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Full on tour lead by expert leaders who were so passionate about there subject and had a wide knowledge of wildlife as a whole. A most enlightening tour that visited places and found so many species of plants, insects, etc,. plus a general overview of how the levels were created and how they have been managed over the decades. Without such local knowledge so much would have been missed by doing a similar visit by oneself.
A.D. Nottinghamshire, Jul 21
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Somerset's Summer Wildlife
Tour Code: GBR73A 4-day break to Somerset, focusing on the special birds, butterflies, wildflowers and mammals of the area.
4 days
from
£745
£745
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Coinciding with the height of summer, this 4-day break to the southern English county of Somerset has something for everyone. We will visit the extensive wetlands of the famed Somerset Levels for a wide variety of marshland birds, explore the nearby hillsides for their butterflies and flora, and visit chalk grasslands rich in flowers, including the celebrated Cheddar Pink. We will head to the Mendip Hills for a bat walk, we will generally keep a look-out for a range of specialities, including Bee and Greater Butterfly Orchids, Marbled White butterfly and White Rock-rose. It promises to be a special short break of English natural history perambulation!
- A 4-day break in England’s high summer
- Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart, Cuckoo
- Visit the outstanding Somerset Levels for marsh birds and flowers
- Butterfly highlights include amazing Large Blue with Dark Green Fritillary, Brown Argus, Dingy and Grizzled Skipper
- Visit gloriously scenic Quantock and Mendip Hills
- Many orchid species possible including Greater Butterfly, Pyramidal, Common Spotted & Bee
- Moth-trapping and bat detecting
Somerset boasts some of the most spectacular and internationally important wildlife habitats in the British Isles. During this new short break we will enjoy a rich variety of the special species to be found in the county’s wetlands, meadows and gorges. Bittern, Great Egret, Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Red Deer, Otter, Round-leaved Sundew, Cheddar Pink and Large Blue butterfly are just some of the highlights that we will look for as we sample this region’s wonderful natural diversity and scenic beauty.
Our hotel is situated in the delightful village of Brent Knoll, the perfect base from which to explore the area’s key habitats; these support such a rich variety of plants, insects and birdlife that the region is under consideration for World Heritage status. Amongst the sites we will visit, at a leisurely pace, will be the Quantock Hills, Steart Peninsula, Avalon Marshes, Brean Down, Cheddar Gorge and the Mendip Hills. Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Redstart, Cuckoo, Whinchat and Dartford Warbler are just some of the avian delights of the region’s heaths and woodlands, while Bittern, Bearded Tit, Marsh Harrier, Hobby and a range of breeding warblers will be enjoyed as we explore the waterways and reedbeds of the famous Somerset Levels. Superb limestone downland holds a wealth of butterflies, most notably the rare and localised Large Blue (reintroduced into the UK in 2000), with Dark Green Fritillary, Marbled White and Brown Argus amongst a supporting cast. The accompanying flora will be no less spectacular. We will look for such orchids as Greater Butterfly, Pyramidal, Common Spotted and Bee Orchid, plus such rare plants as White Rock Rose, Dwarf Sedge and Somerset Hair Grass. As darkness falls there will be more to enjoy, and we will visit Wells Cathedral one evening for a bat walk, hoping especially to see Lesser Horseshoe Bats, whilst some mothtrapping back at our hotel will allow us to observe some of the gems amongst the local nocturnal lepidoptera.
This tour will be led by expert naturalists who know the area very well setting us up for a fascinating insight into a wildlife haven right on our doorstep.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Somerset
Day 2/4
Somerset Levels; Quantocks Hills, Steart Peninsula, Avalon Marshes, Brean Down, Cheddar Gorge and the Mendip Hills
What's Included?
- Accommodation:
A comfortable hotel in Somerset, all rooms have private facilities.
- Food:
Breakfasts and evening meals are included in the holiday cost beginning with the evening meal on Day 1 and finishing with breakfast on Day 4. Lunches are not included in the cost of this tour.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 1st Jun – Thu 4th Jun
SPACES
£745
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£745
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£220
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Adrian Langdon
Tour Leader: Adrian Langdon
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.
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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
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