Find the nearest Animals & Wildlife
Our Animals and Wildlife category brings all Coast Radar’s listings related to looking for something to do or a place to visit together where they offer some form of animal or wildlife activity.
Finding the best things to see and do on a day out with your family or friends is easy – simply explore the animal and wildlife links below, hit the jump to my location button or use the search bar to plan your next UK and Ireland activity.
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- The Plymouth National Maritime Aquarium is the UK’s largest aquarium and be amazed at our fascinating underwater world and how we all play a part in conserving it. Your journey will take you across the world’s oceans from the shores of Plymouth to the coral reefs of the tropics. Our hosts deliver an action packed talk schedule, including the not to be missed our interactive dive daily show.
- North Hill is a remote and windswept coastline jutting out into the north-east Atlantic. Its highest point – Errival – is just 48 metres (150 feet) above sea level. North Hill is managed as a nature reserve by the North Hill grazing committee and RSPB Scotland, in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage as it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- The Hermaness Cliffs can be found on the north-eastern side of Unst in the Shetland Islands. Rising to 170m, the cliffs are located in the Hermaness National Nature Reserve and are home to thousands of breeding seabirds. During the summer months, the cliffs come alive the sound of bird cries, making it an unforgettable wildlife experience. The types of birds you can see include puffin, guillemot, gannets, kittiwakes, razorbills and much much more. Access to the nature reserve and the cliffs is unrestricted, although visitors are asked to keep their distance from breeding birds and follow the marked route.
- Langstone is a small village on a road which leads from Havant to Hayling Island. The village High Street is designated as a Conservation Area, while the coastal path leading eastwards from the village is both part of Hampshire County Council’s Solent Way and Wayfarers Walk. Langstone Harbour includes a RSPB reserve that occupies one third of the Harbour – a muddy estuary that attracts large numbers of birds all year round. Terns, gulls and wading birds descend to breed on the islands in spring and summer, while thousands of waders and brent geese migrate from the Arctic to feed and roost in safety here. Langstone Harbour tidal estuary and consists mostly of intertidal mud but includes five small islands composed of salt marsh and shingle ridges.
- A large, shallow, freshwater storage reservoir and is the largest freshwater body in Essex. The reservoir contains around 25,000 Megalitres. It is a pumped storage reservoir. This means water is pumped from the rivers Chelmer, Blackwater and Stour to fill it, rather than simply relying on rainfall in the limited catchment area. The reservoir was formed by damming a shallow river valley. There a plans to increase the capacity of Abberton reservoir to 40,000 megalitres by raising the bank height all the way round. On its margins are found well-established plant communities that provide important opportunities for feeding, nesting and shelter. Abberton Reservoir is important as an autumn arrival area for waterbirds that then spend the winter elsewhere. Designated a Special Protection Area as a result of its over-wintering populations of Golden Plover, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal and for its breeding population of cormorants. In addition there are significant numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Lapwing, Coot, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Pintail, Wigeon and Great Crested Grebe. The Reservoir was used by the RAF’s 617 Squadron (“The Dam Busters”) for practice runs prior to the bombing of the German Dams in the Ruhr during World War II.
- Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park & Marine Sanctuary is unique among the network of SEA LIFE attractions in that its numerous marine life exhibitions are housed – not under one roof – but in separate pods within a landscape that also hosts a number of other outdoor features. The latter includes otter and seal sanctuaries, and the Park’s resident colony of Humboldt penguins. Indoor displays include the Tropical Shark Nursery, teeming with black-tip, bonnet head and other species of sharks; the spectacular Turtle Sanctuary with its amazing OceanTank; and one of the first National Seahorse Breeding and Conservation Centres.
- The North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory (NRBO) was established in 1987 to study and record the migrant birds that pass through Orkney’s most northerly island each year. The number and variety of birds that arrive here on migration in Spring and Autumn can be spectacular, and North Ronaldsay is well-known as one of the best birdwatching sites in the UK. The observatory also provides a variety of comfortable accommodation, including guest house, hostel and camping area, for visitors to the island.
- Durrell Wildlife Park (also known as Jersey Zoo) is a zoological park on the island of Jersey, situated in 32 acres (13 ha) of landscaped parkland and water-gardens. The Park has always concentrated on rare and endangered species, and has mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, comprising over 130 species. The park has large areas within the grounds that are designated native habitat areas. The extensive planting of flowering and fruiting trees throughout the grounds also serves to attract a wide selection of wild birds and insects. Several species of bird which used to be commonly seen in island gardens but have become increasingly scarce, including the House Sparrow and Song Thrush. Nest-boxes within the grounds are used by a variety of birds including Barn Owls, Kestrels, Swallows and Martins. Other animals which are commonly seen within the grounds are the red squirrel, bank vole, and the Short-toed Treecreeper.
- Blue Reef Aquarium gives you close encounters with seahorses, native sharks, giant octopus and hundreds of amazing aquatic creatures. At the aquarium’s heart is a giant ocean display with walk through underwater tunnel.
- Undisturbed by cars, the island of Lundy has a small village with an inn, Victorian church and the 13th-century Marisco Castle. The Island has a variety of migratory seabirds, heathland and grassland habitats and the Lundy ponies. Designated the first Marine Conservation Area, Lundy offers opportunities for diving and seal watching.
