The Best Walk to See Grey Seals in Norfolk: Horsey Windpump to Horsey Beach

One of our favourite local walks is from Horsey Pump to Horsey Beach to see the grey seals, and the best time to visit is over the winter during seal pupping season.

This gentle circular walk takes you around 2 hours (depending on how many little ones you have with you) and is approximately 3 miles long (4.8km). It starts at the historic Horsey Windpump, a beautifully restored National Trust windmill surrounded by wide open Norfolk Broads landscapes. From the car park, the path follows a peaceful track through grazing marshes and reed beds, where you’ll often see birds such as marsh harriers and egrets gliding overhead.

After around a mile of easy walking, the path leads you up and over the sand dunes to the vast, unspoilt stretch of Horsey Beach. The first view of the North Sea here always feels special, with wide open skies, rolling waves, and miles of golden sand stretching in both directions.

But the real highlight for many visitors is the seals.

This section of the Norfolk coastline is home to one of the largest grey seal colonies in the UK. Each winter, usually between November and January, thousands of Grey Seals come ashore here to give birth. During this time the dunes are carefully managed by wardens to protect the seals and their pups, and raised viewing areas allow visitors to watch them safely without disturbing them. Seeing the white fluffy pups scattered across the sand while the adults rest nearby is an unforgettable experience for both adults and children.

Even outside the pupping season, seals can often be seen resting on the beach or bobbing in the waves, particularly on quieter mornings or late afternoons.

From the beach you can either walk along the shoreline for a while before returning over the dunes, or follow the marked path back across the marshes towards Horsey village. The route is mostly flat, making it perfect for the whole family, where all ages can slow down and enjoy the landscape. (A map of the walk can be found here.)

And of course, no Norfolk walk is complete without a stop at a good pub. Just a short distance from the Windpump is The Nelson Head , a traditional country pub where muddy boots and sandy wellies are always welcome, where it feels like you’re stepping back in time. It’s the perfect place to warm up with a drink by the fire in winter or enjoy a relaxed lunch after your walk.

Standing together on those sand dunes watching the seals along the shoreline is one of those simple moments that stays with you long after the holiday ends.