Wild Isles Road Trip!

Hi everyone! 

Wishing you all a happy Friday. It has been a very long time since my last post, but I am super excited to say that I am back with my partner in crime! Together we will aim to post something new every Friday. So let’s get into it! 

Today we are revisiting David Attenbrough’s Wild Isles documentary, for those who missed it David used this series to cast a spotlight on wildlife and habitats closer to home. Over the course of just five episodes, he visited some of the furthest reaches of the British Isles showcasing some of the best that Britsh Wildlife has to offer all the while communicating the perils that they are facing and stories of hope for their future. 

As a self-confessed wildlife enthusiast and admirer, I found my knowledge fell short on the diversity of British wildlife and the habitats which they occupy. In fact, the result was a sudden urge for my partner and me to go and explore our own backyard, and by backyard… I mean Britain. Spring has arrived (finally) which means a road trip might be in order. But where to start? How do you begin to plan a road trip of such epic proportions?

We started by rewatching every episode, noting down every time an animal was mentioned or featured and the general location of where they were spotted. It resulted in a list of about 28 locations! After a heated debate between my partner and me on which of these locations should make the final list we finally narrowed it down to just 9 stops. Resulting in our very own ‘Wild Isles Road Trip’. This road trip has been made on two big assumptions… 1) you have unlimited money for fuel 2) you love driving for hours… and hours.

 Somerset

Our Wild Isles road trip starts in Southwestern England, Somerset. Situating yourself at reedbeds you are awaiting for a seasonal visitor to arrive. Their arrival is timed for when dragonflies erupt into life around rivers and a small specialist aerial hunter is ready to have a protein snack, the Hobby. Hobby’s are small falcons that travel from Africa for our wonderfully tasty (according to them!) dragonflies. Whilst they can be spotted in various places in Somerset, according to the Wildlife Trust you have a chance of glimpsing them at Westhay Moor National Reserve. 

 Forest of Dean

After soaking up the beautiful natural scenery of Somerset, it is time to load the car for a short 1hr 18min drive to the Forest of Dean. As a reminder, the species that featured as the icon for this stop was the wild boar. It might seem a bit bizarre to travel this far to go and see a pig, but it is what they represent! A movement amongst wildlife activists all across Britain to rewild our nature reserves and green spaces. Rewilding and reintroduction of species are the next big things for UK Wildlife  Conservation making this a must-see stop for any nature enthusiast! Remember to keep an eye out for robins following these pigs closely as they unearth tasty and yummy worms for them to snack on. You have to love a symbiotic relationship!

 Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire 

Stock up on the snacks and load the Spotify playlist because you have a 3hr 38min drive ahead of you!  Once you have arrived get yourself up and out and give yourself a good stretch because now it is time to go and spot a herd of wild horses. According to David, you have to give it some time as these herds are constantly on the move in search of fresh young trees. But what a sight! A herd of wild horses, specifically Konik ponies. However, this area is an amazing spot on its own. It was the National Trust’s first-ever nature reserve and one of Europe's most important wetlands which has earned it the classification as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. So get out there and explore, as Wicken Fen is pretty wicked! (I am not sorry for the terrible joke). As a teaser here is a link to the National Trust page.

 

 River Wensum

Once you have soaked up all the incredible nature and admired the beauty of its landscapes, it is time to hop back in the car for a quick 1hr 20min drive to the River Wensum, in Norfolk. Here you will find what many refer to as ‘England’s rainforests’, our chalk rivers. There are just over 200 in the whole world and here in the UK we are lucky to have 160 of them! They are filled to the brim with biodiversity from tiny insects, to the elusive vole and what David Attenborough described as the most charming bird species, the Kingfisher. But why have we been drawn to the River Wensum in particular? Not only is it of course a chalk river, it is one of the most protected rivers in the entirety of Europe. It is classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation status for its whole length.  For more information on what you can get up to whilst out there check out this website.

Houghton Hall

Once you have taken in the sites and even been lucky enough to spot a Kingfisher your next stop will take you to a truly incredible-looking estate only 36 minutes away, Houghton Hall. Now this stop is a little tricky, as the Hall and its gardens are only open at certain times of the year (between April and October) and even then it is only open on select days of the week so be sure to check to avoid disappointment, here. Houghton Hall was built for Britain’s first Prime Minister and is now home to a rather unique Model Soldier Museum and an award-winning Garden home to a wonderful herd of Fallow deer, as seen on Wild Isles. You might remember them as the deer that like to decorate their antlers during the rutting season with dense foliage. A great day out where you can kick back and enjoy some commercial tourism.

Seahouses Harbour for Farne and Staple Island

Your next stop is a very exciting wildlife treat! After a 5hr road trip, you will land at Seahouses Harbour. Once there, you will have to decide which tour company to take you out to the Farne Islands, where you will be greeted with an incredible collection of birds, including the puffin! You can spot 23 different species of bird in this one spot! No wonder David Attenborough stated it was one of his favourite places for UK wildlife. I thoroughly enjoyed the Puffin episode and I am now obsessed with seeing them in the wild. In my opinion, they sound a bit like old men chattering. TripAdvisor released a page on the 5 Best Boat Trips to go and see these wonderful birds, so do your research before you go… here .

Glen Tanar National Nature Reserve  

Now for those of you who were great, great lovers of ‘Wild Isles’ then this is your hotspot. This stop is where you want to carve out some time to explore and soak up everything it has to offer. Some of the show's most spectacular and dramatic wildlife call this area home; the Capercaillie, Golden Eagles, White-tipped eagles, Red Deer and Grouse to name a few. Most definitely worth the 4-hour drive. As mentioned this is one the best hotspots of wildlife so you will want to make the most of this spot. Whilst, I was googling how best to get to this Nature Reserve I came across the most amazing 4-day  itinerary of how to see as much nature and wildlife as you can. I am sure there are loads but I wanted to share the one I found with you, here.

Aberdeen Harbour, Shetland and Orkney Islands

The team who worked on the Wild Isles knew how to start the series with a bang! Watching their black and white silhouettes glide just below the surface of the water, stuck both fear and awe into my heart. I am of course referring to the Killer Whales. They make their way to Shetland and Orkney for the abundance of seals, especially around Spring (it is whispered that there is a resident pod always found in these waters). Now to get to these islands you must make your way to the Northern Pier in Aberdeen just over an hour's drive away. From here you can take a boat out to the islands and with any luck, you might spot these apex predators in their element, hunting some poor unfortunate seals. Warning, these guys are a bit psychotic when it comes to hunting so sensitive viewers may wish to turn away! Even if you don’t get to see a Killer Whale don’t fret as it is a marine mammal hotspot so you will be bound to see something wonderful.

River Ness

After a refreshing boat trip and some wildlife spotting you will make your way to the very last stop on this road trip. I know sad times!! My partner an I loved this stop in the series as it was like our own version of the famous American salmon run! There were a few differences such as instead of bears hunting the salmon, it was pods of bottlenose dolphins. There are spots along the River Ness where you can watch this seasonal phenomenon and choose who you are rooting for. The beautiful dolphins snapping them up, or the salmon desperately trying to make their way upriver, to lay their eggs and die. What a brilliant way to end your road trip in such high spirits.

This is now the end of our Wild Isles Road Trip! And you now have to find your way back home or continue your journey onwards. If you do this road trip you would have driven for a collective 20 hours and travelled 955 miles according to Google Maps. It might seem like a lot of miles, but this road trip is just the tip of the iceberg of what you can find in the Wild Isles. We hope this has inspired you to take on a British adventure whether a smaller portion or the whole thing!

P.S. This route was plotted out on Google Maps and so might not be the most accurate i.e. it might involve travelling down restricted/private roads so always be sure to check before you embark on your adventure. Also a quick reminder, all the major events listed, typically take place in Spring/Early Summer.

See you again this time next week!

LndnScientist team.