Roughly half of the world’s population of grey seals are found around Britain.
Grey seals come ashore to breed – the breeding site is known as a rookery. The females arrive at the rookery and will usually give birth a day later. They feed their pups for the first 3 weeks. After the pup is weaned, the mother will leave. Over the next few weeks the pup will moult its soft white coat for a mottled waterproof one. Within 3 weeks the pup will have its adult fur and when it starts to feel hunger it will make its way to the sea where it will learn to swim and to feed for itself.
We visited a rookery on the beach between Winterton and Horsey Gap in Norfolk.
We arrived at Winterton and walked along the sand dunes for about 20 minutes until we found a good spot to watch the seals.
The seals had made their way up from the sand onto the grassy dunes and were sleeping in between them.
It was such a beautiful sight to see and witness but also sad to see that there were a few pups that had not made it past the first few weeks of their lives. This may have been because the Cow (Mum) had been disturbed and she abandoned her pup to get away.
We sat and watched in awe at the beauty surrounding us.
We listened to the waves crashing against the shore line and to the screaming sound of the Cow and pup communicating with each other.
You are advised to keep a safe distance from the seal as they can have nasty bite but it is hard to see them when walking with in the dunes. We stumbled across a few who were sleeping and only noticed them at the last minute.
When they move they can move pretty fast.
They are such beautiful creatures, with cute little faces. they almost remind me of fat dogs with no legs.
After over an hour of walking along the beach we made our way back to the car. Winterton is a popular destination for dog walkers because of the long sandy stretch of beach. We visited the same beach in the summer and stayed close by at Hermanus Holiday Site, read about it here
Hermanus Holidays park is situated In Winterton-On-Sea, Norfolk. The site is close to the beach with just the sand dunes separating them from each other. It’s a small site with a choice of beautiful scenic accommodation to choose from; charming thatched round houses, chalets and bungalows. The family run site makes for an ideal retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday lives.
We went to Hermanus for a short weekend, arriving late on Friday evening and left around mid day on Sunday. Although we was there for only a short time, we managed to do so much. It may seem like we had a busy weekend but it was actually very relaxing.
Arriving late on Friday meant that we missed our dinner so we headed on out in search of a nearby Fish and Chip shop. The chip shop in Winterton closed at 8pm so we had to drive to a nearby village, which was also closed but we did find a kebab shop that we ordered a salad from. There was also a co-op where we stocked up on the essentials we would need for the weekend. I hadn’t packed anything as I had no idea where we was going, as my partner had booked it as a surprise for my birthday (otherwise food would have been organised).
After Dinner it was time for the boys to choose what room they wanted to sleep in. Our chalet had 3 bedrooms; 1 double bed, 2 single beds and a room that had a double and a single in. All rooms had a spacious wardrobe and a desk.
Living room
Double bedroom
Single beds
Single bed in large room
Double bed in large room
Spacious Bathroom with bath and shower
Chalet from outside
Dining room with wall mounted Tv
There is ample of parking right outside of the Chalets and table and chairs for those moments where you want to sit outside and take in the surroundings.
The boys spent most of their first night running from one to room, playing hide and seek.
We had a lovely nights sleep and all refreshed for our first day at Hermanus Park. Whilst I made breakfast the boys went outside and played on the field at the bottom of the park. We had brought along boules and a bat and ball to play with.
The whole idea of the weekend was for us, as a family, to spend quality time together. The first thing we did after breakfast was to head on over to Gorleston for the 5k Parkrun. The boys in my family love to run, wherever we go they are either joining in on a race or going out for early morning/evening runs.
Gorleston Parkrun is in fact a course along the sea front, whilst the boys joined the rest of the runners at the start line I positioned myself along the promenade ready to cheer them on.
Jak came second in the runDaddy and Oliver running along
As parkruns go, this has got to be one of the most beautiful scenic one. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend your morning, than running along with your family next to the sea with the sun shining.
On our way back to the site we stopped off at a strawberry picking field and picked some strawberries and raspberries to eat once we got back to the chalet
Once back at the chalet it was time for a quick drink and then out to the field for a game of rounders and Boules. It was so quiet, we were the only family around playing. The children ran along the grass with their shoes off; we laughed, we played, we cheated and we won.
A game of BoulesA game of rounders
It was also a perfect time to get out my new little toy that I had received for my birthday present; A canon EOS200D. I don’t know much about how to use it to its full potential at the moment but I am loving learning and looking back at the photos that I took. It’s great for catching those moments that the phone can’t do.
We went back to the chalet to eat some of our berry pickings and then packed up a bag ready for a walk along the dunes down to the beach. Walking from our chalet, we passed by the gorgeous thatched round houses
Could you imagine staying in one of those, looking out of the window at the sand and the sea…Breathtaking!
We was very lucky with the weather; the sun was shining and the sky was clear. There wasn’t even a breeze to taint the day.
Walking along the dunes and down to the beach was like being abroad. The beach and dunes go on for miles.
walking along the dunestaking in the views if the seaJumping down to the beach below
The beach has a vast stretch of sand between the dunes and the sea that gives it an open feel to it. As we walked along the sand, there were moments that we were the only people around. It was quiet, relaxing and beautiful.
We walked along watching the Turns dive in for fish and the seals swimming amongst the waves. I tried to get pictures of the seals but they didn’t come in close enough. It was just so nice to walk along with nature all around us.
The boys spent time cracking open stones to look for geodes.
We must have walked about 4 miles and quickly realised that we would have to walk back, we could have walked forever, just enjoying each others company. Dad decided to run back to the site and get the car, we arranged to meet at the next car park along at Horsey gap. About 45 minutes later we met up with Dad and got in the car ready to go back to the site. On our way back we stopped off at Horsey National Trust Windpump for a refreshing drink and ice cream
The windpumprelaxing along the river bank
Before long it was time to head back to Hermanus Site for a spot of lunch.
It was a lovely day weather wise, so we headed on over to the heated outdoor pool for a little swim. The pool has a brick wall around keeping out the coastal breeze. It has plenty room around it to sunbathe and spend time relaxing, whilst watching the children play in the pool
After our swim we headed on into the bar area where there was a small arcade that had pool tables in. Here we taught our youngest how to play pool, he loved it. Along with the arcade and bar, Hermanus also has a restaurant and a function suite.
The site and accommodation are quite dated but that is what gives it its charm. It feels unspoilt by the ever-growing community around it. It doesn’t need any fancy updated leisure facilities as it is just perfect the way it is.
We cooked dinner in our chalet that evening and enjoyed it sitting around the huge dining table, all together talking about the day that we had.
The next day was our last one and we had to be out of the chalet by 10am. We woke up early and sat outside on the bench with our morning coffee. The site welcomes pets and most of the accommodation is pet friendly. We had families either side of us dogs but didn’t hear a peep out of them all night long.
Before it was time to say goodbye to Winterton and Hermanus we had one last walk along the beach, where we made pebble towers, ran through the waves and felt the sand between our toes. We even got to spot a few more seals in the distance
Morning run on the sandpebble towerwalking through the duneshis face when he runs! lol
We had a lovely weekend and I am sure that we will be visiting again soon. Winterton On sea is very close to the broads so Hermanus is ideally situated for the beach and days out on the broads. It is also just down the road from Great Yarmouth, so you can visit the shops if you wanted to. For us, it was just nice being together in the idyllic scenery of Hermanus Holiday Park
This is exactly what i did In the summer. Jak was nearly 12 and is just getting into photography.
We was staying at a Haven caravan site in caister, our caravan was pretty close to the grassy sand dunes and on the other side was a lovely wide beach. Jak went off one morning with the camera in hand and came back with these fabulous shots
A view through the grass
Close up of the tide
The tide coming in
Wetting his toes
A close view of the wave
The glistening sea
Windmills at caister
Along the beach
Rocks
Photos by Jak Wright, 12
What do you think? Will he cut it as a Photographer
There is nothing quite like a lovely stroll along the seafront, especially after a hectic few days spent in the City of London. We don’t live too far from the seafront but don’t often get the chance to visit it, we spent the last couple of days of our half term holiday staying at Nanny’s house which is a lot nearer to the beach but still a 45 minute drive away.
Nanny wanted to surprise the boys so she didn’t tell them where we was going, they took a few guesses but was wrong until we was about 5 miles away and they started to read the road signs. We drove past all the attractions and the busy part of the sea front, as just a little further down the road is a lovely part of the beach which not many people visit, I think as it isn’t near the rides and shops that it can be a bit more peaceful.
As soon as the boys were out of the car they ran off towards to the promenade, they couldn’t wait to get down to the beach. The sun was shining and even though it is still February it was still very pleasant.
The eldest took his socks and shoes off and went running along the sand, I did try to remind him that it wasn’t summer but nothing was going to stop him from feeling the cool sand in between his toes.
The boys spent ages searching the beach for different coloured stones, Oliver and I was looking for shells but we didn’t find many, Oliver picked up a little stone and put it to his ear telling me that he was listening for the sea
I told him that it had to be a shell to be able to hear the waves, he just laughed at me and told me i was silly 🙂
We didn’t have any buckets or spades so the boys used their hands to dig and Joseph found a big stick to make marking in the sand with
I loved watching the boys play and run around so freely on the sand, enjoying themselves and laughing.
Oliver kept picking up the sand and letting it run through his fingers, not once did he ask for a spade to dig with, he was having too much fun just feeling it.
Jak tried to make sand angels, he took his top off as he didn’t want it to get all wet from the sand
After a good hour of running around and skimming stones across the waves
We went for a walk along the promenade to but some chips, Along the way we found a little park for the boys to play in
Oliver loves the swing and shouts higher, higher all the time whilst the boys played on the see saw
The walk along the promenade was lovely, the gardens were beginning to bloom and was just so nice to be out enjoying the sun.
The day was even better as we got to spend it with Nanny
I’m linking up our outdoor post with Coombemill Countrykids linky
This summer we holidayed at a Haven site in Cornwall called Perran Porth, we have been to many holiday sites before which are mostly Haven sites but this one is amazing and never fails to keep us happy.
We love to go on holiday in England, there are many beautiful places to explore and enjoy that we probably have three holidays a year in a camp site, either staying in a caravan or a chalet. As a previous Haven employee i guess i am quite biased as to where to go lol, I worked two summer seasons whilst at University at Blue Dolphin in Yorkshire but weirdly enough as a family we haven’t holidayed there.
We took our holiday during the first week of the summer holidays, Daddy booked it two days before we left and told us that he had got us a chalet to stay in, the cost was £750 for the week which included entertainment passes, not bad for a family of 5! The chalet was a nice little surprise as it was very clean and spacious and we had our own parking space right outside of it, for a standard accommodation it was brilliant! It was situated close to the entertainment complex and among some of the many sand dunes that surround the park.
There was a nice little area out the front which was on a slope and Oliver liked to run up and down it but also play in the sand
We spent one of our days playing among the sand dunes, having running races down them, rolling down them and just walking among them, there lots to explore and right on your doorstep! The sand dunes are huge, the boys loved playing on them, we even saw children using their body boards and sliding down the dunes on them.
running races
leaping onto the sand
The entertainment was very good and we always found a table to sit whatever time we arrived at the family club house, the only problem was having to walk through the amusements to get to the bar as the young ones just wanted to go off and play on the games instead of going into the Live Lounge, Oliver ran off a few times and after a frantic search i found him sitting on the rides in the amusements. There is a small soft play area in their that the young ones spent a lot of time playing in
The best part of Holidaying at Haven is the evening entertainment and the kids clubs, Haven is the home to the fun loving characters Bradley, Rory, Anxious, Greedy, Polly and Ned. Joseph’s favourite is Bradley, he has his own little Bradley Bear that he takes on every holiday that he goes on, even to Nannies house. We attended the Meet and Greet Breakfast time which cost us £10, Joseph got to meet Bradley and Polly whilst eating his breakfast off of his very own Character plate, which now has it’s own place along with the cup in our kitchen cupboards at home
There are free clubs for the children to attend with activities running from morning to night, organised sports, crafts and adventure activities. Jak like to meet up with his friends at the multi sports court where he enjoyed a game of football. There is indoor and outdoor swimming pools which are heated and can get quite busy at times but the children had fun going down the flume and you can also book to do many water based activities but these are at extra costs.
We dined in the beach themed restaurant called Surf Bay one afternoon and booked the campervan to eat in, in the middle of the restaurant is a camper van which has a table inside to dine in. It didn’t cost us any more to dine in it but we did have to book
We don’t normally enjoy the food that is served up on holiday sites as we are lovers of olive oil and garlic but the food that we ate in the Surf Bar was gorgeous, we ordered the Deli Tapas Board and dined on sunblushed tomatoes, garlic, olives, rock salt facaccia and jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese yummy!
The best part of Perran Porth site is the location, with a short walk down the hill to the beach and walks along the cliff tops to nearby towns, it’s ideal. The views of the beach down below are stunning
And the waves are ideal for a spot of surfing/body boarding
On a couple occasions we walked down to the beach later on in the day either to have a walk or to go surfing. With the beach so close we made the most of it and had fun playing in the sand, Daddy and Jak went for a run along the long beach a couple of times.
With so many things to do at Perran Porth you are never going to get bored
We had a lovely holiday and will definitely be back next year, the boys made lots of friends and Daddy and I enjoyed watching them having fun.
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