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      Wild Isles

      Next Trip: 11th - 17th May 2024 Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights

      From £2,145 View Prices & Dates

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      Trip created by Anna Brownlow
      View Anna's Profile

      Region: Northumberland;Scotland
      Trip Type: Wildlife
      Accommodation: Classic
      Max Group Size: 8
      Deposit From: £536.25 £536.25

      Grading:

      Carbon Footprint: 132kg ? What does this mean?
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      All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.

      Download Itinerary

      Explore the shifting sands and ceaseless tides of the Northumberland Coast on our Wild Isles wildlife holiday.

      Joined by an expert Wilderness guide, traverse the northern shores of England into the southern reaches of Scotland on this 7-day Wild Isles wildlife holiday. Explore wild, uninhabited islands and discover important habitats home to a unique blend of flora and fauna across the wild isles.

      With the salt-stung air vibrating with the soundtrack of seabirds, visit National Nature Reserves and take boat trips to islands rich with wildlife. With the breeze fragrant with the sweet, coconut smell of gorse, meander across headlands bright with sea pink. Watch for seals and dolphins in the swell, the rainbow beaks of puffins on rocky outcrops, and the blue-ringed eyes of gannets flying high above the rolling waves. When late golden light starts spilling over the horizon, enjoy delicious food in the cosy peace of independent, local accommodation.

      On a memorable guided tour to England and Scotland, enjoy discovering the wonderful wildlife and beautiful landscapes of this rugged slice of the East Coast.

      Trip Highlights

      • Enjoy beautiful coastal walks accompanied by an expert and knowledgeable guide.
      • Visit Bass Rock, home to the world's largest colony of northern gannets.
      • Enjoy getting up close to fascinating wildlife, including seals, arctic terns and puffins.

      Did you know?


      This trip can be booked as a private departure


      Learn more

      Day by Day Itinerary

      Day 1 – Welcome to Northumberland

      Meet your Wilderness guide mid-morning at Morpeth Railway Station and transfer to Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre. Along the way, stop to stretch your legs and enjoy the gentle breeze that’s bright with salt and sunshine. On arrival, have lunch at the cafe and chat about the adventure ahead with your guide. After a pot of tea and a round of sweet treats, spend some time exploring the centre. Renowned for its birdlife, walk along the quiet nature trails and duck into the wildlife-watching hides. This evening, settle into a traditional hotel and enjoy a pint of local ale or crisp glass of wine before dinner and a good night’s sleep. (L, D)

      Day 2 – A Boat Trip to Inner Farne Island

      After breakfast this morning, head out with your guide for a fantastic boat trip to the Farne Islands. Sail around this National Nature Reserve (which encompasses 28 isles in total) and learn about the internationally important wildlife which call them home. Spot Atlantic grey seals and thousands of seabirds, including puffins, terns, kittiwakes, guillemots and eider ducks. Back on the mainland, visit Long Nanny: the estuary of a small stream surrounded by sand dunes. Notable for its tern colony, Long Nanny supports arctic terns, little terns, and, interestingly, a lone black tern. Guarded consistently during the summer by rangers, a visit to the warden’s hut provides the opportunity to see these wonderful birds up close. (B, L, D)

      Day 3 – Exploring Holy Island

      Today, enjoy visiting Lindisfarne, also known as the Holy Island. Reached by crossing a tidal causeway – 3,500 hectares of dunes, saltmarsh and mudflats form this National Nature Reserve. Home to an array of flora and fauna, 20 different species of orchid can be found growing among its shifting sands, including the endemic Lindisfarne helleborine. As you explore, look out for ringed plovers and merlin; watch out for waterfowl such as little grebe, shoveler, mallard, moorhen and coot. Before leaving, visit the Priory, following in the footsteps of the ancient monks who lived here nearly 1,400 years ago. After dinner this evening, join your guide for a bat walk, observing these fascinating creatures hawking in the soft light of dusk. (B, L, D)

      Day 4 – St Abbs Head

      As the silky dawn light recedes across the shimmering sea, leave your friendly hotel behind and travel a short distance north, crossing the border to St Abbs Head. A spectacular coastal headland, the cliffs form thin, precipitous spines that hang eerily above the waves. Alongside your knowledgeable guide, enjoy identifying the many seabirds that fill the land, sea and sky as you walk across the headland and take advantage of the many clifftop vantage points. Afterwards, visit Siccar Point and observe the unique junction between two distinct types of rock, separated in age by millions of years. Continue your journey along the coast later this afternoon, arriving in North Berwick and settling into your lovely hotel to relax before dinner. (B, L, D)

      Day 5 – Bass Rock and John Muir’s Birthplace

      After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a boat trip to Bass Rock. A volcanic island that’s cloaked with a raucous white veil of over 150,000 northern gannets, it’s home to the world’s largest colony of these snowy white, sharp-eyed birds in peak season. Enjoy watching them dive like arrows into the sea, tucking their wings and disappearing deep beneath the waves. Sail by Craigleith Isle, a brilliant place to see puffins – undoubtedly one of the most cheering and endearing coastal birds. Back on dry land, enjoy a visit to John Muir’s birthplace and a lovely stroll on a peaceful beach. A genuine hidden gem, the views across the clean, white sand are breathtaking. (B, L, D)

      Day 6 – Boat Trip to the Isle of May

      Today, cast off into the calm sea to explore the Isle of May. A National Nature Reserve, the island is grey and green, rugged and treeless, and home to the largest puffin colony on the east coast of Scotland. On your approach, spot the monochrome guillemots that crowd the island’s ledges and the soft-eyed faces of grey seals. Welcomed ashore by a warden, chat about how to explore the island so as not to disturb the nesting birds. With designated paths to follow, enjoy seeing puffins popping in and out of their underground burrows. Return to the mainland later this afternoon and enjoy a delicious dinner. (B, L, D)

      Day 7 - Visiting Aberlady Nature Reserve and Depart

      After a mellow morning of packing and coffee, leave North Berwick and travel a short distance to Aberlady Bay. In 1952, the Reserve was the first site in the UK to be designated a Local Nature Reserve. The extensive reserve encompasses a variety of habitats from low water through to salt marsh and sand dunes. Enjoy a walk with your guide, looking out for a wide array of wildflowers while also spotting wheatears, whitethroat and blackcaps. Enjoy the sweeping views across the bay as the electronic call of lapwings fill the salt-stung air. After your walk, hop back in with your guide to transfer into the bustling heart of Edinburgh, where your trip will conclude. (B)

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      Wildlife
      Wild Isles

      To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:

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      Trip Dates & Prices

      Trip Dates for 2024AvailabilityStatusPriceBook
      11th May - 17th May 20248 place(s) leftUNCONFIRMED£2,145Book Now
      15th Jun - 21st Jun 20247 place(s) leftUNCONFIRMED£2,145Book Now

      Trip Details

      Expand All
      Accommodation Read More

      We spend our nights in welcoming and friendly hotels: the first three nights in England in the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland, with its magnificent castle and pristine beach. The next three nights are in Scotland, in North Berwick, which is ideally situated for visiting the islands offshore. Accommodation is in twin or double rooms with en-suite bathroom facilities.

      Single rooms

      There is no single person supplement charged to solo travellers. However, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. If you require a single room, please request this at the time of booking, and we will check availability for you. A single room supplement of £495 is charged if a single room is available.

      Due to the nature of the accommodations we use, single supplements are limited and are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

      Meals Read More

      This trip is ‘All Inclusive’ meaning all meals from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 7 are provided. Vegetarians and other dietary requirements are willingly catered for u2013 simply let us know at the time of booking.

      We generally eat dinner as a group however, if you would like to make alternative arrangements, you are free to do so and this will be at your own cost. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will let you know the arrangements for dinner that evening. Included dinners are two courses as standard.

      Inclusions Read More
      • 6 nights accommodation in 3-star Guest Houses & Inns, with breakfast each day.
      • All meals during the trip, including trail snacks (Meals included indicated as B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner).
      • The services of an experienced and knowledgeable Wilderness England Guide throughout.
      • All transport throughout the trip, starting in Morpeth and finishing in Edinburgh.
      • All boat trips and entry fees mentioned in the itinerary.
      Trip Grading Read More

      Green Grade 1-3

      All of our wildlife trips are graded Green and involve straightforward hiking with no major ascents, as well as other activities which are pitched at a novice level. You can expect to be active for around 5 hours each day, so you will need a reasonable fitness level. Please note that there may be some early starts and late nights as we seek to maximise our chances of finding wildlife, although you can always opt out of activities if you prefer an early night or long lie-in, in the morning!

      So to help you decide if you are fit enough for this kind of trip, ask yourself:

      Are you generally active and, for example, happy to hike for up to 10 km/6 miles, including some ascent, with rough ground in places?
      Are you up for a challenge and trying new activities such as boat trips?
      Are you looking for a wildlife trip which involves more than simply sitting in a hide?

      Travel Read More

      You will be met by your Wilderness England Guide at Morpeth Railway Station at 11:30am on Day 1 of your trip.

      The trip will conclude at Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station at 1:00pm on the final day of the trip.

      Photo Gallery

      Make This Trip Private

      Fancy this trip just for your group? Get together with family and friends spend quality time exploring wild places. A private trip allows you to benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides but with the advantage of the flexibility to tailor the days to your group. Make the trip more or less challenging depending on your experience or choose to add in some optional extras like castle or distillery visits depending on your interests. The price of a private trip will depend on the number of travellers in your group. Let us know your prefered departure date and we'll take care of the rest.

      Speak to an Expert

      View Profile
      Jane Gillies

      Our friendly office team hail from across the world but share a passion for the outdoor and wild spaces of England. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service and are more than happy to chat through options and provide help and advice. Get in touch to find your perfect adventure.

      Ask Jane a Question

      Meet Your Guide

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      Difficulty Grades Explained

      Green Graded Wildlife Holidays 1-3
      All of our wildlife trips are graded Green and involve straightforward hiking with no major ascents, as well as other activities which are pitched at novice level. You can expect to be active for around 5 hours each day so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. Please note that there may be some early starts and late nights as we seek to maximise our chances of finding wildlife, although you can always opt out of activities if you prefer an early night or long lie in the morning!

      So to help you decide if you are fit enough for this kind of trip, ask yourself:

      1. Are you generally active and, for example, happy to hike for 6 miles (10km), including some ascent, with rough ground in places?
      2. Are you up for a challenge and trying new activities such as sea kayaking or boat trips?
      3. Are you looking for a wildlife trip which involves more than simply sitting in a hide?

      Our holidays reviewed
      in your own words

      This was a great hiking experience and I loved the opportunity to experience 5 National Parks in the UK with a varied landscape and environment.

      Laurel Pedri
      Wilderness Walking - National Parks of the UK
      Reviewed on 04/10/2019

      Rated 4.95 out of 5 based on 716 reviews

      Read More Reviews

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