Countryside

Both genteel and wild, there’s nothing quite like the English countryside for rural escapes with its patchwork hills, dramatic dales, ancient woodlands and winding country roads. All well and good, but what is there to do in England’s countryside exactly? Quite a lot, actually. Admire the grand interiors of a stately home before catching a play in the surrounding gardens, travel back in time with visits to ancient stone circles and crumbling castles, or step into a chocolate box of quaint villages and market towns and live like a local, trying farmhouse cheeses, cream teas and real ales along the way.

32 Experience Results

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Be at one with birds of prey at Rosliston Forestry Centre

There’s something special about being close to a bird of prey; those round watchful eyes on high alert, fixing you with a dominating stare.

Location: Rosliston, Derbyshire

 

Small pleasures come free at Dimminsdale Nature Reserve

Just a few small snowdrops bring cheer to the colder, shorter days of England’s winter, and seen at Dimminsdale, they’re simply breathtaking.

Location: Staunton Harold, Leicestershire

 

Lunch with the deer at Bradgate Park

If you’d like a little history with your sandwiches then take your picnic to Bradgate Park.

Location: Newtown Linford, Leicestershire

 

Encounter wildlife on the UK's first boating ring

Set sail on a narrow boat trip on the historic Droitwich Canals to the River Severn and beyond, the Mid Worcestershire boating ring now offers a perfect weekend getaway.

Location: Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire

 

Discover wildlife and the history of Derwent Reservoir

Spot red squirrels, adders and bog plants at Derwent Reservoir and Pow Hill Country Park in the Durham Dales.

Location: Durham Dales

 

Spy on endangered wildfowl at Rutland Water Nature Reserve

Visit Rutland Water's famous wildfowl sanctuary, covering a 1,000 acres of bird hides, mucky nature trails and interactive visitor centres.

Location: Rutland Water, Rutland

 

Family fun at Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens

The appeal of Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens goes way beyond its remarkable wildlife collection to breeding programmes and exuberant gardens.

Location: Burford, Oxfordshire

 

Get close to the deer at the Red Deer rut

The majestic red deer is our largest land mammal: a beautiful creature, from hoof to antler, whose iconic silhouette has captivated us for centuries.

Location: Minsmere, Suffolk

 

Go wildlife spotting at Hastings Country Park

Explore over 660 acres of countryside, and uncover the rare wildlife that inhabit the area all year round.

Location: Hastings, East Sussex

 

Get back to nature at Attenborough Nature Reserve

The tranquil waters of the beautiful Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottingham set the landscape for discovering and watching wildlife at its best.

Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

 

Take in magnificent views from Bempton Cliffs

Bempton’s towering chalk cliffs skyrocket to over 100 metres (109 yards) in points, with awe-inspiring views overlooking the coast of East Yorkshire.

Location: Bempton, East Yorkshire

 

Go seal and puffin spotting on the Farne Islands

Visit Farne Islands to see thousands of seabirds and a huge Grey seal colony.

Location: Farne Islands, Northumberland

 

Bird watching in St Bees

The largest seabird colony on the west coast of England is at St Bees Head.

Location: St Bees, Cumbria

 

Take a visit to Looe Island

Looe Island Nature Reserve is a haven for diverse and fascinating wildlife, from silver-washed fritillaries to grey seals.

Location: Looe, Cornwall

 

Take a walk with the wildlife in the Lake District

Keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready for some serious Cumbrian wildlife spotting.

Location: Lake District, Cumbria

 

Explore Romney Marsh

This patch of pristine wetland near the south east coast covers a whopping 100 square miles and is packed with wildlife – including the curious ‘laughing frogs’.

Location: Romney Marsh, Kent

 

Go otter spotting in Norfolk

When it comes to big game spotting in the Broads National Park, there is no prey more sleek, more rare and more exciting than the otter.

Location: The Broads, Norfolk

 

See nature come to life on the Somerset Levels

See the Red Arrows equivalent for starlings in stunning Somerset countryside.

Location: Somerset

 

Let loose at WildRootz

Let the kids get up close and personal with nature, in all its muddy glory, at WildRootz, in Pensthorpe Wildlife and Gardens.

Location: Fakenham, Norfolk

 

Seal watching in Arthur Ransome’s ‘Secret Water’

Explore Walton’s ‘Secret Water’, the setting for Arthur Ransome’s ‘Swallows and Amazons’ book.

Location: Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex

 

Go wild for the wildlife of the Cotswolds

Experience the wild beauty of Batsford Arboretum and the sight of rare birds of prey soaring over the surrounding Cotswolds hills.

Location: Moreton In Marsh, Gloucestershire

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