WILDLIFE SPOTTING ON THE GREAT WEST WAY

Get away from the crowds and wander through England’s beautiful landscapes full of interesting wildlife. There are many open spaces and beautiful countryside to enjoy along the Great West Way route, ideal for walking, cycling, or even horse-riding amidst the wildlife.

As you travel between Bristol and London you will be spoilt for choice spotting wildlife; the route is lined with open countryside, picturesque woodlands, rolling hills, nature reserves and glorious gardens.

WWT London Wetland Centre

A unique, man-made inner city nature reserve, the WWT London Wetland Centre is a haven of wide, open spaces full of wetland nature. Birds, bats, water voles, otters and amphibians make their home in the reserve's wetland habitats. Stretch your legs and see which creatures you can spot as you walk between the meadows, lakes and pools. The London Wetland Centre is the ideal spot to find some peace and quiet during the London stretch of your Great West Way adventure.

Brid Watching at the WWT London Wetland Centre

Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve

Blakehill Farm Nature Reserve in North Wiltshire is a haven of wildlife, nature and calmness. Once a former military airfield, the site is now run by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust who are restoring it to wildlife-rich hay meadow. Expect to see summer wildflowers surrounded by butterflies and dragonflies. The grassland of the nature reserve is also home to brown hare, roe deer, kestrel, skylarks and if you’re lucky enough to see them, tawny owls.

Comma Butterfly

Arnos Vale Cemetery

Arnos Vale is a unique green, open space to enjoy in the heart of Bristol; a 45-acre Victorian Garden Cemetery. Discover fascinating nature walks, peaceful green spaces and nearly 200 years of history and heritage at Arnos Vale. Follow one of the self-guided walks around the site and look out for wild flowers and wildlife.

The North Wessex Downs

Officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Wessex Downs covers nearly 700 square miles and encompasses parts of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. If you're looking for wide horizons and quiet walks where you can stretch your legs, enjoy classic English countryside views, and feel your troubles float away – the North Wessex Downs is a good choice. Situated in the centre of the Great West Way route, the countryside of the North Wessex Downs ranges from heaths to river valleys and ancient woodland to arable farmland.

Horses in the North Wessex Downs

Cotswold Water Park

Slightly north of the main Great West Way route, where Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire meet, you will find the Cotswold Water Park. Here there are 150 tranquil lakes interspersed with peaceful countryside. There are miles of off-road paths to explore on foot or by bike, and lots of wildlife to spot, including a huge variety of migrating birds. While some of the lakes are devoted to leisure pursuits, like boating and wakeboarding, others are designated nature reserves. Cleveland Lakes for example, home to otters, water voles, lapwings, teals and tufted ducks.

Windsor Great Park

At nearly 30 square kilometres, Windsor Great Park is the largest public park in the whole of the UK. Which means that while this is a popular location with visitors and locals, there’s plenty of space to stretch your legs and get away from the crowds. From ancient forest to sweeping parkland to formal gardens, there's lots to discover in Windsor Great Park. Walk along the shore of Virginia Water for impressive views of the lake and waterfall, spot the red deer that roam through the deer park enclosure, or admire hilltop views of Windsor Castle.

Trooper’s Hill

Cities need sanctuaries for nature and wildlife too. In Bristol, a local favourite is Trooper’s Hill. Tucked away amid a housing estate behind the River Avon, its acidic soils – unusual in Bristol – support a blaze of bright yellow gorse in early summer and hot pink heather in late summer. It also attracts a dazzling array of bird species including whitethroat, willow warblers, goldcrests, long-tailed tits and even green woodpeckers. There are excellent views of the city from this hilltop hideaway, too, best appreciated in the warm glow of sunrise or sunset.

Bird watching through binoculars

West Woods

Come spring time these beautiful beech woods just outside Marlborough put on a spectacular display of bluebells, a quintessential British scene. Take along your camera for some souvenir shots or just take it all in via your senses – the delicate perfume, the flutter of the tree canopy overhead, the carpet of colour before you. The bluebells are at their best here at the end of April, beginning of May, but there’s always other pretty plants and wildflowers to see, like primroses with their mellow yellow petals and sweet scent.

Good to know: If you’re looking for more nature-based things to do in Marlborough, Stonebridge Wild River Reserve is a nice water meadow nearby.

Lydiard Park

Snowdrops, which often poke their dainty heads above ground amid the freeze of January, are one of the highlights of a British winter. There are many places to see them along the Great West Way, including the 260-acre parkland of this striking Palladian house near Swindon. There’s also a walled garden where you can see some more curated spring plantings including a 17th-century variety of jewel-like tulips. In summer, the beds are full of traditional English flowers such as roses and sweet peas. Top tip: Keep an eye on the Lydiard Park events pages as they sometimes run botanicalthemed rambles and tours.

Jones’s Mill

Boardwalks traverse this enchanting fen in Pewsey, flooded through by the Salisbury Avon. Once farmed for watercress, it’s now a haven for animals who like getting wet such as water voles and occasionally water shrews. It’s also a prime place to spot blue-green kingfishers swooping low over the water to find fish to feed on. You’re also likely to see heron, with their long legs and beaks. For the most colourful displays of flora and fauna, visit in spring and summer – see if you can identify water avens, sometimes referred to as chocolate root. Their purply-orange, nodding flowers attract a flurry of dragonflies, bumble bees and butterflies.

Hartslock Reserve

As well as terrific River Thames views, the chalk grasslands of this reserve near Reading are fertile ground for a diverse collection of wild orchids. Among more than 400 plants you’ll find bee orchids, pyramidal orchids and even monkey orchids, which are extremely rare in the UK. Seen on a summer’s day, with chalkhill blue and green hairstreak butterflies fluttering among them, it’s hard to imagine a prettier site. Other highlights: watch magnificent red kites overhead and visit in July to see meadows full of marjoram.

Richmond Park

If you’re visiting Kew Gardens, don’t miss nearby Richmond Park. It’s the largest of the eight Royal Parks, a National Nature Reserve and one of London’s most scenic spots. It’s most famous for its hundreds of red and fallow deer that roam the parkland, but it has plenty more to recommend it. Ancient oak trees, for one – some thought to date back to the time of the Magna Carta. Precious species of bats, birds and beetles are also found here, including the endangered stag beetle. Stop at the park’s highest point, Pembroke Lodge, for Thames Valley views and a delicious cream tea.

Roe Deer Swimming Lower Moor Farm

Winterbourne Downs

A little south of the Great West Way, near Salisbury, you’ll find Winterbourne Downs, an RSPB site that seasoned birders as well as beginners will love. Linnets, corn buntings, yellowhammers and stone curlews are frequently spotted here. If you visit early on a spring morning you might hear the mesmerising dawn chorus of the skylarks. In summer, take a picnic and feast on views of wildflower meadows and gently rolling Wiltshire hills. Winter meanwhile is a fine time for some serious bird watching, as fluffed-up feathers are more visible on bare branches, plus buzzards, red kites and possibly peregrine falcons often fly into view.

Folly Farm

Lamb

Just south of the Great West Way, in between Bristol and Bath, lies Avon Valley Wildlife Trust’s 250-acre reserve. It’s an ideal spot for a nature walk, with timeless Somerset views of the Mendips, Chew Valley Lake and traditionally-managed meadows. Its wooded paths also make it a great place to watch the leaves turn auburn and gold in the autumn (and there might be some plump blackberries ready for picking on the brambles too). There’s also an access-for-all trail, complete with badger-viewing platform.

Did you know?

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm

The Great West Way is home to many zoos and wildlife parks – so whether your favourite animal is a monkey, lion or a giraffe, you’re guaranteed a great day out. Don't miss Longleat, the home to England’s only Koalas, and spotting rare breads at Avon Valley Wildlife Park and children can get behind-thescenes access to a fascinating range of animals at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.