Donna Nook National Nature Reserve

Grey Seal

Lesley Robb

Donna Nook

Peter Roworth

Donna Nook

Rachel Shaw

Redshank

Adam Jones

Donna Nook

Barrie Wilkinson

Extensive dunes and shore between North Somercotes and Saltfleet.

Location

Marsh Lane
Donna Nook
Louth
LN11 7PD

OS Map Reference

TF 422 998
A static map of Donna Nook National Nature Reserve

Know before you go

Size
1150 hectares
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Parking information

Easy access Stonebridge car park has limited spaces, main car park (privately owned) operates October to December and charges £5 per car and £10 per coach

Grazing animals

Cattle and sheep

Walking trails

600m viewing area accessible from either car park

Access

Disabled ramp access from the Stonebridge car park, access from the main car park is over an unsurfaced dune

Dogs

No dogs permitted

Dogs are not permitted on the seal viewing area. Seals can carry infectious diseases like Leptospirosis and Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) which are harmful to dogs.

When to visit

Opening times

Reserve open all year
Seal viewing area, main car park and facilities open October to December, dawn til dusk

Best time to visit

October to December

About the reserve

The reserve consists of dunes, slacks and inter-tidal areas. Coastal processes alter the natural features from year to year. Sand from the beach and offshore sandbanks is blown inland by easterly winds to form dune ridges. Deposition of material from the River Humber has resulted in mudflats and saltings. The advancing dunes have trapped areas of saltmarsh behind them, and these areas have gradually become less saline, allowing an interesting plant community to develop.

In winter, there is a breeding colony of grey seals, with more than 2,000 pups born annually. A viewing area at the foot of the sand dunes reduces disturbance to the seals and ensures the safety of visitors.

Please visit our main Donna Nook page for further information.

Visitors should be made aware that the Ministry of Defence still maintains part of the area as a bombing target range and under no circumstances should anyone enter the bombing area when red flags are flying. However, most of the dune area is accessible at all times. For your own safety and to reduce disturbance to the seals during pupping season, all visitors should stay within the viewing area behind the fence.

Location information

Donna Nook location PDF

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Contact us

Environmental designation

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)