Why the coast is the easiest wildlife watching there is

You do not need to be a seasoned hillwalker to have a memorable encounter with British wildlife. Some of the richest habitats in the country sit along a path that barely rises above sea level for a mile at a time. Cliffs, coves and estuaries concentrate life in a narrow band, which means seabirds, seals and dolphins are often within binocular range of a car park and a tea hut. A pair of sturdy trainers, a windproof layer and a bit of patience will get you further than expensive kit ever will.

Spring and early summer are the golden months. Between May and July, seabird colonies are at their noisiest, puffins are still coming ashore, and the clifftop flowers — thrift, sea campion, kidney vetch — are at their peak. Bring a light rucksack, check the tide table, and keep the walk short. Two or three gentle miles with a long stop beats six rushed ones.

Seabird cities on the chalk cliffs

The chalk cliffs of the East Riding of Yorkshire hold one of the largest seabird colonies in Britain. A three-mile linear route from the lighthouse at Flamborough Head towards the great white wall of Bempton offers a masterclass in seabird watching without a single steep climb, as long as you avoid the few stepped descents.

Look for:

• Gannets, huge and dazzling white, gliding past at eye level and folding into spectacular dives.
• Puffins, usually in small rafts on the water or whirring in with beaks full of sand eels.
• Guillemots and razorbills, packed shoulder to shoulder on the narrowest ledges.
• Kittiwakes, whose name is exactly the sound they make.

Stand back from the edge — chalk crumbles quietly and without warning — and use the field edges and fence lines as your viewing points. Early morning is best before the day-trippers arrive.

West Wales: choughs, seals and a path with a view

If you want the sea views and the wildlife in equal measure, head for the Pembrokeshire coast. The stretch between Abereiddy and Porthgain is short, dramatic and generous: a black slate cove, an old quarry harbour with a pub at the end, and a clifftop path that rarely demands more than a steady amble.

Watch for choughs, glossy black crows with red bills and a distinctive tumbling flight, which nest in sea caves and feed on the short turf. Peregrines hunt the headlands, and grey seals haul out on the rocks below, their pups appearing in autumn. Nearby Strumble Head is one of the best places in Britain to spot dolphins and porpoises from dry land — take a flask and give it an hour.

For a closer look at puffins and Manx shearwaters, the offshore islands are unbeatable, but sailings fill up fast in summer. Book weeks ahead and take the earliest crossing you can manage.

Short island strolls with a ferry ride built in

Half the pleasure of a coastal break is the crossing itself, and several British islands offer excellent walking within an hour of the pier.

• Isle of Wight: the five-mile Tennyson Down path from Freshwater Bay to the Needles rewards you with ravens, peregrines and distant gannets, plus a café at the far end.
• Isle of Man: the Raad ny Foillan coast path gives easy sections around Port Erin and the Calf of Man, where seals and basking sharks are regular summer visitors.
• Isle of Arran: a flat shore path from Brodick towards Lamlash is perfect for otters, eiders and views across to Holy Isle.
• Lindisfarne: a gentle mile and a half to the castle crosses sand and dune where waders, eiders and haul-out seals are almost guaranteed.

Check causeway and tidal crossing times before you set off. On Holy Island the safe window is not negotiable, and the same applies to the fewest, wildest causeways in Scotland and Essex.

Timing your walk: tides, seasons and quiet hours

Two hours either side of low water is usually best for rockpools, exposed sand and roosting waders. High tide pushes birds onto cliffs and shingle banks, which can be excellent for close views but hopeless for anything below the path. Dawn is for birdsong and photography; late afternoon light flatters the cliffs and the crowds thin out.

Season by season: April to July for breeding seabirds, August and September for migrating waders and terns, October to December for grey seal pups and dramatic skies. Winter walks are glorious but shorter, so plan a route you can finish in daylight.

Kit and comfort: the simple essentials

Coastal weather changes faster than inland weather, and a warm sunny car park can turn into a cold, wet headland within a mile. Take a waterproof shell, a warm mid-layer, sun cream and a hat that will not blow away. Grippy trainers or light walking shoes handle almost every route described here.

A few useful habits:

• Pack 8x42 binoculars if you have them; they transform a walk.
• Carry water and something to eat — coastal cafés close early out of season.
• Keep dogs on a short lead near livestock, nesting birds and cliff edges.
• Never approach seals or seabirds for a photograph; disturbed parents abandon chicks.
• Take your litter home, including fruit peel and crumbs.

Finally, allow yourself to stop. The best sightings on a coastal walk almost never happen while you are striding along — they happen when you lean on a gate, let the wind drop out of your ears, and simply watch the sea.