On the water
Chapel Cottage, is perfectly placed to take full advantage of the many activities on or in the water. With miles of beautiful soft golden sand, salt marshes & creakes to explore, there is something to please everyone. The quiet Warham Greens salt marsh is within walking distance of Chapel Cottage, with abundant wildlife. It is a favourite with birdwatchers & nature lovers. The coastal village of Stiffkey is a short distance away with walks offering views over Blakeney Point. Boat trips from Wells and Morston allow guests to take it the glorious Norfolk Coast and its seal colony.
Sightseeing and birdwatching trips to the beach or marshes. Trips last approximately 60 minutes. Departing daily on the tide from the main pontoon outside Wells Harbour office. Trip times are posted on the notice boards on the quayside as well as on their website. Explore Wells Harbour aboard the “Wells Ferry”. Trips allow you to explore the sights and sounds of Wells Harbour, its beach and Salt Marsh. Trips run from the end of March to the end of October, weather permitting. For a more dramatic trip try a walk on the foreshore or East hills and watch the sunset from sea.
Established 2021 Curlew Coastal Charters are a new to Wells Next the Sea boat charter company. We will be taking bookings for trips aboard the Dunkirk Littleship and Lifeboat heroine the Lucy Lavers. In support of the charity Rescue Wooden Boats they will receive 20 percent of our profits.
Deep Sea Fishing
BJR Marine Sea Fishing Trips in Norfolk operate from April to end November. During the summer months, sea fishing is a real treat
for holiday goers with fishing trips between 2 and 10 hours. The Wells harbor is walking distance from Pinewoods Holiday Park. Wells-Next-the-Sea enjoys an abundance of wildlife supported by golden, sandy beaches.
Please be mindful of this advise from Natural England & Holkham Estates, if you come across seals while visiting the beach.
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Stay a good distance away from the seals
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Look out for seals in the dunes and give them a wide berth
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Be careful – seals have a nasty bite
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Keep dogs on a lead
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Keep to marked viewing areas and respect the fencing
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Remember grey seals are wild animals and should not be approached. Thank you.
Coastal Exploration
Coastal Explorations are based in Wells Next the Sea, but can operate from any harbour, staithe or creek between Thornam (to the west) and Cley (to the east), thus enabling one-way trips, alternate pick ups and or drop offs.
Coastal Exploration try to sail with the weather, to make your charter as enjoyable as possible, and can also make the most of creek sailing, which can even eliminate the need to go to sea! Run by a small, local team of professional adventurers, Coastal Exploration skipper and host trips ranging from four hours to three days, through creeks, marshes and open sea. Get involved with the sailing and cooking, or sit back and connect with nature – the pace is yours to choose.
North Norfolk Paddleboards
Taster sessions, guided tours & paddleboard hire at Wells, Burnham Overy Staithe, Brancaster Staithe and Burnham Deepdale. There are guided paddleboard tours of the creeks and saltmarshes of Wells, Burnham Overy Staithe and Brancaster Staithe, and during the warmer months you can take a Breakfast or Sunset tour.
Holkham lake - boat hire
Open until 5th September - 10am - last hire at 3.30pm
This stretch of water is a haven for wildlife and a great way to see the Hall and park from a new perspective. As you take to the water, you’ll discover the lake has a couple of islands to navigate, too - hold onto your oars!
Each boat seats up to five people. Please note that opening times vary in poor weather. Payment should be made at the jetty. Please note that we are only able to take cash payments.
Seal Trips
Beans Boat Trips
With 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. Time and tide allowing, there is an optional landing on Blakeney Point before returning to Morston to disembark.
John Beans Boat Trips - Blakeney Point
Daily boat trips to see Blakeney Point’s famous seals and birds in their natural habitat. John Bean Boat Trips has over 80 years of experience sailing at Blakeney Point. We are family run, dog-friendly, and offer entertaining and educational commentary for families, stag & hen parties and TV & media crews. They offer daily seal trip from Morston Quay, as well as charters for special events such as stag and hen parties, educational school trips, ash scatterings, and TV media and photographer trips. The Our Blakeney point seal trips usually last 1 hour and will travel up through the Morston salt marshes, past the old Blakeney Lifeboat station and then arrive at Blakeney point. Common and grey seals will usually be basking on the sand and shingle.
Bishop's Boats
Colin Bishop established the business in 1965 and at that time ran only from Blakeney Quay to Blakeney Point, not the seals. Over time, demand and the siltation of the harbour has meant a gradual migration to Morston quay (see box below) and many more seal trips. The best way to see the wildlife on Blakeney Point is to enjoy a seal trip, departing from Blakeney or Morston Quay. Blakeney Point has one of the largest Grey seal colony’s and thousands of breeding Sandwich terns that migrate there every March until late August. Blakeney National Nature Reserve has been managed by the National Trust since 1912. The reserve is part of both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and a World Biosphere Reserve.
Ptarmigan Blakeney Point Seal Trips
A family-run, local business offering daily boat trips out to Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Our purpose built ferry boat, the Ptarmigan, sets sail from Morston Quay daily commencing April. The journey will take you around Blakeney Harbour and out to Blakeney Point to see the inquisitive seals which is now the home of the largest grey seal colony in the UK. You will be able to go up close to spot the ever changing array of sea birds that visit the area. View this unique landscape, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and look out for the iconic Lifeboat house, now used as a Visitor Centre for the National Trust.
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Temples Seal Trips
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!
Temple’s boats are red and white:
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Morston Ferry, a 26ft purpose-built boat,
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The Four Sisters, our spacious 50 seater, and
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Lily Too, our newest addition to the fleet, a 12 seater which we use for those extra busy times.
The North Norfolk coast is internationally important for its wildlife and habitats, protected under national and international environmental law. The Wash and North Norfolk Marine Partnership (WNNMP) and Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) have produced a Wild Recreation Guide.
We hope that you ENJOY this wonderful coastline, RESPECT other people, and help PROTECT the wildlife that makes the area so special.
