Naturetrek at 40 – A British Isles Celebration

This year marks a major milestone for Naturetrek as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. Four decades have passed since David and Maryanne Mills produced Naturetrek’s first brochure from a small Berber house in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and, to celebrate the occasion, 69 Naturetrek clients gathered in Poole to board the Ocean Nova for a special voyage around some of the wildest corners of the British Isles.

It was an itinerary worthy of the occasion! Over the course of 12 days, we explored an extraordinary collection of islands and coastlines, from the flower-rich Isles of Scilly to the seabird cities of St Kilda and the Shiants, and from the dramatic cliffs of Sumburgh Head to the remote communities of Foula, Fair Isle and North Ronaldsay. To combine so many iconic wildlife destinations into a single voyage was remarkable; to do so in glorious weather and calm seas made it even more memorable.

As with so many Naturetrek holidays, one of the great strengths of the cruise was the group itself. Everyone on board shared a passion for wildlife, enthusiastically joining leaders on deck each day to scan the horizon for seabirds, dolphins or whales.

Our first landing was on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, which greeted us with sunshine, colourful coastal flowers and Common Dolphins bow-riding the ship on approach! Many guests sampled Troytown Farm’s famous ice cream, whilst Whimbrels fed along the shoreline and busy Hummingbird Hawkmoths entertained photographers. Further north on Lundy, seabirds, Sika Deer and a superb male Golden Oriole provided memorable wildlife encounters before we reached Skomer, where glass-calm seas and apricot evening light transformed a zodiac cruise beneath the island’s Puffin cliffs into one of the highlights of the voyage.

The wildlife highlights continued at the Calf of Man, where a ringtail Hen Harrier drifted over the heather-clad slopes and Choughs fed chicks (nesting within one of the island's lighthouses!). Further north, a zodiac cruise navigating the coastline of Handa offered magnificent views into caves, across sea stacks and sandstone cliffs alive with Guillemots, Razorbills and Great Skuas.

At sea, Harbour Porpoises were regular companions and Common Dolphins repeatedly raced towards the ship to loud cheers from the deck. Eight Minke Whales were recorded during the cruise and a confiding group of Risso’s Dolphins came alongside the ship, giving everyone magnificent views.

For many guests, however, St Kilda was the emotional heart of the voyage, a destination of dreams. Bathed in sunshine, the archipelago surpassed expectations. Some climbed the slopes of Conachair, home to Britain’s highest sea cliffs, whilst others explored the village and the hundreds of stone-built cleits scattered across the hillside. A particularly special moment came when National Trust volunteer, Marian McDonald, whose father had left St Kilda at the age of 16, shared stories of island life. Later, we cruised beneath the towering stacks of Boreray and Stac Lee, where immense colonies of Gannets filled the skies – and a surprise Golden Eagle drifted over the cliffs!

Equally atmospheric was our visit to Mousa in Shetland, home to one of the best-preserved Iron Age brochs in Europe. Standing beneath its towering stone walls provided a fascinating glimpse into the islands' distant past and, for those who pressed their ears to the walls, the soft calls of nesting Storm Petrels could be heard. The coastline supported breeding Arctic Terns, Oystercatchers and seals.

Elsewhere, wildlife highlights followed in rapid succession. Corncrakes showed on both Rathlin and Iona, White-tailed Eagles and a Hen Harrier were seen on Ulva, and the Shiant Islands delivered one of Britain’s greatest seabird spectacles. Here, thousands of Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins crowded the cliffs and sea below, whilst five White-tailed Eagles performed playful acrobatics overhead.

A constant pleasure was the warmth of the island communities we encountered. On North Ronaldsay we were welcomed by the lighthouse keeper, who had tended the light for half a century and greeted us with tea, coffee and shortbread. On Foula and Fair Isle we enjoyed generous spreads of home baking from the residents, whilst learning about life on Britain's most remote inhabited islands, bringing the islands' culture and history to life.

History was never far away during the voyage. On Papa Westray, many guests visited the Knap of Howar, a remarkably well-preserved Neolithic farmstead dating back some 5,000 years. Predating both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, its thick stone walls and low entranceways offered a tangible connection to some of the earliest farming communities in northern Europe. Standing within these ancient dwellings, surrounded by sea and sky, provided a powerful reminder of the deep human history woven through the landscapes we explored.

Then came the moment that stole the show. As we departed North Ronaldsay, two Orca appeared close to the ship. What followed was one of the defining wildlife encounters of the voyage, as guests watched the Orcas surface repeatedly around the vessel in the golden evening light.

Whilst moored in Lerwick, Great Northern Diver, King Eider and Otter provided further excitement, followed by a traditional Shetland folk band, whose music soon had the lounge filled with laughter and dancing.

After 12 unforgettable days, our voyage ended in Aberdeen, having explored some of the finest wildlife destinations in the British Isles. It was a fitting celebration of Naturetrek's first 40 years and a reminder that some of the world's most inspiring wildlife experiences can be found wonderfully close to home.

Do join us next year! See here for details.