Scroby Sands Seal Watching Tour: Grey & Common Seals

Drift near seals hauled out on the sandbank, engine off so they stay calm

A 90-minute seal watching boat tour departing from Lowestoft Harbour heads north along the East Coast to Scroby Sands, where the engine cuts and the vessel drifts to observe grey and common seals at close range. Life jackets and waterproofs are provided. Children from age 4 are welcome, and a live English-speaking guide is aboard. Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time for check-in and boarding.

Step-by-step itinerary

Coastal cruise and seal watching

• Arrive 30 minutes before departure
• Depart from Lowestoft Harbour
• Cruise past South Pier and commercial port
• Pass Ness Point and Gulliver wind turbine
• Cruise along Corton Beach coastline
• Pass offshore Hopton Beach and radar base
• Cruise past Gorleston Beach and pier
• Pass Great Yarmouth Beach and port
• Stop at Scroby Sands seal colony
• Observe and photograph seals and seabirds

The experience

The boat leaves South Pier and cruises through Lowestoft Harbour, passing offshore supply vessels, cargo ships and fishing boats that support the North Sea wind industry. You'll pass Ness Point (the most easterly point of the UK), and the Gulliver wind turbine, once the tallest onshore turbine in Britain. The route then follows the coastline past Corton Beach and its cliffs, Hopton Beach with its wartime RAF radar base remains, and Gorleston Beach, where the White Swan shipwreck still sits offshore from a First World War grounding.

At Scroby Sands, speed drops sharply and the engine typically switches off. The vessel drifts or anchors so you can watch grey and common seals hauled out on the shifting sandbank or swimming near the boat, often with visible curiosity. Seabirds move through the same waters, and the offshore wind turbines of the Scroby Sands wind farm rise from the sea in the distance. The quiet approach means you get time to photograph and observe without spooking the colony.

Life jackets and waterproofs come with the tour. The journey takes 90 minutes total, and you need to arrive 30 minutes early for check-in at the pier.

What’s included

• Life jackets and waterproofs.
• a live guide in English.
• close-range seal and seabird viewing at Scroby Sands with the engine off so the colony stays undisturbed.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and SaturdayDepartures at 12:00 and 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (4 to 16 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Jet Adventures Limited

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with children from age 4 or want a small-group experience where the boat slows and quiets at the seal site. The engine cut means you get time to watch and photograph without the rush of a faster cruise past.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 16 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What seals will I see on the Scroby Sands tour?

Both grey and common seals live on the sandbank at Scroby Sands, and you'll see them hauled out or swimming nearby when the boat drifts at the site. Seabirds are also present throughout the waters you pass.

Why does the boat engine cut off at Scroby Sands?

The engine switches off so the vessel can drift or anchor without disturbing the seal colony, letting you observe and photograph them at close range while they stay calm and curious around the boat.

What else is on the route besides the seals?

The tour passes Ness Point (the UK's most easterly point), the Gulliver wind turbine, Corton Beach with its cliffs, the remains of RAF Hopton, Gorleston Pier and the White Swan shipwreck, plus views of busy harbour activity and offshore wind farms along the East Coast.

How long is the seal watching tour?

The tour runs 90 minutes from departure. You'll need to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time for check-in and boarding at South Pier.

What's included with the tour?

Life jackets and waterproofs are included. A live English-speaking guide is aboard throughout the 90-minute cruise.