cost of a Blakeney seal trip is pretty much the same across the different companies that provide it. 

 A ticket costs £25 in the winter and £20 the rest of the year. Kids tickets cost £10.

If you’re unsure how much to tip at the end of your seal trip, read my guide to tipping in the UK .

Booking in advance is required for a Blakeney seal trip.  Ring up the company you choose to go with to book your place.  If you book with Temples Seal Trips (and many other) you won’t need to pay until you go to collect your ticket.

Pick your ticket up on the day from the collection point and pay in person.  Temples have a card reader but it’s a good idea to take cash just in case the card machine isn’t working 

The boat trip to see the seals at Blakeney typically lasts one hour. 

However, depending on the tide and time of year, some seal watching trips also include an additional half an hour walking on the actual point at Blakeney.  On these trips you can visit the blue old Lifeboat hut.  The trip I took was during early spring so didn’t include this option.

The first thing I noticed about the Temples boat trip was that the boat was sparkling clean, in its red and white colours it stood out against the sandy backdrop of the harbour. 

There are bench seats all around the edge of the boat and it’s a sturdy vessel, which meant the trip was comfortable.  ‘Mi Amor’, who usually gets seasick, declared it the best boat he’d ever been on – high praise indeed.

The usual safety equipment is included (life jackets and life ring) and the whole boat is actually a life raft, so it felt very safe and I was able to stand up to take photos. 

The scenery

Blakeney Point shape changes each year as the longshore drift forms the natural harbour.  Our Captain reliably informed us that the point grows by 10 metres every year.

The water in the harbour is incredibly shallow, at only a few feet deep, but it doesn’t appear that way as the boat glides smoothly out to Blakeney point.  The boat never goes out into the open sea.

On the way to see the seals you’ll see all kinds of birds which your Captain will point out to you.  The landscape is flat in this part of the world, providing a sense of infinity as you gaze across the East Anglian peninsula. 

You’ll travel out past the old Lifeboat hut that actually used to sit right on the shore but is now several metres back, due to the way the landscape has evolved.

The first seal I spotted was basking on its own on a spit of land.  That was a joy to see.  After that, we headed further out, and I was pleased to see a good number of seals in a group on the point. 

We were informed that this group included a very boisterous male seal who had apparently taken to assassinating other seals.  High drama in the natural world.

The seals stayed where they were so unfortunately we didn’t see any swimming around the boat. 

In order to protect the seals, the boats stay a safe distance away from them but we spent a good amount of time passing by in different directions so that everyone on the boat got a good view.  There was plenty of time for photos.

The seals at Blakeney are both common seals and grey seals.  During pupping season thousands of baby seals are born at Blakeney. 

The boat trip I went on with Temples was made into an extra special experience by the wonderful Captain and his great sense of humour and local knowledge.  He kept us entertained with interesting information, which really made the trip.

It became clear how much the Temples team care about the seals when some walkers were spotted on Blakeney Point getting too close to the seals and our Captain tried to warn them away over the boat’s speaker system. 

The departure point for Blakeney seal trips can be a little confusing.  Although the seal trips go to Blakeney Point, most actually leave from nearby Morston Quay.  So check the arrangements carefully with your chosen company.

With Temples seal boat trips you pick up your tickets from the Anchor pub in Morston or at their white van at Morston Quay.

Make sure you arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time.  This is to give enough time for you to pay for your tickets, board the boat and to fit with the tide at the harbour. 

If you’re late, in the busy summer you might find your space has gone and you don’t want to miss out on seeing the beautiful Norfolk seals .

Whilst you’re waiting, you can grab a drink and a snack from the National Trust hut.  Even more exciting is the information point next door which was selling mystery books and a chocolate bar for only £2.50 on my visit.  That was my evening sorted afterwards.

The harbour area is quite large so it’s fun to take a walk around and look at the different boats.  There are toilets available to use at the harbour.

When I arrived, I was surprised to find the boats seemingly stuck in a very dry sand bed and I started to wonder if the trip would be able to take place.  However, the tidal water filled up the harbour incredibly quickly and the boat was able to set sail at the allocated time.  So don’t let the sandy surroundings put you off.

It’s easy to reach Morston Quay by regular bus from Sheringham.  The Norfolk Coasthopper CH1 leaves from outside North Norfolk Railway station in Sheringham and takes half an hour to get to Morston. 

The bus stop if you’re coming from the south is next to the Anchor pub in Morston.  The bus stopped just by the small triangle of village green for the return journey, in the direction of Sheringham.

You can also use the Coasthopper bus to get to to Morston Quay from other key locations along the coast, like Cromer , Cley-next-the-sea and Blakeney.

There’s a train station at Sheringham with connections to Norwich so you can easily plan a day trip to go on a Blakeney seal boat trip from places like Cambridge and London.  Or book in to the YHA Sheringham and make a weekend of it. You can book your train tickets in advance on thetrainline.com .

Parking is available at Morston Quay from £4 (free if you hold a National Trust membership).

Seal pups are born in their thousands at Blakeney.  During the summer, the common seal pups are born and from November and December is grey seal pupping season.  So, if you want to see the pups book a trip during the pupping season months. 

After pupping season, and before the weather warms up, there are a few spring months when the seals are fewer in number and the temperatures are cold.  The advantage of going during this time is that the boat trip is likely to be less full.  If you’re not bothered about seeing the baby seals (and don’t mind the cold) this is a good time to go.

It was freezing cold on my trip in early March, so you will need a coat, hat, gloves etc for any winter and spring trip.  Even during the summer months, it can be windy out on the water so it would be a good idea to take a light jacket or jumper.

Other things to do near the Blakeney seal trips include:

• Eat at the local Anchor pub in Morston.
• Take a walk to Blakeney village.
• Head down the coast for lots of things to do in Sheringham .
• Visit picture postcard pretty Cley-next-the-Sea and check out the crab shack, to sample the local delicacy.

I chose to take my seal watching trip with Temples, but there are several other Blakeney seal trip companies available:

Beans Boats

Bishops Boats

John Bean Boat Trips

Yes, Blakeney seal trips are dog friendly and there was a dog on the trip I took with Temples Seal Trips.  I’m scared of dogs though so that was actually a bit of a negative for me.

A boat trip at Blakeney is one the best places for Norfolk seal watching.  The slow travel mode of transport and the vast flat Anglian landscape is a mesmerising combination.  At the end of my seal trip I felt that it had been a privilege to experience the Blakeney seals in their natural habitat.

I'm Katie and although I'm based in the UK I spend my spare time travelling the world. I've visited countless countries, from South America to Australia and many places in between. A meticulous travel researcher and organiser I can often be found working out the best way to get from A to B via public transport.

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Seal Trip to Blakeney Point

Sun, sea, sand dunes and seals!

Blakeney National Nature Reserve is famous for its wildlife, especially the Common and Grey seal colonies at Blakeney Point. The best way to see the seals is not by foot, but by boat! Take a ferry trip to Blakeney Point and observe these lovable creatures in their natural habitat. A truly unforgettable day out!

A ferry trip to see the seals at Blakeney Point has been on my bucket list for a quite some time. Having been born and raised in North Norfolk not far from the coast, the fact that I had never enjoyed one of the area’s most popular attractions was becoming somewhat embarrassing.

One day in August, even though the school summer holidays were in full swing and the coast would certainly be busy, and even though the forecast wasn’t ideal with some cloud and a fairly brisk breeze, I took the plunge. I picked up the phone and booked 2 tickets for the following morning at 9:30am. It would be a 2 hour trip, with 1 hour on land at Blakeney Point.

Bright and early we made our way to the Anchor Inn, a pretty pub in Morston and the ticket office for Temples Seal Trips, one of the four ferry businesses offering daily boat trips from Morston Quay to see the seals on Blakeney Point . The Temple family have been operating boat trips for over 70 years, and are happy to share their knowledge of the area during the trip.

We purchased 2 adult tickets at £13 each, then parked at Morston Quay just a couple of minutes away. The National Trust car park is free for members, £4 otherwise. There are toilets and an information centre where you can buy drinks and snacks, or join the National Trust!

We spotted Temple’s red and white boats where a small crowd was gathering, just as the skipper pulled up and boarded the boat, along with his 3 lovely looking labradors, clearly keen and experienced seafarers.

Our boat for the day was The Four Sisters, a spacious 50 seater. The passengers were young and old, couples and families, and a few more well-behaved dogs. With the sun shining but clouds looming, we set sail.

The lady next to me said she was super excited as she’d wanted to do this trip for the longest time. She echoed my thoughts exactly.

We began our journey in Morston Creek, travelling towards Blakeney Harbour, and the skipper talked us through the trip. Having had my fair share of bumpy boat rides, it was reassuring to know this trip was based entirely within the harbour and at no point would we venture out onto the open sea.

The harbour was littered with boats – fishing boats, row boats, sailing boats, wooden dinghies, inflatable dinghies, even a striking sailing barge called JUNO.

The 45ft JUNO was built in a boatyard at Morston. The design was inspired by the famous Thames sailing barges which were a common sight until the early 20th century. Based in Blakeney Harbour, you can charter JUNO for full or half days.

As we continued our gentle journey, we learnt more about the birds at Blakeney Point. Four species of tern breed there regularly – Sandwich, Common, Little and Arctic – before migrating to West Africa for the winter. Sandwich terns have been present on Blakeney Point for over a century, and in recent years, as many as 4000 pairs have nested on the end of the Point.

After 20 minutes or so, we swung to the right and the seals were in sight, dozens of them basking on the shore under the sun. They were all different shades of brown and beige, lolling and lounging around on their backs and bellies. Large, lumbering beasts, hefty yet adorable.

It was a strangely comical sight, with some seals clapping their flippers, others seemingly waving at us. Sleepy seals closed their eyes. Some sported huge smiles, others looked heart-breakingly sad, their big black eyes looking right at you. They were completely captivating.

Playful seals swam around the boat and popped their heads out of the water, wet nose and whiskers, then disappeared almost instantly, too fast to photograph.

The boat turned a couple of times so everyone on both sides got a good long look at the seals. All too briefly, our time was up. I could’ve watched and wondered for hours. We headed for land.

The nearby terns were hard to ignore, thousands of birds shrieking and screeching relentlessly. As we passed the tip of the Point, a flock took off from the shingle en masse and flew overhead, an impressive sight. We sailed past the iconic blue Lifeboat House, landed, then disembarked, eager to explore.

Blakeney Point is a National Nature Reserve and has been managed by the National Trust since 1912, the oldest nature reserve in Norfolk. The reserve is made up of rare habitats including saltmarsh, shingle and sand dunes, and is home to several unusual plants.

The purple flowers of the Sea Lavender cover the saltmarshes from July to August, and the colourful flowers of the Yellow Horned Poppy bloom from June to September. They certainly added splashes of colour to the rather other-worldly landscape. Marram grass grows in the sand dunes, trapping sand blown by the wind and binding the dunes together.

The four mile long shingle spit of Blakeney Point offers protection for Blakeney Harbour and the surrounding saltmarshes, providing a perfect habitat for wildlife. It is an amazing breeding and feeding ground for terns, oystercatchers and ringed plovers.

It’s also famously home to Common seals in the summer and Grey seals in the winter. Blakeney Point is a perfect breeding site for Grey seals, with over 3000 pups born in 2018. It is now the largest seal colony in England.

We walked along a shingle path, admiring the boats in Blakeney Harbour and the grassy, marshy landscape, and soon found ourselves at the Lifeboat House, the famous landmark that is visible for miles around. Originally built in 1898 as a lifeboat station, it only functioned for a few years before the build-up of shingle made it impossible to launch the boats. Now it’s a visitor centre, displaying fascinating old photos, and home to National Trust rangers.

We continued past the Lifeboat House, along a boardwalk through undulating terrain, reading the occasional information board, until we couldn’t go on – the incoming tide blocked any further exploration. We retraced our steps, and headed back along the boardwalk.

We met up with our fellow passengers at the landing point, and sat on warm pebbles as the sun shined, waiting for the ferry. Children played on the wooden landing ramps, dogs cooled off in the water, someone took a nap on the beach, others chatted and shared stories. We watched the waves and the steady stream of passing boats.

By the time the boat arrived, dark clouds had replaced the sun and the weather took a decidedly chilly turn. We settled into our seats and enjoyed the short, silent journey back to Morston Quay.

We were well-walked, slightly sun-kissed, and our tummies were rumbling. Luckily, there was a pretty pub not too far away.

Temples Seal Trips The Street Morston Norfolk NR25 7AA

T: 01263 740791 www.sealtrips.co.uk

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Temples Seal Trips & Blakeney Point

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Beans Boat Trips

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