Seal spotting

Who could resist the cute, inquisitive faces of the local herd of seals found on an off-shore sandbank in England’s South East? A day swimming with seals is both an unforgettable experience and a great family day out.

While you can find seals swimming off many of Britain's shores, Wildlife Sailing in Kent gives you and your family the incredible chance to sail to them and even to swim with them.

This great day out will take you on a 5-hour sail from Herne Bay in The Wildlife, a traditional sailing boat. The Wildlife can only carry 10 passengers, so you’re guaranteed an intimate experience with the seals.

After a couple of hours sailing, the boat moors at the sandbank for an hour, where on a good day, you can swim with the seals in clean, shallow water. Don’t forget to bring a picnic and a camera to capture the moment you meet the seals!

There’s no need to swim out to the seals, they swim up to you and are very friendly and playful – a great way for children to get closer to wildlife. The trip also offers stunning views of Britain’s coastline. So whether you’re after an animal adventure or a relaxing trip on Britain’s waters, it's sure to be a family adventure that none of you will forget.

Wildlife Sailing also runs bird watching trips, where you can see all sorts of ducks, geese and wading birds. Seal watching trips run from April to November. For more information, or to book a seal watching trip, visit Wildlife Sailing – Seal Watch (www.wildlifesailing.com/seal.htm).