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On the 2nd June 1940 Lucy Lavers set off on a daring rescue mission. It was practically her maiden voyage - but rather than the foray into local waters that her makers intended, this little lifeboat set off across the channel to take part in Operation Dynamo, the daring rescue of British and Allied troops in the Dunkirk evacuation during the darkest days of WWII.
Today, Lucy Lavers is happily retired and spends her days nodding along through the Norfolk waves. The tours are operated by serving RNLI volunteers who are a font of knowledge and anecdotes about the Dunkirk mission, and the work of RNLI generally. The Lucy Lavers also saved 44 lives as an RNLI lifeboat.
The 1.5 hour tour takes you along the coastline that is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there’s the chance to spot seals and seabirds including Terns and Ringed Plovers.
The RNLI and Dunkirk veteran boat is beautifully restored and it’s glorious to sail past lots of wildlife, photogenic views and one of the UK’s most stunning beaches where the boat takes a pitstop and you can enjoy a cuppa overlooking the view. A perfect coastal day out.
You can book this tour here: Boat Tour
We recommend these three hotels:
Closest? Caley Hall Hotel. Award winning hotel 10 minutes walk from the beach in Old Hunstanton
Cheapest? Cromer Country Club Better value than most in the area, this is a short drive from the boat collection point
Feeling Fancy? Kings Lynn Knights Hill Hotel & Spa, BW Signature Collection Luxuriously restored hunting lodge in 11 acres of land a 25 minute drive away
Car: Wells-next-the-Sea is located on the main A149 coast road between Holkham and Stiffkey.
Train: King’s Lynn has a direct connection to London at London’s King’s Cross St Pancras and Liverpool Street (via Ely and Cambridge) have direct connection to King’s Lynn. To reach Wells from King’s Lynn, the Coastliner 36 bus service, operated by Lynx, runs almost every hour seven days a week from 6am – 5pm and the journey takes approximately 2 hours. The Coastliner picks up and drops off at King’s Lynn Bus and Coach Station approx 5 minutes walk from the train station.
Carpenters Arms just outside Wells-next-the-Sea is the sort of country pub with trad mains and modern favs served in a beautiful surrounding.
This tour is not accessible to wheelchair users.
