France - Butterflies in Normandy

Tour Code: FRA01

A 5-day tour, with travel by ferry, to enjoy the many delights of the Normandy region of France, but most especially its excellent variety of butterflies.

5 days from
£1,495 (Inc ferry)

Land only price from
£1,295

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Highlights

Summary

On this short break to Normandy we will visit the region’s mosaic of different habitats in search of a wide range of butterfly species, as well as find time to enjoy the area’s other wildlife and its culture. We’ll explore small flower-rich meadows that are absent from the British Isles, and the Cotentin Regional Nature Park – one of the most important wetlands in Europe. Though our focus will be on butterflies we’ll also enjoy the area’s birds and many wild flowers, as well as the seafood, fruit, dairy products and other local produce for which the area is famed.

160 species of butterfly possible (more than twice the number in Britain)
Return travel by ferry from Poole to Cherbourg
Sooty Copper in small meadows, & Alcon Blue on Cotentin Peninsula
Marsh Fritillaries among a host of woodland species in Forest of Cerisy
Limestone grassland species including Chalkhill Blue & Faust’s Burnet Moth
Scarce plants such as Large-flowered Self-heal
50 breeding pairs of White Stork
Visit the Bayeux Tapestry
Expertly guided by a Naturetrek naturalist

Grading

Easy day walks.

The predominantly rural departments of Calvados and Manche, located in Normandy on the north-west coast of France, are easily accessed via the numerous ferry services running between England and the French ports of Cherbourg and Caen, yet are surprisingly little visited by British, or indeed any other naturalists. The region has an attractive and varied pastoral landscape, often likened to southern England, though much more unspoiled, and retains an abundance of birds, plants and butterflies long since lost from the English counties. Small, flower-rich meadows grazed by Normandy cattle dominate the rolling landscape, and there are numerous orchards, marshes, heaths, bogs and ponds. To the south lie some vast woodlands, whilst in the north a beautiful coastline, rugged in places, offers extensive areas of coastal dune grassland, interspersed by picturesque fishing villages. Interestingly, Normandy supports a rich butterfly fauna, with around 160 species (more than twice the number recorded in Britain!), and a remarkable wealth of other wildlife, set in tranquil surroundings. To explore the region, and enjoy these butterflies, we cross the Channel from Poole to Cherbourg, and drive to our base for this holiday, a pleasant hotel on the coast in the historic town of Port-en-Bessin-Huppain. Famed for its world-famous tapestry, nearby Bayeux is central to our entomological destinations and is within a short drive of our hotel.

On our first full day in Normandy we head west, perhaps stopping at suitable old meadow localities to look for Sooty Coppers which can be abundant at this time of year. En route, as we drive through the Cotentin Regional Nature Park (one of the largest and most important wetlands in Europe), we keep a watchful eye out for White Storks, of which more than 50 pairs now breed in Normandy, and Marsh Harriers. Along the many roadside hedgerows and flower-rich verges, we take a special interest in any whites we may see, as Wood Whites (the second brood of which is now on the wing) are locally common in this part of Normandy. However, our main focus today is the area of wet heaths, bogs and pine forests around Lessay, at the base of the Cotentin Peninsula. Here we will spend the whole day exploring numerous tracks through this important heathland region, searching for a number of butterfly specialities. Large Chequered Skippers are common, and Silver-studded Blues abundant, but our main target species is the globally threatened Alcon Blue, which is the subject of special conservation management in the area. Other species present include Sooty Copper, Purple and Ilex Hairstreaks, Dark Green Fritillary and Grayling. The shady pine forests are less attractive to butterflies, but we can expect to see Crested Tits amongst the evergreen foliage and, with luck, Honey Buzzards overhead. The area is important botanically and supports a large population of the orchid Summer Lady’s Tresses, together with Heath Lobelia, Bog Rosemary and of course, Marsh Gentian, the food-plant of the Alcon Blue.

Our objective for the second day will be the large, state-owned Forest of Cerisy. This forest is dominated by beech, and contains a variety of other habitats including old meadows and calcareous mire, the latter supporting important populations of Marsh Fritillary. We will spend a full day exploring the network of rides which criss-cross the forest, looking for both grassland and woodland butterflies and moths. A very good variety of butterflies are found in the wood at this time of year including Camberwell Beauty, Ilex Hairstreak, White-letter Hairstreak, Map Butterfly, Silver-washed Fritillary, Clouded Yellow and possibly the last of the year’s Lesser Purple Emperors. This large, secluded woodland supports a wide range of other wildlife including Wild Boar, Pine Marten, Honey Buzzard, Goshawk, Nightjar, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Melodious Warbler and Firecrest.

Finally we head south, to Les Monts d’sEraines, an area of undulating limestone hills between Caen and Falaise, the birthplace of William the Conqueror. The area comprises a mixture of scrub, limestone grassland and woodland, part of which has been designated a nature reserve. This is one of the most important limestone grassland sites in Normandy, and marks the north-west limit of this habitat type in France. During the day we will scour the botanically-rich slopes for butterflies such as Chalkhill Blue and Scarce Swallowtail, and also the regionally rare Faust’s Burnet Moth. This leisurely day will give us ample time to search for other insect-life, including Jersey Tiger Moth and Stag Beetle and a whole host of scarce plants such as Large-flowered Self-heal, Chiltern Gentian, St. Lucie’s Cherry, Mountain Germander, plus a number of true orchids and helleborines. Birdlife on the slopes will be quiet at this time of year, although we may possibly see Cirl Buntings which occur commonly in the region.

At the end of our holiday we return to Cherbourg to catch the Poole ferry, thus concluding a remarkably varied five days in a corner of France which richly deserves a higher profile as an excellent natural history destination.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Sail Poole-Cherbourg; transfer to hotel at Port-en-Bessin for 4-night stay

Day 2/4

Exploration of Lessay, the Forest of Cerisy and Les Monts d'Eraines from our base at Port-en-Bessin

Day 5

Drive Cherbourg; sail Poole

Download Full Itinerary

What's Included

What's Included?

Ferries
Accommodation: A pleasant seaside hotel at Port-en-Bessin, with private facilities.
Food: All included in the price.

Reviews

Tom and John, our leaders, could not have been better. They took a good deal of trouble to ensure that we had a good and interesting holiday and had all the qualities one could hope for.
J.D. Dorset
Cannot speak too highly of both leaders. Not only knowledgeable but most thoughtful and considerate of us and excellent company. Very good ambassadors for your firm!
M.L. Oxfordshire
A really top-drawer leader in the person of Tom Brereton, who was efficient, calm, friendly and inclusive, with an admirable knowledge and experience of the natural world . I was not alone in pronouncing, on the way home on the ferry, that I would be happy to repeat the tour another year. There wasn't an idle moment - we were butterflying from the first day, offered optional pre-breakfast birding walks, and housed in a hotel that presented the very best of Normandy cuisine. Plus a memorable visit to the Bayeux tapestry and Manet-like picnics in beautiful locations. Who could ask for more?
E.H. Lincolnshire

Tom Brereton was one of the best tour leaders I have experienced.
D.H. Hertfordshire

The quality of the leaders of this trip was excellent, their specialist subject knowledge and general natural history grasp was very good indeed. They were both attentive of our needs at all times.
R. & J.D. Cheshire

Tom Brereton was an excellent leader - organised, knowledgeable on a wide range of wildlife, friendly and sensitive to the needs of all the party.
G.T. Oxfordshire

Thank you for a wonderful holiday. Everything was great from start to finish. Tom was superb. Everything ran like clockwork. We visited very varied habitats and had the most wonderful picnics and tried several items that were new to me. Tom and several of the other participants were very knowledgeable, which added to the pleasure.
V.B. Lancashire

This was a most interesting and enjoyable trip led by a very able leader. The holiday was both relaxing and stimulating. Highlights for me were the varied scenery of Normandy, the excellent base, variety of butterflies and Bayeux Tapestry.
A.L. Rutland

Tom was an excellent guide - extremely knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge, an excellent driver, picnic organiser etc. A perfect leader and very inspirational. The group got on really well together and made me feel very welcome. My first Naturetrek trip but, based on my first experience, I wouldn’t hesitate to book on another or recommend to others.
C.J. Dorset

The trip leader was absolutely excellent in every way.
K.M. Cumbria

This was an interesting and most enjoyable holiday. Paul was an excellent leader and showed great patience in helping a complete moth novice to appreciate the wonders of this much-neglected insect family. The early morning gatherings around the moth trap were most illuminating and gave me insight into the huge variety of moth species. The Hotel Gran Mugon was a superb base for this holiday, being ideally situated for making day trips to other spectacular parts of the Dolomites. The food was excellent and service top-notch. Paul did a great job with the picnic lunches, which we enjoyed in some spectacular settings. All in all, a great Naturetrek tour.
I.T. Cambridgeshire

I thought the trip was extremely well organised and Tom the leader was brilliant – couldn't have asked for anything more, extremely knowledgeable, both in locating and identifying subjects and sharing your knowledge, excellent driver, great at making picnics...I could go on and on!
C.J. Dorset

Fabulous trip. Tom was a good leader and very helpful. The variety of habitats was stunning, even around the beach, cliffs, dunes and trees of Arromanches. I really enjoyed the photography and am thrilled by the number of species I shot for the first time. It was all gloriously photogenic. I brought a rather reluctant friend with me who was on cloud nine all week and can’t wait to do it all again! Well done and many thanks.
F.I. Leicestershire

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Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Thu 3rd Jul – Mon 7th Jul SPACES £1,495

Book Tour Show Details

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,295

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£195

2026

Departures Availability Cost

Thu 2nd Jul – Mon 6th Jul SPACES £1,495

Book Tour Show Details

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£1,295

Single Room Supplement:

Single Room Supplement.

£195

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Among our programme is a significant range of short breaks, designed specially for those wishing to enjoy some of Europe’s top natural history highlights at the best time of year. All of these holidays have the bonus of being short-haul and supported by like-minded wildlife enthusiasts.
Naturetrek Short Break Wildlife Tours
Short breaks are becoming increasingly popular and in response to the high demand for this type of holiday we are continuing to increase our programme both within the UK and abroad. Most of our short breaks are within Europe, for convenience of travel.
For some of our mini-breaks there is an option to travel by plane or train, and we offer a choice of duration and type of break, from a weekend’s birdwatching in the Somerset Levels to a 6-day whale watching tour in the Azores.
A selection of our UK short breaks:

A winter bird watching break in Norfolk
An autumn holiday to enjoy the Red Deer rut in Ardnamurchan, Scotland
A wildlife weekend in the New Forest

A selection of our overseas short breaks:

In Spain we look for the world’s rarest cat, the Iberian Lynx
Wolves on the plains in rural northern Spain
An exploration of La Brenne’s exceptionally rich butterfly-life in northern France

 

 
Our specialist recommends...





"We offer two superb short breaks to the lovely island of Madeira in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds. It’s hard to beat our Just Brown Bears trip for families, while if you fancy something off the beaten track, try Estonia in Early Spring for some excellent spring birdwatching." 

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager

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            [description] => Butterfly Watching Holidays Led by Expert Naturalists
Who can fail to be delighted by butterflies – the intensity and variety of their colours, their delicate beauty and fascinating life cycles? Our tours allow butterfly-watching enthusiasts to observe marvellous species all around the world. Sadly, butterflies are in decline in many regions. To help prevent the loss of these beautiful creatures, our butterfly holidays make a direct contribution to their conservation.

Naturetrek Butterfly Tours

We offer an excellent range of dedicated butterfly holidays
All tours are led by a Naturetrek butterfly-watching expert
Although butterflies are the main focus of our butterfly tours, we also take time to observe other wildlife
By booking one of our dedicated butterfly holidays you will automatically be making a contribution to their conservation.

Here’s a selection of our dedicated butterfly tours:
Although we include butterfly-watching in many of our holidays, we offer a wide selection of dedicated butterfly tours, including:

The Cevennes – we look for butterflies in the Massif Central
Butterflies in Normandy – we go in search of some of Normandy’s 160 species of butterfly
Sweden's Butterflies & Dragonflies – Sweden is home to Large Blue, Apollo, Scarce Copper and many more species
Butterflies of the Dolomites – we explore sheltered valleys and butterfly hot-spots in the Italian Dolomites
Sri Lanka - A Butterfly Tour – seeking Sri Lanka’s dazzling tropical species
Butterflies of Morocco's High Atlas Mountains – a search for the butterflies of the High Atlas Mountains, with a wealth of other wildlife and mountain walks in spectacular scenery.

Naturetrek & Butterfly Conservation 
As a top category ‘Gold’ corporate sponsor of Butterfly Conservation (BC), we donate around £1,500 annually to the charity. As well as this, since 2002 we have donated 10% of all income generated by our annual programme of butterfly tours that we run in partnership with BC, and give BC membership to all non-members joining the tours.

Our specialist recommends...




"I'd recommend Naturetrek's Butterflies of South Africa holiday. On this butterfly holiday we look for butterflies in the Wajkkerstrom (montane grassland), which supports a wonderful diversity of species. Closer to home I'd suggest our Butterflies of Hungary tour, or Butterflies of Croatia for unspoilt landscapes and a density of butterfly-life rarely seen in western Europe now." 

Tom Brereton - Operations Manager

 
All Butterfly Watching Tours

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It is also the case that many of our other holidays within Europe are also accessible by rail. Generally, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we’d be pleased to offer advice to anybody who wishes to join any of our tours within Europe by a means other than flying!

Our specialist recommends...


"Our Picos & Plains tour offers an environmentally-friendly route down to Spain for some excellent birding and cetacean-watching. More broadly, we’re very keen for Naturetrek to offer the most dynamic, market-leading carbon-reduced holidays available, and we hope you enjoy browsing our list of no-flight wildlife holidays!” 

Kerrie Porteous - Operations Manager

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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

Tour Reports

Tour report - July 2014

Tour report - July 2013

Tour report - July 2011

Tour report - July 2009

Tour report - July 2007

Tour report - July 2006

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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

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!