Take a North Norfolk winter wildlife trip for seals, birds and big skies

Visiting the famous grey seals at Horsey Gap or Winterton this winter? Turn your seal-spotting outing into a full North Norfolk winter wildlife trip by adding a visit to breath-taking NWT Hickling Broad!

Grey seal colonies at Horsey Gap

The beautiful sand dunes of Horsey Gap are home to one of the largest grey seal colonies in the UK. Famous for the seal pups at the site during the winter breeding season (October to February) last year saw over 3,000 pups born along this stretch of coast! The huge number of seals on the beach during the winter make it one of the UK’s greatest wildlife spectacles. It's estimated that there are now more than 120,000 grey seals in Britain, representing 40% of the world's population and 95% of the European population.

Please remember to stay off the beach during the breeding season and stick to the paths and roped-off viewing areas – there are often volunteers on site to help. Please also leave your dog at home for both their and the seals’ safety. Find out more about visiting the seals here.

a grey seal on the beach with its tongue out

Grey seal, Elizabeth Dack

A group of grey seals on the shore with one looking up

Grey seals, Kevin Fisher

A grey seal and its pup on a shingle beach

Grey seal and pup, Jacqueline Harrup

Thinesh Thirugnanasampanthar

Stunning wildlife spectacles at NWT Hickling Broad nature reserve

Take a short drive from the coast and you’ll arrive at stunning NWT Hickling Broad, a peaceful haven for many of the UK’s rarest animals and plants. Made up of broads, reedbeds and woodland in an unspoilt landscape, Hickling is a fantastic place to see stunning wildlife and get close to Norfolk’s wonderful nature, even if you’re not a seasoned birder!

In winter, the nature reserve is famous for the Stubb Mill raptor roost trail and viewpoint, giving the opportunity to see large flocks of birds coming into roost, creating an amazing spectacle. Graceful common cranes are often seen, as well as large numbers of marsh harrier. Barn owls and great white egret are also regulars at the site, while visiting wildfowl such as skeins of pink-footed geese and flocks of whooper and Bewick’s swans pass by overhead. Occasionally, the rarer hen harrier, merlin and short-eared owl also make an appearance!

A marsh harrier hunting over the reedbeds at Hickling Broad and Marshes. You can see one of the hides blurred in the background.

Marsh harrier at Hickling (credit: Jon Kelf)

A stretch of blue broad water surrounded by yellow reeds, under a clear blue sky

Hickling Broad and Marshes (credit: Richard Osbourne)

A group of ten cranes fly across a grey, cloudy sky

Cranes (credit: David Brooker)

A wooden boardwalk at Hickling reserve with reedbed on either side.

Hickling boardwalk (credit: Richard Osbourne)

Bittern, Elizabeth Dack

Norfolk Wildlife Trust visitor centre

The visitor centre at NWT Hickling Broad is the perfect place to pause for a hot drink, shop for nature gifts, and a chance to learn more about the wildlife-rich landscape around you.

As a special addition to your trip, why not sail to the hidden corners of Hickling Broad on one of NWT’s guided winter wildlife boat trips from the reserve, available on selected weekends in January and February. spotting habitats and wildlife that can only be seen by taking a tour along the peaceful waterways of the Broads! Look out for the elusive bittern, as well as a large variety of wildfowl and great crested grebes. You might even be treated to the sight of otters, red deer and Chinese water deer. Find out more about dates and times here.

Visitor centre opening hours: March to last Sunday in October: 10am – 5pm, Last Monday in October to February: 10am – 4pm, Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Location: NR12 0BW, car park at entrance

Ticket prices: Members and children: Free. Non members £5 (with Gift Aid), Standard price £4.50. Children 16 and under free.

Find out more about the visitor centre here.