Donna Nook

A trip to Donna Nook to see the seals is one of those simple, brilliant days out that reminds you how extraordinary British wildlife can be. Having a little car is so fun and we took a trip out to Lincolnshire to visit this cool spot. I heard about it years ago but never made the journey there.

Each winter (typically November-December), hundreds of Grey seal females hang out along this stretch of Lincolnshire coast to give birth. ups are born with a distinctive white, woolly coat (lanugo) that keeps them warm but is not waterproof, so they remain on land for around three weeks while their mothers nurse them on exceptionally rich milk. During this short period, pups can more than double their birth weight before moulting and heading to sea to fend for themselves.

Walking along the designated viewing paths you're met with sounds of pups calling and mothers answering across the dunes. It's wild, raw and surprisingly close. Thankfully there are viewing platforms and great interpretation boards to allow people to see them without disturbing them. The colony is carefully managed with fenced viewing areas to minimise disturbance, which makes it possible to watch natural behaviours up close.

Watching the pups sprawled across the sand, while enormous bulls patrol the shoreline, feels both prehistoric and heart warming at the same time. What makes it so enjoyable is that it is wild nature on its own terms but with the ability for people to get close and be able to watch. The sea air, big Lincolnshire skies and the sheer number of animals create a proper sense of scale. Seeing them in such numbers, against the wide skies and North Sea backdrop, is a brilliant reminder of how resilient and spectacular our coastal wildlife can be when given space to thrive, as well as a reminder that you don't need to travel far for unforgettable wildlife encounters!