A specially created seasonal section of a rural route now allows walkers to continue through the National Nature Reserve while access to the beach is restricted during the annual seal pupping season, which runs until the end of January. This winter path ensures visitors can still enjoy one of the county's most spectacular stretches of coastline while safeguarding the thousands of seals that return to Donna Nook each year to give birth and raise their pups.
The new route also provides an opportunity to experience the King Charles III England Coast Path, which is opening up more of Lincolnshire's coastline than ever before. The Lincolnshire section of the National Trail stretches for 124 miles between Sutton Bridge and Barton-upon-Humber. Recent additions mean walkers can now access over 90 per cent of the county's coastline via the route, creating an almost continuous walk from the south of the county to the Humber.
The path offers access to landscapes and wildlife previously difficult to reach, including saltmarsh, dunes, and important bird habitats. While the seal colony is the main winter attraction at Donna Nook, the reserve is home to diverse wildlife year-round, with opportunities to spot species such as marsh harriers, avocets, and lapwings.
The route has been carefully planned to improve public access while safeguarding sensitive habitats. Visitors are encouraged to use the designated parking areas at Donna Nook and allow extra time during busy periods, as the seal season attracts thousands of people annually, particularly on weekends and during school holidays.
This temporary winter route offers a perfect opportunity for a day out between now and the end of January, combining a walk on a National Trail with views of one of Britain's largest grey seal colonies in a celebrated coastal landscape.
