Year-round nature walks in England

Hi, I’m Carol — and I help you notice (and photograph) the wildlife that’s already on your doorstep.

You don’t need a plane ticket or a professional telephoto lens to see the incredible wildlife in England. Most of my walks start close to home — I’m based in Cambridgeshire on the Northants border — and I also share occasional day out in places like Suffolk, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire, and Northumberland.

This site is your guide to finding, identifying, and capturing the ordinary magic on everyday walks — year-round, with whatever camera you have.

📍 Where: Local Gems, Not Long Journeys

If you’re thinking “Where do I even start?” Click on the Find A Walk button at the top of the page. I’ve shared the routes I return to again and again near home, plus a few occasional adventures further north — with notes on what you might see and when.

📸 How: Wildlife Watching for Everyone

Forget expensive kit. I’ll show you how to use what you already have — your phone, a compact camera or an entry-level camera — to get clear, memorable photos.

You’ll also pick up a few fieldcraft basics: how to walk, where to look, and how to move so wildlife carries on being itself.

🦅 What: Depending on the season, you might spot…

Nature changes week by week. The countryside can be a stage for some of the UK’s best wildlife moments:

The hedgerows: fieldfares and redwings on hawthorn and holly berries
The fields: Barn owls hunting, hares running, deer browsing
The lakes: Ducks dabbling, swans fighting, grebes nesting
The woods: Bluebells blooming, rare butterflies fluttering, autumn colour

Ready for your next (or first) wildlife walk?

Begin with Start Here or Find a Walk — then head to Meet the Wildlife and Wildlife Photo Basics when you want help identifying what you’ve seen and getting better photos. For the stories behind the photos plus extra tips that don’t always make it onto the site, join my seasonal newsletter (I won’t email constantly).

How Will You Find Your Magic?

Every journey outdoors is different. Choose a path below to find the guides, stories, and practical tips that are right for you today.

Want to Know Who You're Meeting Out There?

A nuthatch coming down a tree head first

If bird ID makes your brain go blank, you’re not alone.

This is my gentle, step-by-step way to identify wild birds — from brazen swans to shy warblers — so you can put a name to what you’ve seen and start noticing the little stories behind their behaviour.

Ready to Capture the Magic You See?

Head to Getting into Wildlife Photography for practical tips that help you take photos you’ll be proud of — with the kit you already have.

I cover the basics (light, focus, steadiness) and how to come away with keepers even when the weather refuses to cooperate.

New to all this? Start Here

You don’t need a lifetime of birding to notice the story around you.

Try one small rule on your next walk: name one thing — a bird, a leaf shape, a sound, a footprint — and watch connections start to appear. That tiny habit replaces guesswork with wonder.

Here are a few guides to help with your very next outing:

Stories from the Field

The quiet magic isn’t just in the details — it’s in the journey.

I’ve shared a few favourite discoveries below, written as photo-led stories you can actually use: where to go, what you might see, and the little clues that make wildlife easier to spot.

Great Crested Grebes: Courtship Dances, Nests, and Fuzzy Chicks

A front-row seat to one of the best wildlife soap operas on local water — and a reminder that “everyday” walks can be full of drama if you pause and watch.

The Great Crested Grebe

RSPB Bempton Cliffs: A Day Out With Puffins (and a Lot of Noise)

Big skies, busy cliffs, and seabirds everywhere you look — the kind of day out that stays with you (and fills your camera card very quickly).

RSPB Bempton Cliffs

Spurn Point: The Long Walk to the End of the Land

A proper coastal wander with shifting light and big views — the kind of place where the landscape does half the storytelling and the wildlife supplies the surprises.

Spurn Point

Find a Walk by County

Official maps don’t tell you the useful bits. Mine do: what you’re likely to see, when it’s best, and the small details that make a walk feel easy. Pick a county below to start exploring.

Mostly close to home — with the occasional day out further afield.

Or jump straight to Nature Walks in the East of England and Beyond for the full list.

Cambridgeshire

Fen edges, woods, and easy local loops — birds, big skies, and “I didn’t expect to see that” moments close to home.Natu

Best nature walks in Cambridgeshire

Northamptonshire

Quiet river paths and gentle woodland — made for slower walks, rare butterflies, and wildlife you spot by paying attention.

Best walks in Northamptonshire

Rutland

Big views and reservoir walks at Rutland Water — a brilliant place for osprey, seasonal highlights, and a satisfying wander.

Rutland Water

Norfolk

A Norfolk special: swallowtail butterflies in the Broads — where to go, when to visit, and what to look for.

The Swallowtails of Norfolk

East Yorkshire

Pair of gannets on the cliffs at Bempton

Chalk cliffs, seabird colonies, and big-skied walks along a coastline that’s always changing — a brilliant choice when you fancy a proper coastal reset.

The East Yorkshire Coast

About the Author

I’m a wildlife photographer who learns on everyday walks. This site is my field notebook: practical photo tips, gentle ID help, and walk ideas to help you see more—wherever you are.

Step Behind the Wild Lens

Seasonal field notes from my wildlife walks: recent encounters, the story behind favourite photos, and simple, practical tips you can use on your next outing.