Nature-led Experiences

A Tour of Hepple Wilds

Northumberland

Set out on a fascinating tour of the Hepple Wilds estate, discovering seasonal botanicals, mushrooms, and berries with the expert eye of the estate’s resident guide. Set within the eastern corner of the Northumberland National Park, Hepple’s estate and distillery combine some of England’s cleanest waters, most ancient juniper, and wildest winds. Forming part of Rewilding Britain and the most northerly English estate in the network, ecological renewal is at the heart of Hepple’s work, rewilding the ecosystem through natural processes and light-touch management which seeks to restore the diversity of the landscape.

On the tour, you’ll discover the plants which go into Hepple Gin and spot some of the thriving wildlife which calls the landscape’s diverse habitats home – from peregrine falcons to adders, as well as the wild Exmoor ponies and highland cows which freely roam the hills. The walk will take a total of three hours, or guests can add a locally sourced picnic lunch to enjoy out in the wilds, extending the tour to four and half hours.

Seashore Safaris

Northumberland

One of the great joys of a seaside holiday is dabbling in a spot of rock pooling. Give your mini explorers the opportunity to learn more about the sea creatures and marine life with a private, ranger-guided seashore safari. Armed with nets, buckets and a waterproof seashore guide you’ll take a closer look at crabs, sea slugs, starfish, shrimps, anemones and seaweed, gleaning interesting facts about them and their natural habitats as you go. 

Breakfast Safari

Scottish Borders

Experience the magic of a morning on the farm with a walking safari tour of a sublime Scottish Borders farm. Located in rolling pastures at the foot of the Cheviot Hills, you’ll enjoy a guided walk led by the resident farmer. Charming, friendly and a keen photographer, he’ll not only introduce you to the cattle and point out glimpses of local wildlife including roe deer, hare, birdlife and otters, but he’ll also show you the best places to capture them on camera. Following your safari, you’ll then be treated to a scrumptious breakfast of locally sourced bacon, eggs and homegrown berries, fruit and veg, which you can enjoy overlooking the farm if the weather is good!

Additional activities such as wild swimming, animal feeding or a tour of the gardens can be tacked on by request.

Sensory Nature Walk

Berwickshire Coast

Connect with nature in a tangible way with a sensory wildlife walk along rugged cliffs of St Abb’s Head nature reserve. Teeming with spectacular wildlife including over 50,000 sea birds such as guillemots, kittiwakes, shags, razorbills and puffins, as well as grey seals, there’s plenty to see and hear. Guided by an ex National Trust ranger, you’ll experience the 3km walk and its wildlife through the full spectrum of senses listening out for bird song and the sound of the waves, smelling the salt of the sea, fragrant plant life, touching shells, sand, seaweed and spotting butterflies, insects, birds and, if you’re lucky, a pod of dolphins. The session will end with a guided meditation.

Conservation Treasure Hunt

Berwickshire Coast

Taking place on the sandy arc-shaped bay at Coldingham, this beachy treasure hunt focuses on all the natural gems that can be found on the beach. Led by an ex-St Abbs ranger, you and your brood will spend several hours scouring the beach for feathers, colourful pebbles, slimy seaweed and more. Paying particular attention to the natural colours and textures of marine life, your guide will also teach you about what shouldn’t be there – plastic and small bits of washed-up rubbish, which you’ll collect as you go on a mini beach clean, learning how it arrived there and how it impacts the local environment.