Although sightings of the marine mammals are classed as rare rather than commonplace, there has been a steady trickle of sightings off Norfolk in recent years.

Using reports from the Sea Watch Foundation’s sightings map, here are five spots where there is a chance of seeing a porpoise or dolphin, with the odd whale as an outside bet.

1. West Runton

Sea lovers are being urged to join dolphin watches on the north Norfolk coast (Image: Chris Taylor)

The Runtons are a common spot to see marine wildlife, with a pod of eight to 10 photographed just 400 metres off East Runton on August 14, 2023, by Sheringham photographer Chris Taylor. 

The seaside town sits on the same productive Cromer–Sheringham–Cley run, so the area benefits from the same deeper water and passing fish shoals that occasionally pull in porpoise and dolphins.

2. Blakeney

Blakeney is known for its seals, but lucky beachgoers may get a sight of dolphins. (Image: Victoria Sheppard)

In 2023, at least two dolphins were seen off the Blakeney coast.

Blakeney Point itself is a low, shifting spit of sand and shingle fronting a vast National Nature Reserve of saltmarsh, dunes and creeks, reached most easily on the famous seal tours from Morston and Blakeney harbours.

The trips run much of the year to England’s largest grey seal colony and have the chance to turn up harbour porpoises as by‑catch sightings, all against a backdrop of big skies, bird‑laden marshes and wide and empty beaches.

3. Winterton

There were two alleged sightings of a humpback whale near Winterton last year. (Image: Liz Coates)

Although there is no official story of a humpback whale off the coast of Winterton, there is a reported sighting from November last year.

Two days later, the whale was reportedly seen off the coast of Sea Palling, which is just up the road.

Winterton beach is a long run of pale sand backed by high, rolling dunes and stretches of open coastline.

There are no promenades or arcades to get in the way of the views, so beachgoers can look straight out over the North Sea.

4. Sheringham and Cromer

A minke whale was reportedly seen off the Sheringham coast in April last year. (Image: Denise Bradley)

Dolphins are not a common sight in two of Norfolk’s most loved seaside towns, but there have been plenty of porpoise sightings and even a reported minke whale in April last year.

In January 2021, a dead sperm whale was found washed up on Sheringham’s beach, which was the third sperm whale found along the Norfolk coast that winter.

Just down the road in Overstrand, a bottlenose dolphin was seen in 2023.

On the right day, seaside-lovers may get a lucky glimpse.

5. Hunstanton

A toothed whale was seen off the Hunstanton coast last year. (Image: Newsquest/ Ian Burt)

There have been rare but confirmed sightings of whales near Hunstanton, with a toothed whale reportedly seen in September last year.

A 14m-long (46ft) whale was also found dead between Old Hunstanton and Holme-next-the-Sea in 2016.

For live wildlife, Hunstanton is best treated as a good general‑nature spot, with seals off the west coast, seabird movements over the Wash, plus the Sea Life sanctuary’s rescued seals, penguins and fish if you want guaranteed close‑ups.

However, it is not impossible to see more marine wildlife here.