Morning Has Broken
I love an early Saturday morn, all the endless possibilities of the weekend still ahead of you and there’s no better way to spend a bright autumn morning than on the Norfolk coast or more specifically Morston quay, to take a trip with the family to see the seals at Blakeney . I’m always completely honest in my reviews so I must confess Jane and her family are friends of ours but I feel that surely adds more value, as I can honestly tell you what fabulous people they are and how passionate they are about their business Temple seal trips.
But first a Cuppa
From the moment you walk into the Anchor Pub to collect your ticket your welcomed like an old friend and nothing is too much trouble . After grabbing a coffee and leaving Andy in the car with the over excited kids …what ! we jumped back in the car to park in the national trust car park just a minute up the road ( don’t worry your given directions ) make sure you have some change though as it is a national trust car park so unless your a member it’s £4 for the day. Having said that you do then get the perks of it being a trust site as there is s great coffee shop which sells snacks and has a great look-out tower over the quay . If your wanting to walk to the point I would suggest starting at Cley if you have little ones as the walk from Morston will take you 2-3 hrs.
All Aboard
Once there we walked down to the second red flag (check your ticket for which flag as this can change) and the distinctive red and white Temple boat The Temple family have been operating boat trips for well over 60 years, with skipper Jim starting when he was just 9 years old!! The whole family help run the business with future generations often on board learning the ropes! They have three Boats, the Morston Ferry, a 26ft purpose-built boat, The Four Sisters, a spacious 50 seater, and Lily Too, a 12 seater which we use for those extra busy times and is also available for something a little bit different! My Sisters husband in fact proposed during a picnic on the Point and what a proposal it was, private boat trip and surprise picnic with champagne and a ring ! i don’t think anyone could think of a more romantic setting. You can book the whole boat and they offer tailor-made exclusive trips; including meals on board, picnics on the Point, business lunches, using the whole tide, longer excursions and more.
The Sealfie
The crew are very knowledgeable and on the voyage point out points of interests and the local bird life, Blakeney Point is an internationally famous breeding and feeding ground for migrant birds.In the spring and summer there are Tern colonies nesting, including Sandwich, Common, Little and Arctic Terns and in the Winter various duck and geese visiting Blakeney Point. These include Mallard, Teal, Pintail and Widgeon, with the Brent geese spectacular in their numbers. Its A must for bird lovers and the twitches among you, for me though i just enjoyed the breeze in my hair and the beautiful sunny crisp morning snuggling up with my kids at the back of the boat. The boats are really safe and although your not aloud to stand on the seat ( for obvious reasons) you can stand in the boat to get those fabulous pictures and stretch. Dogs are welcome on board and i spent a good while having a cuddle with the skippers own dog. The kids absolutely loved it and were amazed by the seals and just how many there were and how close they came to the boat, we loved when the skipper encouraged us all to take a Sealfie ! its the latest craze don’t you know.
5 Cookies !!!!!!
They have mostly common seals in the summer months, who have arrived at Blakeney Point in order to have their pups. The pups start arriving about June, and will continue through until the end of August.The Grey seals have their pups in the months of November and December, so Christmas is a good time for viewing if you wrap up warm, plus they also do trips with beach landings where you can stretch your legs! i’m hoping to go back soon for this very reason so keep an eye out on my instagram stories!
Wilba shrieked when it was time to leave she absolutely loves animals and was waving at them the whole time. The trip is a unique experience, its just magical, that’s the best way to describe it and suitable for all ages and because the area is protected its a rare opportunity to visit wildlife in its natural surroundings. I cant recommend Temple Seal trips Highly enough so its gets the illusive 5 Cookie rating from me! If your looking for accommodation they also have a gorgeous fisherman’s cottage guesthouse B &B. Plus don’t forget to pop in the Anchor pub afterwards for some local cuisine and Norfolk Gin, nom nom nom !
Head to their website for more details www.sealtrips.co.uk or give them a call on 01263 740791 to book, you will not be disappointed!