Guide to Visiting Donna Nook Seal Colony in Lincolnshire

Every year from late October to December thousands of grey seals come to a special place on the Lincolnshire, English coastline called Donna Nook in Louth. The name of this location was derived from a ship called ‘The Donna’ which was part of the Spanish Armada. It sank in 1588 off the ‘Nook’ – the term for a small headland. The seals come to Donna Nook each year to give birth to their babies which are called ‘pup’s’. Despite their name, grey seals are not always grey and have unique patterns of darker blotches and spots.

The grey seals are different from the fur seals, sea lions, and elephant seals that I grew up with in New Zealand. Grey seals live along the coasts of the Northern Atlantic Ocean and can be found in the Baltic Sea, by Iceland, the Faroa Islands, Norway to Great Britain and by Northeastern Canada. The pups are incredibly adorable and are born with white fur and have these huge black eyes. The seals are rather inquisitive. The seals at Donna Nook didn’t seem bothered by the crowds and were sitting right up close to the fence that divided them from the crowds of visitors.

To get the the seals you need to follow the Google map directions to Donna Nook which takes you onto Marsh Lane. The seals are incredibly popular, so either get there early or be prepared to sit waiting in the car queue. I felt sorry for the people that lived along this road as they must never be able to get in or out during this time of year. We did not get there early enough and ended up having to wait for some time before we finally got to the car park. If you head to the very end of Marsh Lane, there is a sealed car park, however, during seal season, they block it to force you to turn right towards a large field that they turn into the main car park for the seal tourism. You can still get to this other car park, but you have to either drive around the block or go another way via the small local roads. I think it’s mostly the locals ‘in the know’ that use this car park.

It had been incredibly rainy for weeks, so the park was a huge bog. There were two tractors helping to push cars out of the mud. Thankfully we found a park just off the path so we didn’t have to venture into the really muddy parts, as we only have a little Yaris. In the car park area there was a large vegetable market, as a clever farmer had planted a nearby field full of winter vegetables and was making a killing with the huge amount of visitors that this place gets. The tractors were continually running back and forth to re-stock. On the road out, another local farmer had turned their yard into a Christmas shop.

From the car park we walked over to the coastline which sits behind a large dune. Once you get over the dune there is a long fence line that runs along the coastal path that keeps the visitors separate from the seals. The fence line was packed with people for miles each way. However, plenty of gaps open up and you can get a spot against the fence. Lots of seals actually lie right beside it, so you do get the opportunity to get very close to them.

The seals are easy to see because they are everywhere. I couldn’t believe my eyes, there were seals as far as the eye could see. There was also lots of afterbirth (placenta) dotted about with the seagulls tugging at it. A bit gross, but that’s nature! Some of the pups were so new that their pink umbilical cords were still attached. The white fluffy pups were so adorable. I really enjoyed watching them suckle from their mothers and attempting to learn how to awkwardly shuffle about to get from one place to another.

The females are called cows and the males are called bulls. There were bulls who were rather violently fighting against each other as they vied for the attention of the cows while the females lay relaxing and recovering. They lay on their sides so that their pups could easily suckle. They only suckle for three weeks, but during that time, the mothers milk is so rich in fats that the pups almost triple in size. During this time they also lose their white coats. The cows then mate with the bulls that have been trying to impress them over this period and then they all head back out to sea.

There are interesting information boards dotted along the path that provides more information about the seals and plants and birds in this area. I was surprised to learn that seals can live 30-40 years and that the males can get up to 3 metres long and 300 kg! Along the path is the Wildlife Trust hut which has further information about the seals and they also have a display board with the daily seal counts.

The weather was actually quite mild when we visited. We were keen to escape the crowds and see more, so we headed for a walk further along the coast. Along the way we saw small groups of cows with their pups that clearly preferred to distance themselves from the main groups. We spent several hours walking and watching the seals, it was a really pleasant day out.

How to get to Donna Nook

To get to Donna Nook, follow the instructions on Google Maps and head to Marsh Lane in Louth. It gets so busy during the seal season that they turn the narrow country road into a one way loop. This is well signposted, so just follow the signs. If you head to the very end of Marsh Lane, there is a sealed car park, however, during the seal season they block it to force you to turn right towards the main car park set up for the seal visitors. The approximate GPS coordinates 53.473819, 0.144430. You can still get to the sealed car park, but you have to either drive around the road block or go another way via the small local roads.

During the seal season, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust provide weekly seal updates on their website. So at the start and the end of the season, check their updates before heading over in case you’re too early or you miss them. Sometimes there are still a few around at the start of January.

Entry Fee

The car park costs £4 per vehicle during the weekdays and £5 for weekends. There are no other entrance fees. There is free parking for blue badge holders. 20% of your car parking fee goes to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust who manage the Donna Nook Nature Reserve and seals.

Facilities at Donna Nook

There are porter loo toilets available for visitors to use. Alongside the vegetable stall, there is also a couple of food vans selling hot drinks and basic food items such as burgers and sausages.

How Long Should I Visit the Seals For?

We spent several hours out here as we took the opportunity to enjoy a walk along the coastal path.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Seals at Donna Nook

• Arrive as early as possible to avoid the crowds and the wait to get into the car park.
• Remember that it gets dark early at this time of year. Best light is before 3pm.
• October to December is winter in the UK, and it can get particularly cold on the coast, as the wind blows across the ocean. Read my tips on how to stay warm on a winter vacation.
• It can get muddy out here, especially the car park. We wore some thermal lined gumboots (or wellingtons if you are British) like these ones.
• There are limited food options (food vans), so you could bring your own thermos with your favourite hot drink and some snacks.
• Don’t forget to pack your camera, as you will want to take endless photos of these cuties.
• Please respect the rules – they are there for your safety and to reduce the stress on the seals. Stay behind the fence and leave your dog at home as they distress to the seals. Never feed or pet the seals and make sure you closely supervise your children.
• Looking for somewhere else to visit whilst you are in the area? Then check our my guide to visiting the beautiful historic city of Lincoln with its Roman ruins, ancient city walls that you can walk around, and its grand cathedral. It also highlights some of the other sites in Lincolnshire.

Warning

Visitors should be aware that the Ministry of Defence still maintains part of the area as a bombing target range and under no circumstances should anyone enter the bombing area when red flags are flying. However, most of the dune area is accessible at all times.

Accommodation Options Near Donna Nook

Search available accommodation in Lincoln

Budget

• Pigeon Cottage Bed & Breakfast
• Wickham House
• Conifer Cottage at The Old Manor in North Somercotes

Moderate

• Manby House
• The Old Coach House at Stewton Apartment
• Duckthorpe Grange

Luxury

• Saltfleet Manor House