What, when and where tour.

[Wild-Woman]

What would you do if you were told you could have a year off work (fully paid) and that to get your pay you had to do a wildlife tour of Britain including all of the places of your choice. Starting from January- of course.

Really- I'm just hoping that someone will give us an idea of where to go and when so that we can make some plans for next year- well in advance. Unfortunately we have to work but the best tour wins an orange!

[ChrisJB]

I haven't thought about the places I'd go and when, but that would be a dream twelve months. Mind you, twelve months anywhere apart from work would be a dream twelve months.

Chris

[Kayleigh]

I would tour round the highlands staying in Fort William then going on the Jacobi steam train to Mallaig staying there for a few days and do some Island hopping maybe staying on Skye to take in the sunsets and sunrises the shots you could get would be stunning..I would do this in June.

August I would go to Cornwall staying in St Ives eating in the lovely fish restaurants go to the Lizard to see the Choughs then onto St Michaels mount and Penzance go to the Isles of Scilly, go to Hale estuary NR then fish and chips in St Just or the Wellington hotel for a nice pub meal.

then the rest of the year I would just relax..

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I would tour round the highlands staying in Fort William then going on the Jacobi steam train to Mallaig staying there for a few days and do some Island hopping maybe staying on Skye to take in the sunsets and sunrises the shots you could get would be stunning..I would do this in June.

August I would go to Cornwall staying in St Ives eating in the lovely fish restaurants go to the Lizard to see the Choughs then onto St Michaels mount and Penzance go to the Isles of Scilly, go to Hale estuary NR then fish and chips in St Just or the Wellington hotel for a nice pub meal.

then the rest of the year I would just relax..

That's along the lines of what I'd do I think. Much of the time would be spent high up on the west coast of Scotland, taking in as many islands as possible also. I'd weave into this a few sorties down to Cornwall (including Lundy and the Scillies) and Pembrokeshire, with perhaps a little dalliance or two into my beloved Pennines and maybe a dash to Northumberland.
Oh aye, what a good time I'd have.

Chris

[Farplace]

January - Northumberland, Including farne Islands, Keilder forest and the High north Pennines, hope to see red squirrels if the weather is mild, Roe deer, hare,
February – Nottinghamshire – explore Sherwood forest, cresswell crags, Clumber park. deer, hare, Water vole, grey squirrel
March – Wales: Wildflower watch – find primroses, violets, cowslips and pansys in Wales. Osprey and red kite, manx shearwaters on Skomer Island and hope to glimpse the pine martens in Snowdonia’s forests.
April – Channel Isles Including Durrell on Jersey, Slow worms, grass snakes, red squirrels, agile frog, palmate newt. Fox cubs, bats Also check out the cave systems at La Cotte de St Brelade, Jersey to see the Neanderthal stuff found there.
May - Cornwall Basking sharks, Cuckoo, roe deer kids, marsh fritillary, Nightjars, owls, bats Dorset – Dartford warbler, Adders, grass snakes, Sheerness area to look for Yellow-Tailed Scorpion, bats.
June – Norfolk Broads – kingfishers, swallowtail butterfly, bittern marsh harrier, chinese water deer & muntjac, fen orchid, bats
July –– Ireland Irish stoat and irish hare Isle of Mann – merlin, grey seal great northern Diver, chough peregrins basking shark, Minke whale
August – Whale watching off the Shetland isles,
September - find 100 species of fungi and 20 species of moss in my tour of Scotland. Also hope to see Ptarmigan in the highlands,
October - Otters eagles and ravens and red deer rut – Scottish Islands
November... December (I'm working on it)...


Cheers,
Jan

[Wyrd]

I'm actually doing this in a year's time (minus the fully paid part!). We're taking a motorhome and will be travelling slowly all around the UK. Haven't worked out our route yet but I like the look of Farplace's list.

[Cordaline]

Hi Jules,
Wow, what an opportunity!
I don't have any bright ideas for destinations & timings I'm afraid.
Not that up on all that.
Nevertheless, I hope you plan a great trip.
Would love to see the final itinery!
Hope you & Chris are both well!