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The weather wasn’t great (strong winds and quite a bit if rain) but the tour leader rearranged our itinerary day by day to keep us out of the worst of it, while still finding us great opportunities for birdwatching. The hotel was very nice and the food was excellent. They had an additional vegan menu, which was so good, some of the others in our group chose to order from it. Good company, great food, beautiful landscapes and some fantastic birds.
M.C. London, Mar 19
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Suffolk in Style
Tour Code: GBR14A weekend tour to enjoy the late winter and early spring birds of Walberswick marshes, Minsmere and the Suffolk coast.
3 days
from
£695 (land only)
£695 (land only)
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Suffolk ranks among the best English counties for the variety of its birdlife and embraces several large coastal reserves where Bitterns, Marsh Harriers, Bearded Reedlings and Avocets feature among the long list of breeding species. These 3-day birdwatching breaks are based at a superbly appointed hotel overlooking Aldeburgh. From here our expert local guide will lead excursions to visit a variety of locations in coastal Suffolk including the world-famous Minsmere Reserve, Walberswick Marshes and the River Blyth. The birdlife will vary with changes in season but each outing is sure to produce interesting sightings and locally produced Suffolk cuisine at the hotel will ensure a tasty meal at the end of each day in the field.
- Quality birdwatching amid picturesque Suffolk countryside
- Enjoy Minsmere’s birds on one of Britain’s premier reserves, flagship of the RSPB
- Explore Walberswick Marshes & Southwold
- Marsh Harriers, Bitterns, Avocets, Bearded Tits & much more
- Comfortable hotel, delightfully situated overlooking Aldeburgh beach
- Each season produces a different range of highlights
- Learn from our Naturetrek tour leader, an expert local ornithologist
Grading
Easy day walks.This weekend of birdwatching is based in the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh, from where, in the company of a local expert, we have a wide range of outstanding habitats to explore. At Walberswick, Minsmere and perhaps Benacre, we will look for such resident coastal species as Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Avocet and Bearded Tit. Whilst in the nearby Breckland we have a chance of seeing such rare and elusive breeding species as Goshawk, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Woodlark and Hawfinch. Indeed March, when they are either singing or displaying, is the best time of year to see these species. However, whilst spring is in the air for some, we are also likely to encounter lingering winter highlights such as flocks of wildfowl, a Hen Harrier or a Short-eared Owl. We even have a chance, depending on the weather, of a surprise or two: perhaps a Rough-legged Buzzard, Glaucous or Iceland Gull, Waxwing or Great Grey Shrike if the winter weather is hanging on, or an early spring migrant such as Purple Heron, Stone Curlew or Hoopoe if the spring is under way! So do join us in March, when we think that the mixture of wintering birds, breeding coastal residents, and rarer heath and woodland species makes a particularly appealing combination.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1/2
Minsmere Bird Reserve; Walberswick; Heathland; Blyth Estuary
Day 3
Return to Saxmundham Station in the afternoon
What's Included?
- Accommodation: Very comfortable hotel, each room with private facilities
- Food:
Breakfasts and evening meals included in holiday price, allow £5 - £10 per day for lunches.
Reviews
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Although just a weekend birdwatching break, this holiday had everything. A lovely hotel with attentive and helpful staff, excellent food, a friendly group and an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide who planned things perfectly. In 48 hours we spotted 96 varieties of birds between us, but the whole weekend was relaxed and very enjoyable. We even managed to dodge the showers! Highly recommended in all aspects. Friendly and helpful when I booked the holiday by phone, useful information provided beforehand so I knew exactly what to expect and what to take. My extra day's stay was even organised... (I'd assumed I'd need to sort this out myself). This was my third holiday with Naturetrek and each time I have been impressed by the detailed and thoughtful organisation.
T.G. Hertfordshire, Mar 19 -
Loved the area - and as first time birdwatchers, it was a treat to learn about the variety of birds we saw. Fabulous group and beautiful countryside.
A.G., C.G. & K.C. West Sussex -
Cliff Waller was an excellent guide and exceptionally knowledgeable about the location and its wildlife.
P.B. Shropshire -
The accommodation was excellent and the food.
J.B. Suffolk -
Wentworth Hotel very pleasant and food excellent. Persistence paid off with good views of Firecrest and Bearded Reedling. Access to areas normally not open to the public was of great benefit.
A.W. Northumberland -
Entertaining guide. V. good food in the Wentworth Hotel. The knowledge, expertise and general competence shown by Cliff Waller were outstanding. I greatly enjoyed his leadership of the tour.
Mr & Mrs R. Wiltshire -
Cliff Waller's detailed knowledge of local reserves and habitats meant we were in the right place at the right time for a wonderful range of birds.
J.G. Hampshire -
This is our second holiday with Naturetrek and we really enjoyed it. Cliff's local knowledge was very much appreciated - and, linked to Dan and Robin's excellent assistance and help, was a really good combination. The hotel was a very good choice - very comfortable and a great location. We'd choose to go back there. A really good holiday - thank you all.
D.S. Surrey
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Fri 14th Mar – Sun 16th Mar
2
£695
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£695
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£155
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Brian Small
Tour Leader: Brian Small
Brian was a teacher for 12 years and lives in Suffolk with his wife. He has guided tours since 2000, leading over 100 tours to 30 countries, including Malaysia, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Georgia and New Mexico. He has a special affinity with the birds and butterflies of Switzerland (walking on the glaciers with his dad from the age of 7) and Cape May on the New Jersey coast.
He is also a talented bird artist - examples of his work can be seen in the acclaimed Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW), and the Helm Field Guide Birds of Madagascar and the Indian Ocean - and his current projects include work on two major new guides: the Birds of Southern Brazil and the Birds of Greater Southern Africa.
In his spare time at home, he concentrates on working his local patch at Southwold, Walberswick and the Blyth estuary on the Suffolk coast, searching especially for migrants and gulls.
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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
Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Flight-free Wildlife Holidays
At Naturetrek we make full use of the Eurostar rail service through the channel tunnel, and of the ferry routes between England’s south coast and France and Spain, to offer a range of ‘flightless’ wildlife holidays in Belgium, Holland, France and Spain. In addition, we also offer the widest selection of wildlife holidays within the UK, none of which require a flight to participate in. Therefore, if you prefer not to fly, for whatever reason, we have a range of varied and exciting wildlife holidays for you to choose from, and we are committed to regularly adding more.
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
Kerrie Porteous - Operations Manager
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!
