Holiday rentals in Blakeney

Wildlife steals the show in Blakeney, a small village on the North Norfolk coast. Seal-watching trips tend to be the main event here, with travellers coming from far and wide to peek at England’s largest colony of grey seals slumbering on the sands of nearby Blakeney Point, a four-mile-long sand and shingle spit and nature reserve. It’s a first-class birdwatching spot, too, with migrating terns, waders, and wintering wildfowl on the salt marshes and mudflats. The village itself is an unspoilt charmer, full of winding streets of whitewashed and flint-cobble cottages, a 14th-century guildhall, and a smattering of cafes and shops. At the heart of it all is Blakeney Quay, on a shallow tidal creek where small boats gain access to the North Sea; from here you can set off on kayak adventures or try your hand at sailing. Beyond, the wild, flat, otherworldly landscapes of North Norfolk, with its big skies, huge beaches, dunes, and nature reserves, are complemented by the cosy comforts of shopping and scoffing in outposts such as the port town Wells-next-the-Sea.

Surprisingly, summer isn’t always the best time to be in Blakeney. Baby seal pups make an appearance in winter, when more than 3,000 of the adorable white fluff-balls are born between November and January — an unmissable event. Autumn and winter are also the best times to scout migrating bird species.

Summer brings the rather esoteric annual Blakeney Regatta, with locals and visitors cheered on in silly games including tug-of-war, crab catching, and wackiest of all, a greasy pole competition, where participants attempt to slide along a slippery post above the water of the quay. In September the sea is warmed by the summer sun, crowds diminish, and there are autumnal events such as Heritage Open Days, giving free access to many of Norfolk’s cultural and historic sites.

North Norfolk Coastal Path

Passing by the village is the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path, a 130-mile walking trail. The seaside stretch runs right round to the Wash, a rectangular bay where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire to the west. You probably won’t get that far, but the path is handy for exploring the pristine salt marshes west of Blakeney and reaching the cool shops and foodie haunts of Wells-next-the-Sea, or Holkham’s wildly beautiful and vast beach.

Other shorter walks on National Trust trails lead from Blakeney village to shingle ridges, Blakeney Freshes for birdwatching, and Blakeney Point.

Blakeney’s Church

As churches go, Blakeney’s is pretty quirky. A regular church tower at one end is mimicked by a smaller one at the other that was lit to act as a lighthouse beacon for seafarers. The church is appropriately dedicated to St. Nicholas, patron saint of — no, not Christmas presents — fishermen.

Crab-catching

Or “ghillying,” as the locals call it. Take crab lines, buckets, and bait down to Blakeney Quay and compete with the local kids to haul in as many ghillies as you can, being sure to toss them back into the sea afterwards.