Birding/wildlife holiday in UK without car - recommendations? (1 Viewer)

[hatchnut]

I've got a week off at the end of June and I'd like to go somewhere in the UK where I can see lots of wildlife and that has nice long walks, but I haven't planned anything yet. I don't have a car so would be relying on walking and public transport. I'm also travelling as a lone female so want to feel safe too.

I'm based in Sussex and happy to travel but don't have a huge budget, especially as I'm booking fairly last minute. I've recently visited the Isle of Wight and I found it really peaceful and it was so easy to get around, so somewhere equally peaceful with lots of nature, walking routes, and reserves would be ideal! I've had a look on google/OS maps and at bus timetables etc. but it's hard to get a picture of whether it's going to be a total pain in reality.

I would like to visit Bempton Cliffs one day, but I'm not sure if there's anything else around that area or how easy it is to get around without a car there if other places are a bit further out.

I also considered Norfolk (e.g. Strumpshaw Fen, Pool Frogs at Thompson Common) but again, not sure what are good places to visit and what a good base would be to get out to reserves or walking trails without a car.

I'm interested in all wildlife but would love to see some interesting birds, butterflies, and ideally reptiles and amphibians. If I could see a puffin, a bittern, a natterjack toad or a pool frog I'd be over the moon, but I'd be happy with most things really - my only aim is to see something I haven't seen before, which is a lot of things!

Does anyone have any insight or recommendations, either on the above two options or other ideas? It would be much appreciated

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

What about Weymouth? Radipole is right in the centre of town, and it should be possible to get to Portland (think they have some Puffins there) and Arne - Nightjar, all 6 reptiles, Dartford Warbler, Sika. Hopefully someone local can help with practicalities.

 

[dantheman]

What about Weymouth? Radipole is right in the centre of town, and it should be possible to get to Portland (think they have some Puffins there) and Arne - Nightjar, all 6 reptiles, Dartford Warbler, Sika. Hopefully someone local can help with practicalities.

I was thinking of that (well, nearby Portland Bill* and eg Studland), but not sure it would fit the criteria of 'equally peaceful' in the summer? ... but then I guess nowhere would??? Should certainly be relatively 'safe'.

There would be the coastal paths both ways for walking/exploring, and I believe good public transport (buses), including between Weymouth and the centre of Portland at least, sadly railway no more after Dr Beeching cut the Weymouth - Bristol line some years back.

Actually quite a good idea, and plenty of scope, Ferrybridge and the Fleet, Abbotsbury, Corfe Castle and Maiden Castle etc etc - not necessarily all birding but interesting.


*(You can stay at the Bird Observatory, but would probably want to book, other Bird Observatories as an idea exist too)

 

[aucarius]

Coastal Norfolk has the coast-hopper bus out of Kings Lynn which stops at reserves, e.g., Dersingham, Thornham, Holme, Titchwell & beyond.

 

[kb57]

I was thinking of that (well, nearby Portland Bill* and eg Studland), but not sure it would fit the criteria of 'equally peaceful' in the summer? ... but then I guess nowhere would??? Should certainly be relatively 'safe'.

There would be the coastal paths both ways for walking/exploring, and I believe good public transport (buses), including between Weymouth and the centre of Portland at least, sadly railway no more after Dr Beeching cut the Weymouth - Bristol line some years back.

Actually quite a good idea, and plenty of scope, Ferrybridge and the Fleet, Abbotsbury, Corfe Castle and Maiden Castle etc etc - not necessarily all birding but interesting.


*(You can stay at the Bird Observatory, but would probably want to book, other Bird Observatories as an idea exist too)

I don't think Dr. Beeching closed the Bristol to Weymouth rail line, although the line to Portland probably got the chop then - I travelled from Bristol to Weymouth port once back in the late '70s and I'm pleased to see it still exists, and in fact seems to have an almost hourly service: Journey Planner Results | National Rail
One thing you can't do any more (much to the dismay of train geeks) is ride down the middle of a street in Weymouth on the train on the way to the Channel Islands ferry terminal.

 

[dantheman]

I don't think Dr. Beeching closed the Bristol to Weymouth rail line, although the line to Portland probably got the chop then - I travelled from Bristol to Weymouth port once back in the late '70s and I'm pleased to see it still exists, and in fact seems to have an almost hourly service: Journey Planner Results | National Rail
One thing you can't do any more (much to the dismay of train geeks) is ride down the middle of a street in Weymouth on the train on the way to the Channel Islands ferry terminal.

You are of course right ... combination of false memory/bad information I guess. As a kid we lived in Wincanton, Somerset, our house was a new build and happened to be on the old railway line - it was the Burnham - Bournemouth line ... The Somerset and Dorset (aka the Slow and Dirty ;-) ) ... That was the one which was closed and I recall being quite aggrieved as a teenager I couldn't just hop on the train and make my way down to Weymouth ... (changing at Templecombe perhaps?)

Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So trains still go to Weymouth (of course I did know that, having friends who used to live by the railway station lol) and the OP can still travel there by train if they want to ... ;-)

 

[Steve Babbs]

I've got a week off at the end of June and I'd like to go somewhere in the UK where I can see lots of wildlife and that has nice long walks, but I haven't planned anything yet. I don't have a car so would be relying on walking and public transport. I'm also travelling as a lone female so want to feel safe too.

Do you have a bike? That would widen your options a lot. When I was reliant on public transport, I did a lot of my birding by taking my bike on a train and then cycling from there.

 

[Owene]

Weymouth has good stuff and I know Portland bill has a bus. Weymouth to poole is 35 minutes by train and I think there are dedicated buses to Arne.

 

[GreenRooky]

Dorset is a good option, we stayed near Poole last year and there were buses to Studland, arne, around the harbour, had lots of good birding. Had a couple of relaxing boat trips as well, evening cruise with birds of poole Harbour being a fond memory

 

[Mike Crawley]

Coastal Norfolk has the coast-hopper bus out of Kings Lynn which stops at reserves, e.g., Dersingham, Thornham, Holme, Titchwell & beyond.

I’m popped in to mention this too.
Good Luck with your holiday

 

[delia todd]

My thoughts ran to the Isle of Scilly. Sadly I've never been but the impression I've received is that it's easy to get around without a car as they appear to discourage visitors from taking them.

My brother went, years ago and raved about Bryher; they were camping. Not birders though.

Is the birding good there, outside of the migration times? I'm sure there must be a lot of good wildlife and sea life too.

Agree that Norfolk is great along that north coast.

 

[dantheman]

My thoughts ran to the Isle of Scilly. Sadly I've never been but the impression I've received is that it's easy to get around without a car as they appear to discourage visitors from taking them.

My brother went, years ago and raved about Bryher; they were camping. Not birders though.

Is the birding good there, outside of the migration times? I'm sure there must be a lot of good wildlife and sea life too.

Agree that Norfolk is great along that north coast.

June wouldn't be the key time to visit birding wise ... but it would still potentially be a great place for scenery etc. Camping should be possible, but inside accomodation more fully booked and expensive. Have to add on c£100 for the return ferry.

 

[Mike Crawley]

My thoughts ran to the Isle of Scilly.

Summer birding on Scilly can be rewarding.
Sea birds aplenty, even without going "deep sea" with Bob Flood and Joe Pender.
Accommodation (or lack there of) tends to be the limiting factor

 

[hatchnut]

Do you have a bike? That would widen your options a lot. When I was reliant on public transport, I did a lot of my birding by taking my bike on a train and then cycling from there.

Unfortunately not!

 

[greer3]

You could base yourself in somewhere like Kendal or Milnthorpe in South Cumbria and use the 555 bus which runs from Lancaster to Keswick with stops all along the way. Maximum bus fare is £2 per journey. There's connections to the X6 which runs to Barrow ( stops for Foulshaw Moss, Meathop Moss, Heversham Moss, Whitbarrow Scar) the 755 and a bus to Silverdale for Leighton Moss.
I use these buses for all my birdwatching

 

[pthompson]

I don't drive or cycle and bird by public transport and foot. I would mostly agree with options already suggested, here are the 4 that make most sense to me:
1. Dorset - Weymouth has reserves in the town, but when I checked a year or so back the bus service to Portland was not as frequent as it was back in the '80s, train access to the New Forest at Brockenhurst or Beaulieu Road (good for insects and other wildlife as well as birds) and Poole area; but it might not be so different from what you can find in Sussex.
2. North Norfolk - I did this walking and the coastal bus in the 2000s starting from Sheringham (reached by train), stay a night or two in e.g. Cley, Wells, Holme - places like Cley and Titchwell would give a chance of Bittern and a good array of birds but I'm not sure of non-bird wildlife.
3. The branch train line from Lancaster or Carnforth to Silverdale and Arnside gives access to Leighton Moss with Bittern and diverse birding (right next to Silverdale station) and to limestone hills that are good for insects and plants, and bus or train+bus give access to the southern Lake District.
4. Where I now live in North Wales has access by train and bus to some of the species you are interested for, you could base in Llandudno or Bangor. e.g. I visited South Stack yesterday - pleasant scenic walk along the coastal path from Holyhead station and then back along minor roads, although the Puffins present (I saw 14) are distant and best seen with a scope. Cors Dyga on Anglesey has Bittern and reasonable dragonflies and is 1 km from the closest bus stop (no 4 from Bangor); the woods in several bus accessible places have Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler; Great Orme right next to Llandudno has Chough and some interesting insects; Gronant (ok dune walk from Prestatyn station) has a large Little Tern colony; Burton (just over the border) is a more developed reserve and the walk from Neston station is ok; and so on.

 

[jogresh]

Yes I'd agree with the above, I live in Llandudno and I've always found the public transport system to be excellent. I've used it to get to some out of the way birding places like Point Lynas, Cefni Reservoir, Clocaenog, mid Wales, much of Snowdonia, and Point of Ayr (tho I have a car now).
Also, multi day bus tickets are cheap.

 

[Captain_of_Crunch]

For a week's holiday in June, I would suggest Newcastle. There are a lot of reserves that can be accessed by public transport, for example Saltholme RSPB near Hartlepool. You have seabird colonies between Whitburn and South Shields, and you can easily get to Amble for the always great Puffin tour of Coquet. The reserves around Chevington are always worth a visit, and there is bus service to the area but will need some walking.

Holy Island can be reached by bus from Berwick on Wednesdays and Saturdays (see borders buses for timetable), while Hadrians Wall is also accessible with the AD122 bus from Hexham. The only site that is sadly not connected by bus is Kielder where you could see Osprey and other upland species.

You can find cheaper train fares using Train Split: TrainSplit