Special Coast Path winter route gives seal watchers access to Donna Nook

Visitors heading to Donna Nook to see Lincolnshire's grey seal colony this winter can now use a specially created seasonal section of the King Charles III England Coast Path. The seasonal route allows walkers to continue through the National Nature Reserve while access to the beach is restricted during the annual seal pupping season, which runs from now until around 31 January.

The winter path means visitors can still enjoy this stretch of coastline while protecting the thousands of seals that return to Donna Nook each year to give birth and raise their pups. It also provides another 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 more than 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, with only a handful of short gaps remaining. The path gives people access to landscapes and wildlife that have previously been difficult to reach, from saltmarsh and dunes to some of the country's most important habitats for birds and other species.

Donna Nook is one of the standout locations along the route. While the seal colony is the main attraction during the winter months, the reserve and surrounding coastline are home to a wealth of wildlife throughout the year. The wider coast path offers opportunities to spot species including marsh harriers, avocets, little egrets, lapwings and redshanks, while other sections pass through nationally important nature reserves and wetlands.

The route has been carefully planned to improve public access while safeguarding sensitive habitats, so people can enjoy the coast without disturbing the wildlife that depends on it.

Visitors are encouraged to use the designated parking areas at Donna Nook and allow extra time during busy periods. The seal season attracts thousands of people every year, particularly at weekends and during school holidays, making it one of the county's most popular natural attractions.