Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
You could but Longleat can be a long-ish day for younger children. You have a point.
UK holiday advice
- Thread starter lintworm
- Start date
Thanks for all the suggestions already.
While I am ignorant on the UK, I am not completely ignorant on the zoos themselves, I just often have no idea where to put them on the map
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I was hoping for a bit more ideas on towns/villages (on the coast with some good nature around) which tend to have a zoo nearby instead of the other way around. My better half is absolutely not interested in zoos, but as this is ZOOchat I could have expected this.
Yesterday we found St. Agnes in Cornwall as an example on what we are looking for (no trains, but reachable in a couple of hours from Bristol). A beautiful coast line, a forest with spring flowers and with Newquay and Paradise Park 2 zoos nearby. I'll have a look at RSPB Arne, that sounds interesting.
I'll be sure to try to reach Slimbridge when in Bristol, I guess the cranes are back already in the UK too by then. Noah's Ark and Wild Place are for now zoos I could do without.
While I am ignorant on the UK, I am not completely ignorant on the zoos themselves, I just often have no idea where to put them on the map
.I was hoping for a bit more ideas on towns/villages (on the coast with some good nature around) which tend to have a zoo nearby instead of the other way around. My better half is absolutely not interested in zoos, but as this is ZOOchat I could have expected this
.Yesterday we found St. Agnes in Cornwall as an example on what we are looking for (no trains, but reachable in a couple of hours from Bristol). A beautiful coast line, a forest with spring flowers and with Newquay and Paradise Park 2 zoos nearby. I'll have a look at RSPB Arne, that sounds interesting.
I'll be sure to try to reach Slimbridge when in Bristol, I guess the cranes are back already in the UK too by then. Noah's Ark and Wild Place are for now zoos I could do without.
Radipole RSPB reserve in Weymouth could be a natural history spot to aim for; easily accessible from the town, and with Cetti’s Warblers that are visible! Or Lyme Regis to find your own fossils.
Alwaysevergreen
Well-Known Member
If looking for picturesque zoos, Marwell, Paignton, Whipsnade and Cotswold Wildlife Park top the bill. The last two are not easy by train however and CWP is not a nice road to walk down.
If you are looking for a nice nature reserve, Shapwick Fen near Glastonbury or Wells is beautiful and the Hobby's can easily be seen in late April, as can the Cormorants, the native Glossy Ibis that live there. I've managed to see and photo Marsh Harriers, Water Voles, Otters and Barn Owls there as well.
It's normally pretty quiet there too, and it's a lovely walk round. It's within 30 minutes drive too of Longleat, and an hour or so from Noahs Ark or Wild Place Project.
The advice to arrive at Longleat at 11 is odd to say the least. Longleat can get busy, but if you go on a school day and not a school holiday day, you can get there for 9.45 and not have to really queue to get in. Enter by the Caravan Club if pre booked tickets, saves a 15 minute drive to get to the main safari entrance, but this is not the way the brown signs send you. The Safari is best viewed early when it's quiet, otherwise you'll be in a traffic jam when trying to view the carnivores.
If you are looking for a nice nature reserve, Shapwick Fen near Glastonbury or Wells is beautiful and the Hobby's can easily be seen in late April, as can the Cormorants, the native Glossy Ibis that live there. I've managed to see and photo Marsh Harriers, Water Voles, Otters and Barn Owls there as well.
It's normally pretty quiet there too, and it's a lovely walk round. It's within 30 minutes drive too of Longleat, and an hour or so from Noahs Ark or Wild Place Project.
The advice to arrive at Longleat at 11 is odd to say the least. Longleat can get busy, but if you go on a school day and not a school holiday day, you can get there for 9.45 and not have to really queue to get in. Enter by the Caravan Club if pre booked tickets, saves a 15 minute drive to get to the main safari entrance, but this is not the way the brown signs send you. The Safari is best viewed early when it's quiet, otherwise you'll be in a traffic jam when trying to view the carnivores.
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I was based down that side of the country for a while around Warminster and down to Blandford and there are some great places to visit.
We used to go down towards Bicton Park a lot as we have friends there and have weekends based out of Ottery St Mary - as a little town it is back from the coast so may not suit your purposes but it made for a good Devon base. The coast there (about 15 mins away) has some lovely views, Not as dramatic as Cornwall in some respects but still really pretty and there are some great nature reserves and gardens. It used to have decent bus links and it’s not too bad for Paignton etc.
We used to go down towards Bicton Park a lot as we have friends there and have weekends based out of Ottery St Mary - as a little town it is back from the coast so may not suit your purposes but it made for a good Devon base. The coast there (about 15 mins away) has some lovely views, Not as dramatic as Cornwall in some respects but still really pretty and there are some great nature reserves and gardens. It used to have decent bus links and it’s not too bad for Paignton etc.
If you need an excuse to be able to go to Exmoor Zoo just use Exmoor itself as the reason.
The moorlands of the south west are worth a visit. One of the advantages Exmoor has over Darmoor is that the moorland goes right up to the coast which creates a great contrast in views. In terms of coastal villages you could visit Lynton and Lynmouth (which are only about 10 miles from Exmoor Zoo). Lynmouth is at the bottom of a cliff and Lynton is at the top. There is a funicular railway going up the cliff linking the two. Just outside the villages is the scenic Valley of the Rocks where there is a herd of feral goats.
The moorlands of the south west are worth a visit. One of the advantages Exmoor has over Darmoor is that the moorland goes right up to the coast which creates a great contrast in views. In terms of coastal villages you could visit Lynton and Lynmouth (which are only about 10 miles from Exmoor Zoo). Lynmouth is at the bottom of a cliff and Lynton is at the top. There is a funicular railway going up the cliff linking the two. Just outside the villages is the scenic Valley of the Rocks where there is a herd of feral goats.
With Weymouth as a base, you have access to Weymouth Sealife (only Little Blue Penguins outside Australasia), and Monkeyworkd via a short train ride and walk. London Zoo is a few hours away by train
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Funnily enough, I'll be around that neck of the woods around the April time frame
with both visits to Newquay & Paradise Park planned
Whoops, massive senior moment thereExcept for the ones in North America and (I think) Asia
Dr. Loxodonta
Well-Known Member
I would say Living Coasts but we all know that good things can’t last 