You don’t need to leave the UK to experience an unforgettable animal-themed holiday. Meet rare birds, whales and ponies right on your doorstep.
Hop on a guided boat trip at Blakeney – a sand, sea and grass swathe on the North Norfolk Coast – and bob your way out to spot fat seals lolling on sandbanks and in the surf. This is England’s largest grey seal colony, where thousands of pups are born each winter, and the scale is impressive. You’re guaranteed to get some great pics of the tubby giants on your hour-long cruise, but also keep eyes peeled for rare birds, including the Great Snipe or Barred Warbler.
With their monochrome plumage and flashes of dramatic orange on feet and beaks, puffins feel a bit like Britain’s miniature answer to the penguin – even if they are miles apart when it comes to genetics. Spot them from April to July on Northumberland’s Farne Islands, when they nest en masse in rabbit-like burrows. The islands, cared for by the National Trust, are a simple boat ride away from Seahouses, an atmospheric fishing village.
You might not think London would top the list for wildlife watching, but head to expansive Richmond Park on its western fringes and you’ll be in for a surprise. Since the 17th century this National Nature Reserve has been home to hundreds of red and fallow deer, and they still roam free among the woodlands and long grasses. The autumn deer ‘rut’ is prime time to visit, when males clash antlers to compete for female attention. Bring your camera and zoom lens, but stay well away from the action – you do not want to get caught in the middle!
There are many reasons to visit Dorset’s New Forest – the vast, ancient woodlands, the pretty villages, the distinct lack of phone signal which makes you feel apart from the frenetic outside world. But for animal lovers the greatest must be the herds of resident ponies – short, stout and roaming free among the national park’s scenic corners. For a prime sighting, check out areas of more exposed moorland or head to the village of Brockenhurst or Beaulieu, where ponies often hang out on the high street posing for pictures.
They were hunted to extinction in the UK centuries ago for their fur and medicinal glands, but the beaver has made a comeback in Britain over the past few years. Spot them on a two-to-three-hour guided walking tour through a conservation project in Cornwall, at Woodland Valley Farm in Truro. You’ll depart at dusk to get the best chance of seeing the beavers, whether building their dams or chewing at tree trunks. Farmer Chris Jones will be your guide, teaching you everything there is to know about these toothy creatures.
With their numbers heavily under threat, Britain’s red squirrels are getting harder and harder to find – so when you do finally see one, the moment feels extra-special. Head to Aira Force in the Lake District, one of the few places in the UK that the russet-hued furballs still thrive, and you’ll dramatically increase your chances. This National Trust property has created an ideal environment for the squirrels, providing them with feeding points and surveying numbers. Come early in the morning when the trails are quiet and you might get some nice up-close snaps too.
