GOTLAND
WILDLIFE AT LEISURE
Wildlife at Leisure Tours Tours that take the strain out of enjoying Europe's flora and fauna! Tours under this banner will be based in a single good quality hotel, and will have direct flights in both directions (except this one! The flights for this tour go via Stockholm Arlanda and on to Visby), and these at kind times of day! And most importantly field trips will be kept to a maximum of six or so hours giving you plenty of time to relax both before and after.
A mesmerising show of Pasque Flowers adorns Gotland’s attractive patchwork of old meadows, woodlands, dunes and limestone pavement each spring. They bloom en masse, not one species, but three. Eastern and Small Pasque Flowers both form massed displays but much rarer is the gotlandica subspecies of Common Pasque Flower. We’ll see the rare northern form of Spitzel’s Orchid as well as wonderful displays of Early Purple Orchids, Cowslips, Birds-eye Primroses, Hepaticas, and yellow and white Anemones. The intricate and colourful flowers of Corydalis are a feature of Gotland’s byways and we’ll encounter several species including purple intermedia, the much larger solida, also usually purple, and larger still, the striking nobilis, its yellow flowers centred with brown-purple. Sheets of both colour forms of Elder-flowered Orchids decorate the beautiful island of Stora Karlsö along with the magnificent blooms of Yellow Pheasant’s-eye. Thousands of noisy Razorbills and Guillemots nest on the island’s cliffs. Common Cranes will be dancing in the fens and bird migration will be in full swing with Bluethroats, Red-breasted and Collared Flycatchers passing through as well as flocks of waders and wildfowl. The island's Viking heritage will never be far out of sight. Near our hotel is one of Gotland's finest examples of a Viking Stone Boat and we’ll see several 'picture stones' the best now preserved in Visby's excellent museum. Visby’s impressive and beautifully maintained town centre largely dates from Medieval times when as one of the Hanseatic League's main trading centres, it was one of richest cities in northern Europe.
INFORMATION
Focus
Flowers, Birds and Culture
Leaders
Terry Underhill , Ian Bennallick
Walking
Relaxed and easy. Up to two or three miles a day and always at a slow pace, perfectly suited to photographers.
Included in the Price
All flights. All transport, accommodation, meals in Gotland. Entrance fees to reserves and natural parks. Services of your leaders. Please note: items of a personal nature such as insurance, drinks, drinks and tips, are not included.
Group Size
The minimum is 4 and the maximum is 12.
Accommodation
We have the entire week at the Tofta Strandpensionat, a comfortable hotel set in a tranquil spot by a beach and a small nature reserve on the Western Baltic shore of Gotland. All rooms on this holiday are en-suite.
Climate
Variable, much as the UK at the same time of year, with a mix of warm sunny days and cooler cloudier ones, and it is sometimes chilly at night. Rain is likely and can sometimes be prolonged.
How To Book
Download a booking form (or contact us and we will send one to you)from the Booking Information section. Complete and send to us. You will receive confirmation of your place and a detailed information pack will be dispatched to you about twelve weeks before departure. Plant, butterfly and bird checklists are available.
