Sailing the North Norfolk Coast: A Guide to the Coastal Exploration Company
- Jul 1
- 5 min read
Published by Willow Cottages Norfolk
There are plenty of ways to see the North Norfolk coast. You can walk it, cycle it, drive the winding coast road from village to village, or simply sit on the beach and let it come to you. But there is one way of experiencing this landscape that stands apart from all the others — and that is from the water, aboard a traditional wooden boat, with the salt marshes sliding past in silence and a skipper who knows every creek, channel and sandbank by heart.
The Coastal Exploration Company, based on East Quay in Wells-next-the-Sea, has been offering exactly this kind of experience for years. It is, without question, one of the most memorable things you can do on the North Norfolk coast — and one of the best-kept secrets among those who know this stretch of England well.
Who Are the Coastal Exploration Company?
Founded and led by Henry Chamberlain, the Coastal Exploration Company is a small, local team of professional skippers and guides who run sailing voyages from Wells-next-the-Sea aboard a fleet of beautifully maintained traditional wooden boats. The philosophy is simple: slow down, get on the water, and let the North Norfolk coast reveal itself at its own pace.
Everything about the operation is rooted in sustainability and authenticity. The boats are traditional working vessels — a 1950s open gaff rigged whelk boat, a 1960s lug rigged crab boat and a 1960s lug rigged mussel flat — each one a piece of living maritime heritage. Food served aboard is always locally sourced, and the business actively invests in community projects and the movement of cargo under sail. This is not a tourist tick-box operation. It is a genuine, considered, deeply Norfolk experience.
The Boats
Part of what makes a trip with the Coastal Exploration Company so special is the boats themselves. These are not modern fibreglass charter vessels — they are characterful, lovingly maintained wooden craft that have worked these waters for decades.
The Whelk Boat — a 1950s open gaff rigged wooden vessel that was once a working whelk boat on the North Norfolk coast. Now restored and rigged for sailing, she is the flagship of the fleet and capable of open water passages as well as creek exploration.
The Crab Boat — a 1960s lug rigged traditional crab boat, nimble and perfectly suited to the shallower creeks and tidal channels of the salt marshes.
The Mussel Flat — a 1960s lug rigged mussel flat, the most traditional of the fleet, used for creek sailing and the art of sculling — a skilful and strangely meditative way of propelling a boat through still water using a single oar over the stern.
Each boat has a distinct character and suits different conditions and experiences. Your skipper will advise on the best vessel for your voyage depending on the tides, the weather and what you want to see.
What Voyages Are Available?
The Coastal Exploration Company offers a range of experiences to suit different group sizes, appetites and available time.
Creek and Salt Marsh Voyages The most popular option — a voyage through the hidden tidal channels between Wells-next-the-Sea, Stiffkey, Morston and Blakeney, exploring the labyrinthine salt marsh creeks that are completely inaccessible by foot or road. At high tide, the creeks fill with water and the marsh becomes an inland sea; at low tide, the channels narrow and the mudflats reveal themselves alongside extraordinary birdlife. Trips typically run for three to four hours and include locally sourced food cooked by your skipper aboard the boat.
Open Water Coastal Voyages For those who want a more adventurous sail, the Coastal Exploration Company's MCA-coded vessels can take you out to sea — west to Scolt Head Island, east to Blakeney and the famous Chalk Reef, or further afield along the coast. These trips offer a completely different perspective on North Norfolk: the low, flat coastline seen from the sea, the vast skies above, and the sense of being genuinely out on the water.
Private Charters The whole fleet is available for private charter, making it ideal for groups staying at Willow Cottages. A private morning or afternoon voyage — with your own skipper, your own route and a feast of local food cooked aboard — makes for an unforgettable celebration, birthday treat or simply the highlight of a week's holiday. Groups of up to 30 can be accommodated across the fleet.
Shared Voyages For solo travellers or couples, shared voyages offer a single seat aboard a combined sail — typically three to four hours of exploration, wildlife watching and wild swimming alongside a small group of fellow adventurers.
What to Expect Aboard
A voyage with the Coastal Exploration Company is not a passive experience. You are encouraged to get involved — to help with the sails, take the tiller, try your hand at sculling, or simply sit back and absorb the landscape as it unfolds around you.
Food is a central part of every trip. Skippers cook simple, excellent meals aboard using local and seasonal produce — bacon and eggs on a morning sail, bread and local cheese and sausage rolls on an afternoon voyage, a proper feast for a private charter. Everything is sourced from Norfolk fishermen, farmers and producers, and the quality is consistently exceptional.
Wildlife is everywhere on the water. Grey seals bask on the sandbanks, avocets and oystercatchers pick their way through the shallows, marsh harriers quarter the reed beds overhead. In winter, vast flocks of pink-footed geese fly over in formation as you sail through the creeks at dusk. Your skipper will point out everything along the way, drawing on an intimate knowledge of the local wildlife and landscape.
Wild swimming is also on offer for the hardy — the water is cold but invigorating, and there are few more liberating experiences than a swim in a Norfolk creek with nothing but salt marsh and sky around you.
Practical Information
Location: East Quay, Wells-next-the-Sea, NR23 1AT — right on the harbour, a short walk from the town centre.
Booking: Next-day bookings can be made online before noon. For private charters and groups, book as far in advance as possible — popular dates fill up quickly, particularly in summer.
What to wear: Dress for the weather and for being on the water. Layers are essential on the North Norfolk coast even in summer, and a waterproof jacket is always advisable. Soft-soled shoes are recommended on the boats.
Experience required: None whatsoever. The skippers are experienced and will guide you through everything. An open mind and a spirit of adventure are the only prerequisites.
Website: coastalexplorationcompany.co.uk
The Perfect Addition to a Stay at Willow Cottages Norfolk
If you're staying at Willow Cottage in Wighton, Mill Barn in Binham the Coastal Exploration Company is less than ten minutes' drive from your front door. We'd suggest booking a morning voyage early in your stay — it will give you an entirely new perspective on the coast you'll be exploring for the rest of the week, and an understanding of the tidal landscape that makes every subsequent walk and beach visit richer.
For guests staying at Robin Hood Cottage or Stable Cottage in Walsingham, the drive to Wells takes around fifteen minutes and is a beautiful one, passing through the North Norfolk countryside at its most pastoral.
A private charter for your group — a birthday morning on the water, a last-day celebration sail, or simply a private voyage through the creeks with a feast of Norfolk food — is something your guests will be talking about long after they've gone home.
Willow Cottages Norfolk — four exceptional luxury retreats in the heart of North Norfolk, perfectly placed for exploring this remarkable coastline by land and by sea.
