Welcome to NCI Cromer.

The lookout station overlooks the famous Devils Throat, a notorious area of the North Sea, respected by mariners through the ages. This busy Seaway holds many dangers for Shipping: Sand Banks, Oil Rigs, Gas Platforms and Wind Farms. All the traffic from the North East and Eastern Ports on transit to Europe and beyond pass our station. 

This North Norfolk coastline is also a busy tourist location. From our cliff-top position we have a commanding view over Cromer beach to the west of the famous pier, with the RNLI station and slipway clearly visible, to East Runton beach and beyond. We watch out for vulnerable people on the beach and water sports enthusiasts and can forewarn the Coastguard of actual or potential incidents at sea in order that a lifeboat can be launched at the earliest opportunity.

The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has been allocated a national licence by OFCOM for the use of VHF Channel 65. This dedicated channel has been granted to NCI with strong support from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Channel 65 facilitates communications between NCI lookouts and seafarers on a variety of routine matters. Stations can respond to requests from passing, as well as local sailing craft and fishing vessels for radio checks as well as actual weather and sea state conditions. They are also be able to provide on request information on a range of local facilities including, for example, local moorings, charted anchorages, water taxi contact details and local hazards.
The facility became operational on 1 October 2014 when National Coastwatch stations went live for the first time on Channel 65. All stations are equipped with a dedicated radio for this purpose and the service has in some cases replaced the practice of some stations holding a licence to operate on Marina Channel 37. Accordingly all NCI Marina Channel licences have been surrendered.