Travel news
Spectacles filmed for new BBC1 wildlife series Wild Isles can be witnessed first-hand. Channel your inner David Attenborough on your next holiday by looking for the wildlife that’s closer to home than you might think...
Orcas, Shetland
Regarded as one of the best places in the British Isles to spot wildlife, the Shetlands is visited annually by killer whales. Join a cruise to track their movements and even catch them hunting seals. Northern Light Cruising offers nine-night cruises between Inverness and Shetland, joined by wildlife photographer Chris Gomersall and ecologist David Lambie.
Red squirrels, Highlands
Our native red squirrels are endearingly cute. While numbers have dropped significantly in many areas, there’s still a healthy population in Scotland. See them at Abernethy National Nature Reserve as part of the small group Wildlife Of The Scottish Highlands & Coast tour with Gane and Marshall. Other highlights include spotting golden eagles on the Isle of Mull; kayaking among seals and sea otters in the Sound of Arisaig; and watching dolphins and porpoises in the Moray Firth.
Red knots, Norfolk
Every summer and autumn, 100,000 knots gather on the mudflats at The Wash in Norfolk. Spring tides send them skyward, where they create patterns similar to the murmurations performed by starlings. Wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein arranges weekend breaks to coincide with the phenomenon.
Seals, Scilly Isles
Watch wonderful seals perform balletic manoeuvres in the waters off the Scilly Isles, off England’s south-west coast. The uninhabited Eastern Isles have some of the most active populations of Atlantic grey seals, along with a variety of seabirds. As part of a tailor-made five-day Isles of Scilly Discovery trip, Wexas can arrange half-day cruises to access hidden coves and unspoilt coastlines.
Red deer, Ireland
Fiery by name and nature, red deer have a temper during rutting season. Stags can be seen battling from late-September until earlyNovember in Killarney National Park in County Kerry, where Ireland’s last surviving indigenous herd has resided since Neolithic times. Beyond the battles, the scenery is dramatic. The Emerald Isle’s oldest protected wilderness features walking trails winding through lakes, waterfalls, glens and forests, against a mountain backdrop.