Wild in the Isles Wildlife watching on land, sea and air

Nothing beats the thrill of watching the UK’s wildlife up close and personal. Read on for what to see, where to go and where to stay

1 RED SQUIRRELS in the Yorkshire Dales

■ Star attraction This native species is now rare in Britain, with only 161,000 left, but there is a thriving population in the Widdale Squirrel Reserve, in the Dales.

■ Why go? Up-close views of the red squirrels, which are surprisingly tolerant of people, according to Yorkshire Dales wildlife conservation officer Ian Court: “They’ve learnt you’re not a threat and you don’t disturb them.”

■ What else will I see? There's plenty of other species to spot while you’re here, including badgers, hedgehogs, buzzards, bullfinches and even lizards.

■ Where to stay Honeycott Caravan Park and Holiday Cottage, Hawes DL8 3LH, www.honeycott.co.uk.

2 beavers in East Devon

■ Star attraction There are 25 busy beavers in the River Otter near Otterton – you can watch them build lodges for their kits.

■ Why go? The species was extinct in the UK for centuries, so beaver-watching is still something of a novelty; in fact, nobody is quite sure how they came back! Steve Hussey, spokesman for the Devon Wildlife Trust, says: “If you spot them, you’ll be among the first in England to see them in 400 years. It would have been the time of Shakespeare when beavers were last seen in Britain – even then, they were rare.”

■ What else will I see? There’s also a stable otter population – hence the town’s name – plus kingfishers, dippers and grey wagtails for birdwatchers to enjoy.

■ Where to stay Ladram Bay Holiday Park, Otterton, Devon EX9 7BX, www.ladrambay.co.uk.

3 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS in Cardigan Bay

■ Star attraction The 230-strong population of bottlenose dolphins can usually be spotted from Newquay Headland, Llangrannog and Mwnt, on the west coast of Wales. Otherwise (Covid allowing), why not join researchers on a Dolphin Survey boat trip (dolphinsurveyboattrips.co.uk)?

■ Why go? The five-mile stretch of coastline from Newquay to Tresaith was named the UK’s first Marine Heritage Coast “because of its unspoiled natural beauty and the variety of wildlife”, says Steve Hartley, founder of the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (www.welshwildlife.org).

■ What else will I see? Atlantic grey seals and harbour porpoise swim by the shore. And if you’re exceptionally lucky, you could see leatherback turtles in summer.

■ Where to stay Blaenwaun Caravan Park, Mwnt, Cardigan SA43 1QF, www.blaenwaunfarm.com.

4 EAGLES on the Isle of Mull

■ Star attraction White-tailed and golden eagles are the most famous residents on Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. These are two of the rarest species in the UK – there are only 120 pairs of white-tailed eagles in the country, but 20 pairs live here.

■ Why go? White-tailed and golden eagles are unrivalled in their majesty, according to wildlife guide Ewan Miles. “In terms of their beauty and stunning behaviour, they’re an emblematic species, and iconic to wild landscapes.”

■ What else will I see? Eagles aren’t the only birds on the block; hen harriers and puffins also draw the crowds. Plus there are otters, humpback whales and killer whales to be spotted in the surrounding waters.

■ Where to stay Crannich Holiday Caravans & Campsite, Isle of Mull PA72 6JP, www.crannich.co.uk.

5 BLUE-EYED GOLDEN HARES on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland

■ Star attraction Irish hares leap throughout the country’s hills and farmland, but Rathlin Island is unique, because it is the only place you can find a golden hare. This genetic anomaly is rare, and there’s only a handful each season.

■ Why go? RSPB warden Liam McFaul says the golden hare is worth tracking down. “When you see one, it’s amazing. It just sticks out of the landscape like a big ginger cat with these lovely sky-blue eyes.”

■ What else will I see? One of the largest seabird colonies in Europe. The West Light Seabird Centre (www.rspb.org.uk) is home to puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, razorbills and fulmars. Visit in the summer before they migrate.

■ Where to stay Ballyness Caravan Park, Bushmills BT57 8TN, www.ballynesscaravanpark.com.

6 Grey seals in Blakeney Point, Norfolk

■ Atlantic grey seals can be found in the Star attraction harbour here, and a boat trip is the perfect way to get close to the largest seal colony in England, where 2700 pups were born last year.

■ Why go? According to Ajay Tegala, National Trust ranger and wildlife presenter, the seals are “full of character and you get fantastic views of them here, but the great thing about Blakeney Point is that it’s a wild landscape. The wind shifts the shingle across the beach, causing the shore to constantly change shape. It’s ever-changing and unique.”

■ What else will I see? Further out, in the shallow part of the sea known as The Wash, there’s a thriving population of common seals that migrate to the harbour in summer. On the mainland, you can spot barn owls, geese in the winter months and crabs in the summertime – families can go crabbing in the creek.

■ Where to stay Old Brick Kilns Caravan & Camping Park, Fakenham NR21 0NL, www.old-brick-kilns.co.uk.

7 BATS in the Falls of Clyde

■ Star attraction Take an evening stroll and look for hundreds of bats flying overhead.

■ Why go? The reserve has spectacular waterfalls and wildlife walks. Ranger Laura Preston says, “The more people find out about bats, the more they like them.”

■ What else will I see? Badger walks are popular, and you can also spot otters, deer, dippers and kingfishers.

■ Where to stay Mountview Caravan Park, Abington ML12 6RW, www.mountviewcaravanpark.co.uk.

8 RED DEER in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

■ Star attraction See over 1000 deer, including roe, fallow and muntjac.

■ Why go? The annual stag rut is awe-inspiring. “In addition, the forest is absolutely beautiful,” says Tim Davies, spokesman for Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism.

■ What else will I see? Plenty of wild boar and free-roaming sheep.

■ Where to stay Forest and Wye Valley Camping Site, Lydney GL15 6QU, www.forestandwyevalleycamping.co.uk.

9 OSPREYS in Rutland

■ Star attraction Ospreys nest in the western section of the 23-mile reservoir at Rutland Water. You can watch them from Waderscape Hide, or via livestreamed video at the Lyndon Visitor Centre (www.lrwt.org.uk/rutland-water).

■ Why go? Rutland is the only osprey site in England. After being driven to extinction 150 years ago, they were reintroduced in the 1990s. “They’re impressive to watch as they fish, hovering before diving in feet-first,” says Dale Martin at the Rutland Water Nature Reserve.

■ What else will I see? Trees on the 1000-acre reserve are home to nightingales, blackcaps and chiffchaffs.

■ Where to stay Lyndon Top Caravan & Camping, Rutland Water LE15 8RN, www.lyndontop.com

10 PUFFINS in Anglesey

■ Star attraction Hundreds of puffins roost at South Stack Cliffs RSPB reserve on the north-west coast of Wales – and there are photo-opportunities aplenty from Ellin’s Tower or the steps to the lighthouse.

■ Why go? This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, says Martin Jefferies, visitor operations manager at South Stack Cliffs: “We’re part of the Anglesey Coastal Path, so it’s brilliant for walkers. The 300 hectares are also home to the spatulate fleawort, which grows nowhere else in the world.”

■ What else will I see? Guillemots, razorbills and the chough, the rarest member of the crow family in Britain, with a very distinctive call, which draws crowds to the seabird colony.

■ Where to stay Pen-y-Llyn Caravan Site, Holyhead LL65 3LB, penyllyn.co.uk.

11 starlings in East Sussex

■ Star attraction Thousands of starlings combine to form a wonderful murmuration above Brighton’s derelict West Pier, sweeping across the seafront and dancing overhead in the lights of the Palace Pier.

■ Why go? It’s not often you see such a wonderful wildlife spectacle in a city, but at dawn and dusk, the seafront is the place to be to witness nature at its most balletic. During the winter, the resident Sussex starlings are joined by another 40,000 birds from Scandinavia, visiting for the season.

■ What else will I see? A lot of seagulls and plenty of scope for wild encounters in the city’s many night spots! Head for the nearby South Downs for beautiful butterflies.

■ Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, Where to stay East Brighton Park BN2 5TS, www.caravanclub.co.uk.