Seal and Wildlife Trips - As seen on BBC's inside out and BBC Coast programmes

We run trips to either one of the two seal colonies. We aim to arrive with the seals at various states of the tide and fully expect to see seals hauled out on the banks as well as in the water. In fact they are often as interested in us as we are in them and they will come surprisingly close to the boat.

Common Seals from the Lady Essex III

On quite a number of these trips we are accompanied by an expert guide from the RSPB, who is able to give a very interesting and enlightening commentary as well as being able to answer your questions. Our guide will also point out all of the different bird species that you will see. As well as Common Seals and sometimes Atlantic Grey Seals we have also encountered Harbour Porpoise.

Forthcoming Trips

Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project 28th March: Boats, buses and walking boots!
The RSPB is holding an event on/around Wallasea Island. This event offers you the chance to come and get to know Wallasea Island and learn more about the Wild Coast Project. The three-hour tour will include a boat trip on the Crouch and Roach Estuaries followed by a minibus/walking tour of the island. There will be two tours – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The cost is £10 and places are limited and must be booked in advance.

Tour 1 Boat leaves 09:15 from Wallasea Marina and 09:30 from Burnham Town Quay, arriving back at 12:30

Tour 2 Boat leaves 13:15 from Wallasea Marina and 13:30 from Burnham Town pontoon, arriving back at 16:30

To book please call: 01268 498627.

Check back soon for future trips.

All seats must be pre booked by calling 01702 258666 and your point of departure confirmed. Note that Essex Boatyards would like to remind passengers to use the designated ferry parking area.

We cannot be held responsible in the event that a trip is cancelled due to bad weather or circumstances beyond our control. We will, whenever possible, attempt to inform our pre-booked passengers of any enforced changes and will of course validate their tickets for an alternative sailing. We cannot be held responsible for enforced changes affecting the ferry service.

SPECIAL OFFER. WE ARE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY ABLE TO RUN SEAL AND WILDLIFE TRIPS FOR 4 OR MORE PERSONS AT OUR STANDARD PRICE OF £15.00 PER PERSON ON ANY DAY OF YOUR CHOOSING ,SUBJECT TO WEATHER TIDE AND OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.

PLEASE NOTE: ON ALL ADVERTISED SEAL TRIP PASSENGERS MUST BE ABLE TO SIT STILL FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRIP AND BE ABLE TO BE ABSOLUTELY QUIET WHILST WE ARE WITH THE SEALS. PLEASE DO NOT BOOK IF ANY MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY INCLUDING THE DISABLED AND ANY CHILDREN CANNOT DO SO AS PASSAGE WILL BE REFUSED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY! WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER APPROPRIATE TAILOR MADE CHARTERS TO GROUPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. WE REGRET THAT THESE TRIPS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE UNDER 5's OR PETS

Cancellation Refund & Privacy Policies

Whilst it is not possible to book or pay for a ferry seat in advance as we run on a first come first served basis, all seats for our seal and wildlife trips and private charter and Water Taxi must be pre paid at the time of booking, except by prior agreement with the company. Such payments are non refundable in the event of cancellation by the customer within 7 days of departure. Prior to 7 days we are able to reschedule your booking to an alternative sailing or to offer a 50% refund.

In the event of cancellation of the trip by the company due to bad weather, mechanical breakdown or other reason beyond our control every effort will be made to offer an alternate sailing. Should this not be possible a full refund will be made without delay.

January and February can be one of the best times of year to get superb views of our wetland wildlife, with thousands of waders in residence in the remote creeks that we explore, traditionally we have several days each January with bright sunshine calm winds and great visability. Wrap up warmly with plenty of layers and themal undies, bring a flask if you wish and dont forget camera and binoculas and prepare for a trully unique wildlife encounter!

A Recent all day trip was for the local RSPB group and the species seen were as follows: Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Merganser (pair), Little Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Kestrel, Moorhen, Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet Lapwing Golden Plover (c.200), Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Common Redshank, Knot, Dunlin, Common Gull Great Black-backed Gull Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull Carrion Crow, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Pied Wagtail Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit (Wallasea Marina), Chaffinch.  

Click to see video of one of our seal trips taken by one of our customers.

Gift Vouchers
You are able to purchase gift vouchers for our popular seal and wildlife trips as gifts. These can be sent directly to the person or can be forwarded to you. The lucky benefactor can then book a trip to suit their diary.

Please see our 'contact us' page for details on how to book.

Close views of the seals from the Lady Essex

We sometimes see Avocets!Come and see the many birds of our shoreline

It is the policy of the company not to store keep or exchange the personal financial details of any customer except as to enable verification of any credit card payment at which time all such details are immediately destroyed. The company will not pass on any details to third parties for the purposes of marketing.