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Visited a range of habitats and use of time maximised to see varied wildlife. Our tour leader, Neil. made the best use of time, especially with the weather taken into consideration. Very knowledgeable about birds and a really good ‘spotter’. He also shared a general interest in other wildlife and plants, accommodating everyone’s interests. He set a sensible starting time to the day and at a relaxed pace, adding to the enjoyment. We established a very good rapport, very quickly and he listened and responded positively to individual group needs. He really added to our enjoyment of Trip. Incredibly safe driver too. A good number of wildlife encounters including watching an Otter feed for over an hour and Hen Harrier sightings.
C.S, Herefordshire, Jun25
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Islay & Jura in Summer
Tour Code: GBR27A 7-day midsummer visit to the glorious islands of Islay and Jura in search of birds, flowers and other wildlife.
7 days
from
£1,995 (Inc ferry)
£1,995 (Inc ferry)
Land only price
from
£1,995
£1,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Inner Hebridean Islands of Islay and Jura comprise one of the most wildlife-rich areas in Britain. Over 100 bird species breed on the islands including two of Britain’s largest birds of prey and there is also a wide range of plant species, some at either the northern or southern limits of their ranges. Butterflies abound, such as the beautiful Marsh Fritillary, and mammals include Roe Deer, Brown Hare, Otter and seals. Islay’s coastline extends for over 130 miles and we will explore inlets, sea-lochs and beaches, enjoying its varied habitats as we search for breeding waders and raptors. The rasping call of the Corncrake, drumming Snipe and the haunting cry of the Curlew are among the sounds that we will listen out for as we explore these stunning islands.
- Occasional Glaucous or Iceland Gulls & Great Northern Diver, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine & White-tailed Eagle among raptors
- Explore the machair, a fertile, low-lying grassland rich in summer flora, bordering the sea
- Nesting waders include Redshank, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher & Lapwing
- Peatbogs resound to the evocative cries of Curlew & the ‘drumming’ of Snipe
- Look for Corncrake & Twite
- Eider Duck, Red-breasted Merganser & Black Guillemot among resident species
- Bog Myrtle, Black Bog Rush & White-beaked Sedge all flower on the machair
- 5,000 Red Deer on Jura, plus Grey Seal & Otter
- Led by an expert naturalist guide
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DETAILED INFORMATION
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Islay
Day 2/6
Islay
Day 7
Depart Islay
What's Included?
- Ferries
- Accommodation:
- Food:
All breakfasts and evening meals are included from breakfast on day two to breakfast on day seven. Lunches are NOT included in the holiday cost but suitable arrangements will be made to stop each day. Refer to itinerary for more information.
Reviews
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I was very impressed with the pre-departure information on who was going, the times and locations of pick up, itinerary, what species had been seen on previous tours and the quantity, emergency information for the company and all-round general information. The office team were polite and professional whenever I spoke with them, always going above and beyond with any questions I asked or information I needed. The general content was very good, and with the best of luck, we saw Golden eagles, deer, buzzards, white-tailed eagles, and many other species on the first day. Our tour leader, Neil was AMAZING at identifying the 100s species of plants, insects, birds and animals we saw and gave as much information as he could.
S.N, Merseyside, Jun 24 -
This was a wonderful and very memorable trip. I am already looking at two more Naturetrek trips for next summer. The guide was knowledgeable and flexible. All of us had a such a great time. Learned about birds, insects, plants, mammals, and also the local culture, which was really nice. It ended up exceeding my expectations for the tour. Would gladly do it again and again and again. Naturetrek was completely organized and easy to communicate with. They helped so much working out logistics and making sure our experience was a great one. The hotel they picked was amazing, as was the itinerary and all the activities. Definitely will be using Naturetrek again; so much easier and relaxing than other tours I've been on.
C.M. Florida, USA, Jun 23 -
The trip was a fantastic insight into the life and nature on the two islands. Peter, our leader, was accommodating to everyone and his knowledge was inspiring. He was so organised and knew all the hotspots on both islands.
L.B. Cheshire -
Peter delivered! His knowledge and expertise are second to none. All round, a good trip, and thoroughly enjoyable.
S.M. Cheshire -
The tour turned out to be an outstanding success. The choice of venues for lunch were very good and the quality of food was excellent (also in the hotel).
O.T. Gwent -
I enjoyed the trip very much. Peter Clement is a wonderful naturalist, very easy with all his clients and finds EVERYTHING! The wall-to-wall sunshine was a surprise! I was so happy with everything we saw, especially Hen Harriers and otters at close quarters.
S.H. Cheshire
Dates & Prices
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 15th Jun – Sun 21st Jun
1
£1,995
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,995
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Male sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£575
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
David Spivack
Tour Leader: David Spivack
Born in north London, David has been involved professionally in the conservation sector since 1990, whilst during the 80's he actively volunteered locally with the RSPB, the local Wildlife Trust and BTCV in the Lea Valley & Epping Forest areas.
Over the past 30 years, David's professional conservation career has included working for the RSPB in the North of England and at the RSPB HQ at the Lodge, the RSPB in the East of England along with The Wildlife Trusts UK Office and as the UK Director for Falklands Conservation, the Birdlife International partner based in the islands. During this time the roles David has undertaken has ranged from working with young people, volunteers, generating income & profile to support conservation, reserve management and working with UK & International partners and agencies to support conservation work in the Falkland Islands.
Now living in the North Yorkshire Wolds and close to Bempton Cliffs and Flamborough Head, David currently works for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
