Boating in the Norfolk Broads

Visit one of the most peaceful, beautiful and natural places in the country; the Norfolk Broads offer a unique range of activities for all ages from boating to bird-watching. With plenty of customer amenities along the way, the Broads cater well to its paying visitors and is a tremendous place to be at one with nature, whilst enjoying the serene experience with your loved ones. A variety of quaint country homes and cottages are available to rent in the area and it’s no wonder the Broads are such a popular tourist location.

Norfolk Broads, UK by Martin Pettitt

Longleat Safari in Wiltshire

Renowned as the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa, Longleat was opened in the mid-1960s and visitors can witness first-hand the wildlife roaming freely through the park’s grounds whilst enjoying a day out with friends and family. Vast arrays of animals are showcased on the grounds including Gorillas, Zebras and Lions. Prices are affordable and there are many services available for those in need of them.

Photo of Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire, UK by fribbleblib

Leeds Castle in Kent

Kent isn’t known as the ‘Garden of England’ for no reason; its reliance on regions of natural beauty and preservation areas means it boasts a great number of outdoor activities for visitors. Leeds Castle not only features stunning archaic architecture and history, but a selection of activities such as mini-golf, mazes and museums. The castle’s grounds are laced with natural beauty and wildlife that are very easy on the eye and the regular exhibitions thrown at the castle are always worth a visit.

Photo of Leeds Castle in Kent, UK by Jim Bowen

Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland

After being labelled as a World Heritage Site in the 1980s, Hadrian’s Wall has seen a flurry of tourists and visitors. The site features a large number of walking trails and a range of cafes along the way. Visitors are able to snap a photo of themselves standing on one of the most significant emblems of the nation’s history as well as taking in the overwhelming beauty of the nearby lakes and natural trails.

Photo of Hadrian’s Wall, UK by quisnovus

Hiking in the Moors

Following on from Hadrian’s Wall, the Yorkshire Moors are some of the most idyllic places in the UK for hikers. Steeped in a deep, rich history, the hills and woodlands are massively challenging as well as beautiful and can certainly keep visitors busy all day long. There are inns and cottages to rent around the areas for those wishing to make the most of their time and a mass of pubs, restaurants and cafes as well as ancient sites to visit such as Top Withens, an obsolete farmhouse that was supposedly the inspiration for the farmhouse featured in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.

Photo of Yorkshire Moors, UK by chantrybee

Colin is writing on behalf of Boating Holiday & Norfolk Broads Holidays Operator – Horning Ferry Marina

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Grazing Giraffe Taken at Longleat Safari Park, UK by Alan Hern

1. Woburn Abbey Deer Park

Many different types of deer live together at this deer park, including the shy and retiring Musa deer, the Sika, Axis, Chital Deer, and Barasingha. Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer are more aloof and you may see these miniature friends hoofing around solo. The 11th Duke of Bedford founded the Deer Park as he wished to preserve many species on his estate. Today you can visit the 3,000 acre estate and see the deer on foot as you roam through.

2. Otters! Nationwide…except Kent

Otters are now back in healthy numbers after spending the last decade on the brink of extinction. There’s only one place you can’t see an otter in the wild: Kent! Thanks to the work of bodies like the Sussex Wildlife Trust, otter numbers have returned to healthy levels in most of the country.

3. Golden Eagle, Scottish Highlands

Golden eagles are not a common sight in the UK but there are a couple of places you can see them. This massive and impressive bird of prey traditionally homes in the open moorlands and wild mountains of Scotland. Eagles are incredibly loyal to their traditional nesting sites and don’t like to have their territories or routines disturbed. Consequently, it’s hard to conserve eagles without the right habitat.

4. Dragonflies and damselflies

Dungeness RSPB Reserve is a great place to see British birds and of course, beautiful jewel-like dragonflies. Dungeness is made up of miles of shingle, particularly across the beach area. Altogether there are 40 species of dragon and damselflies in the UK. The sound of a dragonfly buzzing over a pond is one of the most familiar sounds of British summertime.

5. Longleat Safari Park

See all of nature’s charismatic megafauna at this famous and much loved wildlife park in the South West of England (between Bristol, Glastonbury and Southampton). You can see giraffes, lions, elephants and cheetahs all gambolling around the grounds of Longleat manor. Longleat is an 18th century house in 900 acres of manicured parklands, providing a grand setting for corporate events and weddings.

Be careful when out trekking in the UK. Although we have adders and vipers (venomous snakes native to the UK) , we don’t have anything too dangerous lurking in our wilds. That will take care of those clinical negligence claims you’re thinking about filing when you’re flailing about in A&E).

Remember to plan ahead if you’re going somewhere remote and bring a fully charged camera with you, or a notepad, or whatever you use to collect your data or make memories!

Doreen Cruise loves nature conservation and social media – sometimes together!

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