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I enjoyed being taken to places to see things I would have never have found myself or known about, for example the Crested Crow Wheat. I liked the ease of travel and quality accommodation. Jim, our tour guide, was very informative about the wildlife and responsive to our interests.
M.K, Somerset, June 19
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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The Isle of Wight in Spring
Tour Code: GBR46A 4-day natural history break exploring the fascinating diversity of this scenic island.
4 days
from
£845 (Inc ferry)
£845 (Inc ferry)
Land only price
from
£845
£845
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Isle of Wight is England’s largest island. Known as ‘the island’, its southerly location, isolation and geology make it a haven for wildlife, much of which is at the northern limit of its European distribution. The northern part of the island is predominantly formed of impervious clays which give rise to wetlands and marshes such as the island’s only National Nature Reserve at Newtown Marshes, home to a variety of waders and wildfowl. The centre of the island is largely formed of high rolling chalk downlands, whilst the south coast is renowned for its soft sedimentary cliffs. Our visit in late spring is timed to give us the best chance of seeing some of the fascinating wildlife that the island has to offer. From our base in a comfortable hotel, we will enjoy the Isle of Wight’s range of habitats and special species, focusing particularly on the island’s rich flora and, provided we get some sunshine, its butterflies.
- Look for the scarce Adonis Blue, plus Small & Common Blues on chalk downlands
- Enjoy the island’s rich flora including Early Gentian, a near-endemic British flower
- Glanville Fritillary occurs here at the northernmost limit of its range
- Look for Green Hairstreak & Wall Brown plus both Dingy & Grizzled Skippers
- Clovers, Yellow-horned Poppies, Wild Cabbage & Hoary Stock
- Visit to woodlands in search of Hazel Dormouse and the island’s native Red Squirrel
- Rare native Narrow-leaved Lungwort, & with luck the parasitic Greater Broomrape
- Led by expert naturalist guide
The Isle of Wight, known to the ancient Romans as Vectis, is England’s largest island. Although separated from the mainland county of Hampshire by a narrow sea channel known as the Solent, ‘the island’ as it is affectionately known, has an altogether different, gentle pace of life — perfect for a holiday break. Its southerly location, isolation and geology make it a haven for wildlife, much of which is at the northern limit of its European distribution. The northern part of the island is predominantly formed of impervious clays which give rise to wetlands and marshes such as the island’s only National Nature Reserve at Newtown Marshes, home to a variety of waders and wildfowl. The centre of the island is largely formed of high rolling chalk downlands, whilst the south coast is renowned for its soft sedimentary cliffs.
Our visit in late spring is timed to give us the best chance of seeing some of the fascinating wildlife that the island has to offer. The downlands are home to a good variety of butterflies, including the scarce and beautiful Adonis Blue, plus Small and Common Blues, Green Hairstreak and both Dingy and Grizzled Skippers, whilst we may also come across the diminutive Early Gentian, a near-endemic British flower.
On the cliffs and chines of the south coast we will look for the rare and delightful Glanville Fritillary, which occurs here at the northernmost limit of its range. We should also see the Wall Brown, a butterfly that is in dramatic decline on mainland Britain. For those interested in botany, the cliffs and downs offer much to admire, from diminutive clovers to showy Yellow-horned Poppies, Wild Cabbage and mauve Hoary Stock, the latter thought to occur here in one of its few native British sites. The very rare Field Cow-wheat, with its attractive magenta bracts, occurs here on one of Britain's smallest nature reserves. We will also visit the island’s extensive woodlands to look for the native Red Squirrel and will join a guided walk to look for the elusive Hazel Dormouse. The forest rides are also home to the rare native Narrow-leaved Lungwort and, in places, the parasitic Greater Broomrape.
Based in a comfortable and characterful, family-run hotel, we will enjoy these habitats and special species and — provided we get some sunshine — its butterflies.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Meet Southampton for Red Funnel ferry to East Cowes, Isle of Wight; afternoon Newtown Marshes
Day 2
The Needles, Compton Chine, Sandown and Ventnor
Day 3
Brading Marshes
Day 4
Briddlesford Wood & Firestone Copse, Ferry to Southampton
What's Included?
- Ferries
- Accommodation:
Based in a comfortable and characterful hotel ovelooking Ventnor Bay, with en-suite rooms, private cliff-top garden and outdoor heated swimming pool.
- Food: Breakfast and dinner at the hotel (lunches not included)
Reviews
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The places we visited were all beautiful and rich in flora and fauna, and we saw so many plants, butterflies, birds and lizards. It was another lovely group and an educational and enjoyable trip.
S.R, East Sussex, June 19
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Mon 19th May – Thu 22nd May
SPACES
£845
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£845
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£95
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[description] => Botanical Tours – See Wild Flowers with our Expert Botanical Guides
There are few more pleasing sights in the natural world than a meadow filled with wildflowers. Seeing plants in their native habitat is always exciting and our flower tours offer you an incredible choice, from dazzling tropical blooms and the thrill of finding elusive orchids or delicate alpines, to seeing island endemics or British flora. Our tours range from week-long holidays focusing on the ‘Alpine flowers of the Swiss Alps’, the ‘Italian Dolomites’ and the ‘Alpine Flowers of Slovenia’s Julian Alps’, to orchid-hunting on Italy’s Gargano Peninsula and searching for the Autumn Plants of Greece’s Peloponnese. We also visit more remote areas of the world in search of plant-life, from the Tien Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan where we look for wild tulips, to the rainforests and spiny deserts of Madagascar where over 80% of the flora is endemic.
Many of us want to know more about the plants we see around us. Whether inspired by an appreciation of the aesthetic appeal of flowers, or a more focused desire to identify individual species, everyone with an interest in botany will derive pleasure from joining one of Naturetrek’s flower tours.
Why choose Naturetrek’s botanical holidays?
- All our botanical holidays are led by expert botanist guides
- All levels of interest and expertise are catered for, from hobby gardeners and complete beginners to keen botanists who wish to explore a new area with the help of a knowledgeable leader
- We keep the overall focus on flora, though expert guidance is also given on other wildlife
What can I expect on a typical Naturetrek botanical holiday?
- Travel with a group of like-minded people
- Stay at a comfortable hotel or lodge, close to an area of outstanding botanical interest
- Enjoy a series of leisurely day excursions with ample time to appreciate the local flora
In addition to our dedicated flower tours, we also offer holidays with a wider theme to encompass birds, butterflies and other aspects of natural history as well as the flora. Our spring tours to 'Crete' and ‘The Island of Cyprus’ are both timed to allow us to enjoy the botanical highlights as well as the spring bird migration, whilst ‘Croatia and Slovenia – Spring in Istria’ also allows time to enjoy a little of the local culture. ‘Romania – the Wildlife of Transylvania’ combines an appreciation of the flora of the Carpathian Mountains with birding, butterflying and a trip to look for Brown Bears from a purpose built hide, and our holidays in both the ‘French Pyrenees’ and the ‘Spanish Pyrenees’ combine birds, butterflies and botany throughout the week.
Our specialist recommends...
"I'd recommend 'Wengen – Alpine Flowers of the Swiss Alps', 'Crete' and 'The French Pyrenees', which all offer some fascinating European botany, along with plenty of wider natural history and some stunning scenery. If you’re keen to travel a little further afield, I’d suggest joining us in South Africa for our 'Wild Flowers of the Cape & Namaqualand' tour”
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
David Tattersfield - Tour Leader
Short Break Wildlife Holidays
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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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
Tom Brereton - Operations Manager
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!
