Donna Nook Nature Reserve

Venue information

Donna Nook provides one of the best opportunities to photograph seals in England. For most of the year the seals are far out at sea, but during the months from October to December they come inland to the dunes to breed. It’s an ideal location to photograph seal behaviour, from courtship rituals to territorial disputes, mothers with pups, frolicking and surfing seals and general cute and cuddly portraits. The best photography is away from the dunes, out on the coast, which entails a gruelling one-mile trek across the open sand flats. However, the resulting images are well worth the effort. Be prepared for cold, wet and windy conditions, which can play havoc with camera equipment, as wet sand is blown into every nook and cranny. A good plan is to cover cameras and lenses with a weatherproof material, such as a modified dust bag. Be sure also to clean and dry tripods after you return from site.

Venue verdict: There’s nowhere better in England to photograph seals, although care should be taken to protect camera equipment from sand and salt sea spray.

Ratings (out of five): 5