IT was just as the boat turned south out of the River Stour estuary that we got our first glimpse of them.
On the sandbanks of the salt channels were dozens of gluttonous seals stretching out in the spring sun, many of the females showing off their pregnant bellies.
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We’d joined the River Runner seal cruise from the Quay in Sandwich, Kent, on a two-hour trip down to Ramsgate to catch sight of their local colony of seals.
There’s loads of fun to be had, with herons, little egrets, kingfishers and oystercatchers to spot with binoculars on the journey down the channel.
It was just one of the highlights from our weekend in Sandwich, which is the most complete medieval town in Britain.
Just over an hour from London by train, this quaint coastal settlement is a hidden gem between the more popular tourist destinations of Margate and Folkestone.
Steeped in rich history, it was one of the five historic Cinque Ports. Alongside Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Dover, these formed an alliance before the Norman conquest to provide ships and men to the crown in return for special privileges.
We stopped by the Guildhall museum in the town centre, which is free to enter and is home to some of the town’s most prized possessions, including the “Sandwich gold silks” from the Coronation of King George II in 1727.
The 16th-century building tells the story of the town to the present day and highly informed tour guides from the Sandwich Local History Society can guide you through viewings of the Sandwich Magna Carta from 1300AD and other treasures dating back to the Mesolithic Age.
Stepping outside the museum you’ll find yourself in the market square where there are stalls selling freshly baked goods and local arts and crafts.
From here you can wander down through a street of independent boutique shops selling clothes and homewares, to St Peter’s Church, which is home to a bric-a-brac market full of pre-loved local books, ornaments and toys.
To get a higher view over the town, you can climb the church tower for a £5 donation (£4 for children) or just relax with coffee-and-walnut cake in the courtyard and listen to the bells ring.
There’s an abundance of activities to enjoy in the town itself, too.
We visited the Cat’s Eye Carving on Market Street where we had a go at stone-carving with Jurassic limestone.
An class — hosted in the shop — involves a demonstration using traditional stonemasonry tools, before creating your own sculpture to take home.
Just outside the town you’ll find Wingham Wildlife Park, which is Kent’s fastest-growing zoo.
As well as seeing everything from red pandas to moon bears, you can enjoy one-on-one experiences with animals including giraffes, tigers and tortoises for an extra charge.
Seaside ambience
The village of Wingham, just six miles from Sandwich, was also where we stayed — at much-loved gastro pub The Dog At Wingham.
The eight bedrooms are all individually designed, with exposed brickwork and beams as well as all the modern comforts.
We tried the pub’s new a-la- carte menu for spring, with dishes such as devilled crab sourdough, £14, salt-cod and potato fondant, £25, and Kentish lamb, £30.
The pub is very popular so it’s recommended to book a spot for dinner.
The breakfasts were great, too, with huge portions to set you up for the day.
And the food in town was equally impressive.
We enjoyed smoked salmon and cream-cheese sandwiches in The Waiting Room cafe, a lovely spot in the centre of town.
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But the highlight of the weekend was without a doubt dinner at The Toll Bridge Restaurant on The Quay.
This was the best restaurant in town, with a lovely seaside ambience and laidback vibe, while the food was Michelin-star quality.
We tried a selection of dishes on the menu including local Kentish mussels cooked in cream and white wine, scallops and homemade fish and chips.
The warm bread and whipped butter with whole roasted garlic bulb was also a highlight, as was the frozen hazelnut parfait with white chocolate wafer.
Top tip — turn up hungry.