NORTHUMBERLAND in HIGH SUMMER

Including the Farnes, Lindisfarne, Kielder Forest and more!

SAT 17 JUNE – SAT 24 JUNE 2023

SAT 22 JUNE – SAT 29 JUNE 2024

PRICES: from £1995pp

Single supplement: £325. Deposit £300pp Max 14 clients. Leader Jenna Berry with another from our team with more than 7 clients.

Northumberland is one of the most picturesque and unspoilt corners of England, and this slow-paced single-centre holiday takes in the natural highlights of the coast, islands, uplands, farmland and forest of this beautiful region in summer, including visits to iconic cultural and historical sites along the way.

The Farne Islands are our primary target, gauging our best day to visit by tide and weather conditions. This is one of Britain’s greatest wildlife spectacles, especially during the summer with thousands of terns, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Eider, Kittiwake, Shag and Atlantic Grey Seal. We aim to spend all day visiting the two main islands, Staple Island in the morning and Inner Farne in the afternoon. Some birds will have fledged young, others small chicks whilst some will be on eggs. It’s a photographer’s paradise with time to fully enjoy and appreciate the experience. In the Cheviot Hills, a land of few people but a number of narrow secluded valleys that penetrate into the heart, we explore the typical upland habitat and birdlife including Dipper, Raven, Peregrine, Red Grouse, Grey Wagtail, Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Common Sandpiper and maybe a few Wild Goats.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is an undoubted highlight, and if tides are suitable, we will intentionally become stranded as the causeway floods twice daily. Derwent Valley is a great area to see Red Kite, with river and woodland species nearby. At RSPB Saltholme and Seal Sands we seek one of the northernmost colonies of breeding Avocet and may see Bittern and Marsh Harrier.

We also visit Kielder Forest and Kielder Water, for forest, woodland and moorland birds with currently three pairs of breeding Osprey, and a raptor watchpoint particularly known for Goshawk. Our return takes us along the Military Road, running parallel to Hadrian’s Wall where we may have time to walk a section. If weather conditions affect our plans, we have many other places, habitats and experiences to fill an absorbing week in and around Northumberland, with a potential birdlist of over 100+ species.