Searles Sea Tours

The boat launches from Hunstanton's seafront, and within minutes you're properly out on the Wash, that strange and moody expanse of water between Norfolk and Lincolnshire. Searles Sea Tours runs trips from the town centre - nothing fancy, just honest fishing boat excursions that let you see what the Norfolk coast actually looks like from the water rather than from the prom.

You'll spot seals hauled out on the sandbanks, wading birds working the shallows, and if you're lucky, the occasional porpoise. The guides know their stuff about local wildlife and the geography of the place. It's the sort of thing that works brilliantly for families with restless kids - there's always something moving on the water - but equally, it appeals to serious birdwatchers and anyone who wants to understand how this coast actually functions. The Wash doesn't photograph like Cornwall cliffs do, but there's something honest about it.

Timing matters. Tides rule everything out here, so trips don't run at fixed hours - check ahead with Searles before you visit. The journey takes a couple of hours typically, so allow half a day. Bring layers even in summer; it's exposed out there.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Manor Park or Searles Leisure Resort are practically on the doorstep - a morning tour breaks up the holiday nicely. It's not the sort of thing you'd drive hours to do alone, but as part of a Norfolk coast trip, it's worth the detour.