Hole House Adventures
Join me for a week at my family home in Devon
Winter Adventure: 16-22 December. Details coming soon!
Sunday 2nd June - Saturday 8th June 2019 COST: £1099.00 per person
Join Nigel and local naturalist/photographer Roger Harris for a six night retreat in rural Devon at Nigel's Dad's Grade 2 Listed family home. Set in 52 acres of unspoilt countryside this reputedly haunted Manor offers commanding views of the Branscombe valley.
Sunday 2 June: Arrive at your leisure at beautiful Hole House near Branscombe, unpack and relax. This evening we will all meet and Nigel will host a welcome dinner.
Monday 3 June: Today we will explore the Branscombe area. A gentle stroll down to the Beach whilst looking for butterflies (including the scarce Wood White), dragonflies and birds - we should have great views of the local Peregrines. We'll have time for a Devon cream tea on the journey back! Evening meal at a local venue. Evening talk at Hole House. Nigel will recount his adventures whilst filming some of his most iconic TV programmes after which we will use a bat detector to listen for for up to 9 species and set the mammle and moth traps*.
Tuesday 4 June: After breakfast and checking our haul of moths and mammals we will depart for Wareham Forest. You can gauge Nigel's reptile spotting skills on a search for Slow Worm, Sand and Viviparous lizards. We will also look for Hobby, Tree Pipit, Wood Lark and the nationally rare Smooth Snake! Weather permitting we'll stay until dusk and listen out for the magical churring of Nightjars.
Wednesday 5 June: After breakfast we'll drive for an hour or so to Martin Down National Nature Reserve.We hope to nationally scarce birds like European Turtle Dove, Corn Bunting and Quail. We'll look for adders, and find orchids including the beautiful and rare Burnt Orchid.
Thursday 6 June: Today we will travel out to the Somerset Levels (just over an hour) where we hope to see a good selection of birds including Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier, Bittern and Hobby. There'l be the noisy Perez’s Frog and a selection of dragon and damselflies. On this day we will up to six species of orchid including the spectacular goat scented Lizard Orchid.
Friday 7 June: After breakfast we will step back in time to explore the nearby Jurassic Coast for fossils. We hope you'll all be able to take home an ammonite souvenir. We can also explore the magical world of rock pools, one of Nigel's favourite habitats.
Saturday 8 June: Farewell breakfast and departures.
Group size limited to 8 people.
Reserve your place with a deposit of £100 per person HERE. Balance payable one calendar month prior to commencement of the holiday.
Personal spending, alcoholic beverages and additional snacks/meals are at own expense. Full Ts&Cs sent out upon booking.
Learn More
Book your place with a deposit of £100 per person by clicking here and selecting the Hole House Adventure option.