The UK is home to almost 5000 miles of awe-inspiring coastline, ranging from the famed white cliffs of Dover to the haunting marshes of the North Norfolk shores and the quaint fishing villages of Scotland.
If you are keen to get out and explore these rich and varied places where the land meets the sea, gulls soar overhead, and history and legend combine, then you will be pleased to discover that there are several ways to do so.
Read on to find out what they are and how you can include them on your next coastal adventure.
Take A Seal Watching Excursion
Humans have had an intense fascination for seals for centuries. We have woven them into our legends and folk tales, made clothing from their furs and used their nourishing blubbery meat to supplement our diets during the long barren winter months.
If you would love to have a memorable encounter with these intriguing creatures, there are many locations around the British coastline where you can do so.
While seals can be seen everywhere from Pembrokeshire to Orkney, Norfolk, in particular, is renowned for its seal populations, with seal-watching boat tours departing regularly from the picturesque little harbour of Blakeney.
Seals also use Norfolk beaches as their breeding grounds, not just at Blakeney but also along the coastline at Horsey Beach, where you can walk along the picturesque dunes and admire the plump new pups.
Of course, it’s vital that you take precautions not to disturb the seals, particularly when they are giving birth – but provided you keep your distance and don’t make any loud noises, you should be able to enjoy a truly unforgettable encounter with these remarkable creatures.
Give Sailing A Try
The idea of sailing effortlessly across the waves on your very own yacht has an undeniable appeal – and there is no need to dismiss the notion as a passing fancy if it’s something you’d really love to pursue.
In fact, there are sailing schools dotted around the UK’s coastlines, offering a wealth of courses to help you find your sea legs and learn how to master the art of navigating the high seas. They even offer online learning to supplement your yachting education, so wherever you are in the UK, you can work toward gaining your sailing qualifications.
Once you have passed your courses and become an experienced skipper, the excitement and thrill of being able to peruse the various sailing boats for sale and pick out your very own yacht are sure to make all that practice and study well worth your while.
Learn To Scuba Dive
One of the most immersive – pun intended – ways to experience the watery world that lies just off our shores is to go beneath the surface.
Scuba diving allows you to encounter our marine life up close and personal – from tiny molluscs to colourful fish and perhaps even seals or a majestic basking shark if you are really lucky.
Some locations around our islands allow you to learn to scuba dive and participate in various underwater explorations. One of the finest locations is undoubtedly Oban, on Scotland’s picturesque western coastline.
Here you can learn to dive in Gallanach Bay, guided by an experienced and fully accredited PADI instructor; or, if you already have your diving certification, you can choose from a variety of unforgettable diving experiences, from drift-dives to the exploration of shallow-water wrecks.
Otters and seals can often be encountered on these dives, as well as skate, lobsters, conger eels, anemones and sea squirts, to name just a few of the species you will meet beneath the waves.
Become A Coastal Forager
Have you ever tucked into a quiche made with freshly gathered dulce seaweed? Or sampled a cheesecake baked with sea buckthorn as one of the main ingredients?
If not, perhaps it’s time you added these marine delicacies to your diet by taking a coastal foraging course.
If you choose the right foraging course, you’ll be able to enjoy an edible treasure hunt that is guaranteed to become one of your favourite coastal experiences. The highlight is the al fresco lunch you get to enjoy, prepared from foraged ingredients and freshly sourced local fare.
Test Your Head For Heights With A Rock-Climbing Session
If you would love to experience our awe-inspiring coastlines from a unique perspective – without getting your feet wet – rock climbing may be just the activity for you.
Dorset’s Jurassic cliffs are the perfect place to master your climbing and belaying skills with the help of experienced instructors, who will help you build your cliff-scaling confidence.
There are plenty of routes to choose from, ranging from the easy to the more complex, so if you’re still working on improving your head for heights, you can choose one of the gentler ascents, such as those that scale Blacknor cliff.
As you will soon discover, rock climbing is a low-cost but highly entertaining and engaging coastal activity that will help you view Britain’s stunning shores with fresh eyes.
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