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A great holiday with plenty of sightings of target species, and many others. Well-organised with great leaders.
E.T., Cornwall, May 25
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Butterflies & Orchids of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight
Tour Code: GBR153A 5-day holiday in search of Hampshire's spectacular array of butterflies and orchids. We will scour the wonderful chalk downs to the cliffs on the Isle of Wight for a variety of rare species.
5 days
from
£1,245
£1,245
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Mid-May is the best time to see a variety of rare butterflies and orchids across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Add to this the plethora of commoner species, this dedicated butterfly and orchid tour is set to provide sightings of many sought-after species. The chalk downs in the west of the county will hopefully provide fine sightings of the rare and beautiful Marsh Fritillary - surely the most striking of all our fritillaries - alongside stunning Burnt Orchids. Blue butterflies will also be in abundance this time of year as Adonis, Common and Small Blues will all be on the wing, sharing downs with Fly, Bee, and Greater Butterfly Orchids. Venturing further afield and to the more wooded sections, we will search for yet more rarities such as Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wood White with Sword-leaved Helleborines under ancient Beeches. Lastly, we will catch the ferry to the Isle of Wight and search the southern coastline to encounter the Glanville Fritillary alongside Green-winged Orchids and other box-office plants such as Oxtongue Broomrape and Early Gentian. Birds will also feature with Nightingale, Firecrest, Dartford Warbler, terns, waders and possibly White-tailed Sea Eagle.
- Special butterflies of the chalk downs including Glanville Fritillary, Marsh Fritillary, Duke of Burgundy and Adonis Blue
- Woodland butterflies including Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Wood White
- A feast of downland orchids including Burnt, Fly, Bee, Green-winged and Greater Butterfly Orchid
- Rare Sword-leaved Helleborines with White Helleborines and Bird’s-nest Orchids in ancient woodland
- Walking the spectacular downs and woodlands of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
Grading
Grade B: Expect either hilly or loose ground at the majority of sites we visit. No more than six miles per day will be walked.
What's Included?
- Food:
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunches are not included in the holiday cost and we expect to maximise our time in the field by having a packed lunch to take with us.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2027
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 17th May – Fri 21st May
SPACES
£1,245
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£1,245
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£295
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!
