The Donna Nook seals are a huge draw for local families. Whether you’re from the Grimsby area or a little further afield, you’re bound to have heard all about the seals at Donna Nook.
Nestled on the Lincolnshire coastline, just a short drive from Grimsby, lies the beach at Donna Nook. Although it is the site of the RAF Donna Nook bombing range, it is probably most well-known for the colony of seals which visit there every year to have their babies. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, who manage the site, have set up fences at the edge of the coastline so that visitors can get close enough for a really good look at the seals, without disturbing the new mums and their babies. If you’ve never been before, I’d definitely recommend a visit.
How to Visit the Donna Nook Seals
When you first arrive at Donna Nook, you’ll see a sign telling you to ignore your SatNav, and instead follow the arrow towards the car park – but the steady stream of other cars all going the same way will make sure you don’t get lost!
The ‘car park’ is actually just a large field, with volunteers collecting the £5 per car entry fee and directing visitors. When you’ve parked up and are ready to go, it’s a short walk up a sandy hill to get to the beach itself. Although a handrail has been added, and there are some steps cut into the ground, it may still be quite difficult for those with mobility issues, and certainly isn’t suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
On the other side of the hill, you will be able to see the visiting seals almost straight away. During the busiest time of the season (November to early December), there are dozens of adult seals and their pups along the coastline.
Although new mums usually choose to stay a bit further from the shore, some of the Donna Nook seals do come right up to the fencing and can be observed really closely, which my children always find absolutely fascinating!
Information boards are placed every couple of metres along the fence, explaining more about the seals – how long they visit Donna Nook for, what they eat, and so on. These are written in child-friendly language, making it easy for both parents and children to learn more.
I know that I certainly didn’t know very much about seals before visiting Donna Nook, so the information boards really helped me to answer my children’s questions during our visit.
What to expect from visiting the seals at Donna Nook
Whilst visiting Donna Nook, you will be able to see the seals moving around, and you’ll often hear the different calls they make to communicate with each other. When we visited, we saw some of the female seals nursing their babies, which got my children talking about their own memories of their siblings nursing as infants. But their very favourite part of our visit was definitely seeing two of the adult males fighting on the sand!
Things you need to know before you go
Booking is not required, but at busy times, it can be hard to find a space at the fence for smaller children to get a good view of the seals. However, most people visiting are quite considerate, and will let little ones squeeze to the front to see better. I’d definitely recommend taking a sling if you have a very small child, both to keep them safe in the crowds, and also to help them see the seals more easily.
Dogs are not permitted in the seal viewing area, so it might be best to leave your dog at home.
At the weekend, the narrow roads on the way down can become quite congested. You might prefer to visit on a weekday if you want to miss the crowds.
With the opportunity for a beautiful walk in the fresh air, and seeing these wonderful animals in their natural habitat, all for the price of your car park entry, Donna Nook is well worth a visit if you’re in the local area.
This fabulous guest post is by Lauren at www.outnumberedbygymnasts.com who talks about toddler gymnasts and all things gymnastics.
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