Daytrips from Watford - preferably things to do with wildlife
Oct 7th, 2011, 04:46 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Daytrips from Watford - preferably things to do with wildlife
Hi, I will be staying in watford for a couple of days next spring and has two free days. Would like to explore some wildlife in uk. Can anyone recommend any nice daytrips out to the seaside/countryside for some wildlife watching, from Watford?
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
Oct 8th, 2011, 12:33 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You could visit the London Wetland Centre http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london
It's strange to see the birds peacefully wading about with jets flying overhead.
For a slightly longer journey, I think you would like Minsmere in Suffolk
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/
You could visit the reserve and perhaps have time to walk over to Dunwich over the Heath. The Heath is owned by the National Trust and is an important habitat.
Southwold is a bit further along the coast and is a charming little seaside town, almost untouched by modernity.
It's strange to see the birds peacefully wading about with jets flying overhead.
For a slightly longer journey, I think you would like Minsmere in Suffolk
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/minsmere/
You could visit the reserve and perhaps have time to walk over to Dunwich over the Heath. The Heath is owned by the National Trust and is an important habitat.
Southwold is a bit further along the coast and is a charming little seaside town, almost untouched by modernity.
Oct 8th, 2011, 02:16 AM
#3
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you have a car, or someone to drive you you can head out into the Chilterns and watch the red kites and their mating flights. Wonderful to see. You could do that for a morning.
The Barnes wetlands are not too far away either:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london
Or go across to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge - you could combine that with the red kites!
The Barnes wetlands are not too far away either:
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london
Or go across to Slimbridge in Gloucestershire. http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/slimbridge - you could combine that with the red kites!
Oct 9th, 2011, 02:16 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Puffins could be difficult.
I may be wrong, but I think that we are talking about more than a day trip.
This website will give you idea about where they breed
http://www.beautiful-england.co.uk/puffinfaq.htm
This year I saw them on Lunga near Mull and the website is quite correct. They were quite fearless
I was only a couple of feet away from this character
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5953925...57626600776281
I may be wrong, but I think that we are talking about more than a day trip.
This website will give you idea about where they breed
http://www.beautiful-england.co.uk/puffinfaq.htm
This year I saw them on Lunga near Mull and the website is quite correct. They were quite fearless
I was only a couple of feet away from this character
http://www.flickr.com/photos/5953925...57626600776281
Oct 9th, 2011, 03:18 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>Thanks. I really want to go see puffins. Where shd I go?
</i>
Simple answer: nowhere near Watford. Closest place would probably be the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland (about a 5 hour drive north of Watford - do not even <i>think</i> about doing this as a day trip). Other locations are the Hebrides and Northern Isles in Scotland - much further north still.
</i>
Simple answer: nowhere near Watford. Closest place would probably be the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland (about a 5 hour drive north of Watford - do not even <i>think</i> about doing this as a day trip). Other locations are the Hebrides and Northern Isles in Scotland - much further north still.
Oct 9th, 2011, 03:26 AM
#7
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 18,009
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Places to see puffins:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...fin/index.aspx
All a long way from Watford I'm afraid, and a lot will depend on the weather for viewing them, and of course on when in spring you are there.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...fin/index.aspx
All a long way from Watford I'm afraid, and a lot will depend on the weather for viewing them, and of course on when in spring you are there.
Oct 9th, 2011, 01:39 PM
#8
Not a lot of puffins in Herts 
For puffins you need to go to far northern England or Scotland.
Do you want to take trains or will you have a car? Makes a big difference where you could reasonably travel.
Slimbridge mentioned above would be about 3 hours each way by car, about 30 minutes longer by train w/ 2 or 3 changes. Not really 'day-tripable'
For your interests, I might consider heading to the Norfolk coast for 2 days --stay overnight in Kings Lynn, Burnham Market or thereabouts. Several nature reserves in the area and about 2.5 hours by trains from Watford.
If your two days are not consecutive then you'd have to stay closer to home.
For puffins you need to go to far northern England or Scotland.
Do you want to take trains or will you have a car? Makes a big difference where you could reasonably travel.
Slimbridge mentioned above would be about 3 hours each way by car, about 30 minutes longer by train w/ 2 or 3 changes. Not really 'day-tripable'
For your interests, I might consider heading to the Norfolk coast for 2 days --stay overnight in Kings Lynn, Burnham Market or thereabouts. Several nature reserves in the area and about 2.5 hours by trains from Watford.
If your two days are not consecutive then you'd have to stay closer to home.
Oct 9th, 2011, 04:16 PM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks. We can do a 2-3 days trip but wouldnt be driving as my partner doesnt dare drive in a foreign country. Is there an affordable package or public transport to these islands? Checked rspb, puffins are either in north scotland or south near plysmouth. Which shd I go, considerations being distance, accessibility by public transport & cost??
Many thanks!
Many thanks!
Oct 10th, 2011, 12:40 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OK, it looks as though the boat trips to the Farne Islands go from Seahouses.
There is not a direct rail service that this is a helpful website
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ttingthere.htm
It's a long journey just to see puffins although the islands are worth a trip.
Minsmere can guarantee you avocets, not as cute as puffins, but beautiful birds and endangered not so long ago.
This is how you get there by public transport
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guid...irections.aspx
There is not a direct rail service that this is a helpful website
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ttingthere.htm
It's a long journey just to see puffins although the islands are worth a trip.
Minsmere can guarantee you avocets, not as cute as puffins, but beautiful birds and endangered not so long ago.
This is how you get there by public transport
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guid...irections.aspx
Oct 10th, 2011, 03:37 AM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm ok to travel anywhere just to see these cute birds. Will be in watford as base for London and also hopefully to visit the new harry potter studio, then off to visit puffins then to Paris.
Sorry for being so random but I love sea wildlife. Love those seatrips i made in australia - philips island, rockingham, thought i cant miss them in uk. Who knows when i can come back to this part of the world, it's so far from where im at. Maybe I shd reduce the days in London n paris just to squeeze a trip to Scotland. What do you think? 3 days in London including 1 day for bicester village, 4 days in Paris n 3 days in scotland. 2 days for the air travel to & fro. I only have 12 days in total.
Sorry for being so random but I love sea wildlife. Love those seatrips i made in australia - philips island, rockingham, thought i cant miss them in uk. Who knows when i can come back to this part of the world, it's so far from where im at. Maybe I shd reduce the days in London n paris just to squeeze a trip to Scotland. What do you think? 3 days in London including 1 day for bicester village, 4 days in Paris n 3 days in scotland. 2 days for the air travel to & fro. I only have 12 days in total.
Oct 10th, 2011, 06:09 AM
#16
Ok -- LOTS of new questions arise . . .
You are staying in <i>Watford</i> to visit London and Bicester?? And for a 2-day puffin seeking trip? Watford isn't really a practical base for any of these.
Why Watford specifically? And while you might want to visit Bicester Village if you are staying in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, it really isn't worth a special trip.
You may want to re-think this whole plan.
You are staying in <i>Watford</i> to visit London and Bicester?? And for a 2-day puffin seeking trip? Watford isn't really a practical base for any of these.
Why Watford specifically? And while you might want to visit Bicester Village if you are staying in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire, it really isn't worth a special trip.
You may want to re-think this whole plan.
Oct 10th, 2011, 06:35 AM
#18
OK-- so you are staying w/ relatives. Free is good . But you will be spending a lot of time traveling around so you'll still want to rethink what you want to do/how you do it.
Is your SIL driving you to Bicester? If not - I'd skip it. (I'd probably skip it in any case) You only have 3 days for London so a day going to Bicester seems a huge waste.
Also -- are you flying in to the UK? If so you might consider flying to Scotland, spend 2 days on your puffin search (like a boat trip to the Isle of May which is in Fife not too far from Edinburgh). Then fly down to London and stay w/ the SIL. Then take the Eurostar to Paris.
. But you will be spending a lot of time traveling around so you'll still want to rethink what you want to do/how you do it.Is your SIL driving you to Bicester? If not - I'd skip it. (I'd probably skip it in any case) You only have 3 days for London so a day going to Bicester seems a huge waste.
Also -- are you flying in to the UK? If so you might consider flying to Scotland, spend 2 days on your puffin search (like a boat trip to the Isle of May which is in Fife not too far from Edinburgh). Then fly down to London and stay w/ the SIL. Then take the Eurostar to Paris.
Oct 10th, 2011, 06:50 AM
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.farne-islands.com/gallery/index.htm
Look at this- the puffins in flight are so darn cute! So is the young seal pup underwater.
Look at this- the puffins in flight are so darn cute! So is the young seal pup underwater.
