The UK beach towns home to famous wild orcas, huge sharks and the world’s largest dolphins
BRITAIN'S miles and miles of coastline mean we have a front row seat to some of the world's best marine life - and what's even better is you can see most of it from the shore.
The UK's seas have everything from sharks to seals and dolphins, and this time of year is the perfect time to see most of them.
As part of our Best Of British Travel series, we've been speaking to the experts at - a charity that protects whales, dolphins and porpoises - about the best spots on the coast to see the species you never knew lived in Britain's seas.
It's a Shark's Tale in Cornwall during the summertime
Head to sunny Cornwall in the spring and summer months, as the country is the UK's current shark capital - with 20 different types of species, as they enjoy feasting on sardines and squid along the coast.
While Jaws fans might not like the look of their fins gliding through the water, one of the most common types of shark inhabiting our coast at this time of year aren't dangerous at all.
Basking sharks are huge - the world's second largest fish after the whale shark - and range from 4 - 9ft in length, but they're considered rarely harmful to humans.
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While they prefer deeper waters, the massive creatures are often spotted in the shallow waters off Lizard Point, although take your binoculars for the best view.
The Wavecrest cafe there has panoramic views of the sea and you can enjoy a cream tea, a full English or even a beer while you shark watch.
ORCA's Director of Programmes Lucy Babey told Sun Travel: Cornwall and the south west is a hotspot for marine wildlife.
"The diversity of species - leaping dolphins, diving seabirds, lounging seals and even the blow of large whales - makes this one of the best places in the UK to see marine megafauna.
"In Cornwall and the south west, marine wildlife can all be seen from harbours, cliff tops and beaches, and Lizard Point provides a great vantage point."
Give the Norfolk pups your seal of approval
Is there anything cuter than a furry seal pup? The tourists in-the-know who head to Norfolk's beach every autumn certainly don't think so.
More than 3,000 seals call the coast of west Norfolk - home, and if you time your visit right you'll be treated to the sight of hundreds of pups wriggling on the sands of Blakeney and Horsey beaches.
The stretch of coast is just along from the Sandringham Estate, where the Prince and Princess of Wales live with their family.
Ride the waves with some of the world's largest dolphins in Cardigan Bay, Wales
Forget travelling to the Maldives or Hawaii for wild dolphins - we've got some of the biggest dolphins in the world right here in the UK.
Britain is actually home to two pods of bottlenose dolphins - the larger one, with more than 300 bottlenose dolphins, being found in Cardigan Bay in Wales.
On average, 80 per cent of the trips spot bottlenose dolphins and/or harbour porpoises.
Once you've spotted enough dolphins, there's plenty more to do in Cardigan Bay - the area has several Blue Flag beaches, farm parks, soft play, and further inland, mountains and lakes to explore.
Get starstruck in Scotland with the UK's famous resident orcas - John Coe and Aquarius
Whales have been spotted along most of Britain's coastline, but one of the best spots to see them is on the north west coast of Scotland.
Lucy Babey said: "The UK is home to two resident killer whales, known as John Coe and Aquarius, who travel around the country but are most common in the west and north of Scotland.
"Despite their name, these are in fact dolphins, not whales, and they are the largest of the dolphin family, reaching 10m in length.
The 2.5 hour Whales and Wildlife cruises and the 4 hour Ultimate Orca 1 cruises run on a daily basis between mid-May and mid-September. The Whales and Wildlife cruise is £65 for adults, £50 for children (4-12 years), and the Ultimate Orca 1 cruise is £100 for adults, £80 for children. Visit to book.
Once you're done on the water, there are plenty of scenic hiking trails in and around Gairloch and great trout fishing.
offers four to five-hour-long guided sea kayaking tours to visit the seal colony.
Price per seat is £109.99 and skill level listed is beginner, fitness level basic to mid, with age suitability from 16 upwards. To book, visit .
Warm yourself with the sight of cute baby seals on a winter Farne Islands cruise
Seals can be seen all times of year in spots around Britain, including the Farne Islands in Northumberland - home to thousands of grey seals.
Every autumn you can see seal pups, with around 3,000 pups born on the island each year.
Companies like offer cruises out to see the seals throughout the year, but for views of the pups, head out late October until January.
Billy Shiel's Boat Trips are available for all ages, dogs are also welcome. It's £20 for adults (ages 16+), £15 for children (ages 5-15), and free for infants (up to 4 years old). To book, visit its .
Location: Billy Shiel's Boat Trips, Harbour, Harbour Road, Seahouses NE68 7RN
I WENT ON A SEA SAFARI IN PADSTOW IN CORNWALL - HERE’S WHAT I SAW
Amy Nicholson went on a Sea Safari with Wavehunters in Padstow, Cornwall
Watch Amy’s video diary of her time on the Sea Safari and in Padstow at the top of this article.
By Amy Nicholson
Padstow is a really cute harbour town on the western banks of the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall. In the town you’ll find the Wave Hunters office which offers boat trips round the stunning Cornish coastline. I booked on to their two hour Sea Safari and was so excited to be able to explore the coast and see if I could see any marine life.
As the 10-metre rig pulled out of Padstow Harbour there were views of the town of Rock over the estuary. The first part of the trip we admired the rugged Cornish coastline, checked out blowholes, and saw a dinosaur rock formation known as Rumps.
We made our way over to Puffin Island which is home to a variety of seabirds. We managed to see lots of different species, including a puffin in the water.
We were then greeted with the presence of a gorgeous seal who popped up to say hello.
To finish the safari off we were so lucky to be able to see some common dolphins. The waters around Cornwall are home to several species of dolphins, and these common ones are known for their playful behaviour, and they’re often seen in large pods.
The Sea Safari was an amazing experience. After coming off the boat I walked round Padstow to check out all the little cute shops and restaurants. I grabbed a Cornish pasty from Chough Bakery and ate it on the harbour wall. But there were so many seagulls, I was afraid they might steal it!
To finish off an amazing day I had to get some fudge, which I picked up from Pendragon’s Ice Cream and Fudge.
Responsible marine wildlife watching
Encountering marine wildlife in their natural environment is an exciting experience, but it's important to remember that they are wild animals and need to be treated with respect.
Lucy said: "Marine wildlife is particularly sensitive to disturbance, on land or at sea, especially when resting, with young, or feeding. Being responsible when watching them will reduce disturbance and help safeguard their populations for the future.
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"Many people do not realise that it is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to intentionally and/or recklessly disturb marine mammals, and can result in a fine.
Responsible marine wildlife watching includes; staying at least 100m away from the animal; not feeding or touching the animal; minimising noise around wildlife; not chasing, following or harassing wildlife."