The Blakeney National Nature Reserve consists of the 4 mile sand and shingle spit of Blakeney Point and the slat marsh and tidal creeks behind the spit.  Blakeney Point is an important breeding ground for Tern, and is home to the largest colony of Grey Seal in England.  There is no central Visitor Centre, but the area can be accessed from National Trust car parks at the quays in Blakeney and Morston.  The seal colony can be visited by boat trip from one of the villages, but on our visit, we only walked between Blakeney and Morston along the Norfolk coastal path, taking photographs of the boats and some bird life in and around the two quay areas.  The path provides good level walking and the round trip is about 3 miles.

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Location and Parking

Postcode: Blakeney: NR25 7ND.  Morston: NR25 7DJ

The villages of Blakeney and Morston lie on the A149 about midway between Hunstanton and Cromer.  In both villages, the National Trust car parks are signposted from the main road, located at the quays.

Blakeney

Blakeney is a small town on the A149 along the north coast of Norfolk.  It is separated from the sea by an area of marshes and mud flats which makes up the Blakeney Nature Reserve, however the River Glavon winds its way through these marshes, and Blakeney has a promenade which fronts onto the river.  There is ample parking at the east end of the waterfront and there are lots of moored up sailing boats to photograph. The coastal path to Morston leaves from the west end of the waterfront.  Trips to the seal colony at Blakeney Point set off from both Blakeney and Morston.

Morston

It is about a 1.5 mile level walk to Moston.  There is no harbour as such, but numerous boats are moored up in the river, providing various composition opportunities.

Nature Reserve

The salt marsh area between Blakeney and Morston is a National Trust Nature Reserve due to the numerous wading birds to be found in this area.  Most of the reserve is protected behind the River Glavon, which effectively turns the reserve into an island, making it inaccessible, however numerous birds can be seen at both Blakeney and Morston.

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