The Best of Dorset's Wildlife

On this short wildlife break we will explore some of Dorset’s best nature reserves and enjoy its beautiful rolling countryside from the perfect, centrally positioned base, near Dorchester. Dorset's enviable variety of special habitats offers a wealth of natural history, and there's no better time to enjoy this than in the early summer.

On our first afternoon we will visit Radipole Lake and look for the Marsh Harriers and numerous warblers that breed in its reedbeds, including the Cetti’s Warbler with its loud, explosive song. Around the corner at Lodmoor we'll find the south-west’s largest breeding colony of Common Terns.

On our second day we will visit Durlston Cliffs to view one of England's most southerly seabird colonies, and look for breeding Peregrines and Ravens. We will then move on to the Purbeck heaths, which is home to all six of Britain's reptile species, including the stunning, jewel-green Sand Lizard and the very rare Smooth Snake. We'll also look for Dartford Warblers amongst the gorse and Hobbies as they hawk for dragonflies overhead; then, as dusk approaches, the sound of ‘churring’ Nightjars will permeate the evening air as Noctule Bats take to the wing.

The next day we will head for the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site that stretches from Orcombe Point in Devon to Old Harry Rocks in Dorset and tells the story of the region's past 185 million years. Here, beneath our feet, lie the clues to a natural history of a past world, from ammonites to belemnites, sea dragons to dinosaurs, and we will take great delight in exploring a coast line that offers a window into the wonders of the past.

One evening we will go in search of badgers, perhaps utilising one of the nearby, purpose built hides.

Finally, we will visit Portland Bill where we will scan for such seabirds as Manx and Balearic Shearwater, skuas and auks, and look for late spring migrants on the headland.