Top 3 British Destinations for Nature Lovers
Britain has some stunning scenery and I honestly feel like we take it for granted sometimes. From stunning Snowdonia to Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, we have numerous examples of nature’s majesty which we should take advantage of when planning our holidays. Whether you are looking for flora, fauna, or natural phenomenon I wanted to share my top 3 British places to visit for nature lovers.
The Norfolk Broads
This network of rivers and lakes across the north of East Anglia is Britain’s largest protected wetland and is home to a multitude of wildlife, especially birdlife, which any nature lover will find well worth a visit. Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Great Crested Grebe, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Cormorant, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Bittern all call these man-made waterways their home.
This area has often been cited as one of the best bird-watching spots in the UK. Having visited the Broads frequently on family holidays I have to suggest visiting between May and August to have the best chance of seeing ducklings, cygnets and my personal favourite juvenile Grebes who have the most remarkable black and white stripes.
The Shetland Islands
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is nature’s own remarkable light display which is a result of solar particles colliding with atmospheric gas molecules visible in high latitude areas. The Shetland Islands offers the perfect viewpoint as one of the furthest north locations on the British Isle. The aurora displays can vary greatly in intensity with an exceptional display occupying the whole of the northern half of the sky.
The Northern Lights are most likely to be seen between mid-October and mid-March. Shetland also has opportunities for walking, wildlife watching and archaeological sites to if you want to delve into some history.
Tresco, Isles of Scilly
This small island off the coast of the Cornish peninsula amongst the Isles of Scilly archipelago is home to the most incredible tropical gardens located at the south of the island. The Tresco Abbey Gardens were established by the 19th century by the owner of the islands, Augustus Smith, who made his home near the remains of a Benedictine abbey, founded in 964 AD and converted a barren piece of land by landscaping and importing plants from the mainland.
The garden is now home to myriad exotic plants from all over the world including the Mediterranean, South America, South Africa and Australasia. The Valhalla Collection, some 30 figureheads, as well as name-boards and other decorative carvings with nautical connections are a special feature of the gardens and represent vessels that wrecked on the Isles of Scilly. This little island is definitely worth a visit if you are a lover of all things flora.
