Being outdoors surrounded by untamed wildlife is an incredible chance to witness nature. If you are able to combine your trip with nature photography it will be that much more charming.
Anyone can take photographs of British wildlife. You just need to know where to go and when. The main skills you will need are patience and a keen eye to spot the shyest of animals.
To get you started on your photography adventure check out the top UK locations listed below. No matter which you choose to visit you’re sure to take some stunning pictures.
Mull is off the west bank of Scotland. It is home to otters, the recently reintroduced white-followed hawk, and hen harriers. Many marine animals also live there like orca whales and dolphins. You can find most of these birds, mammals and marine creatures close to the ocean lochs. So, remember to schedule some extra time in by the water.
With so many different wildlife species present, this is one of the best places in the UK for photography. Biking and walking are both excellent ways to get there, stay outdoors and see nature.
Chanonry Point, The Black Isle, Scotland
Near Inverness, by the town of Fortrose, the waterway Ness meets the ocean at Chanonry Point. Here you can watch bottlenose dolphins as they chase salmon swimming up the waterway. There is nothing quite so amazing as watching the bottlenose dolphin swim freely. Be sure to have your camera at the ready to take some truly stunning photos of these marine creatures. If you want to take your photography to the next level and you have the equipment available, you could also take some amazing aerial photography.
Peak District
Peak District is a must-see first stop when visiting UK wildlife. It features a beautiful blend of limestone dales and upland moorland. This area is rich with untamed life. Keep an eye out for red deer on Big Moor and at Chatsworth House as well as the unpredictable red grouse on the gritstone moorland. Don’t forget about the mountain bunny either. These delightful animals have a thick coat that camouflages flawlessly with the moorland vegetation.
Donna Nook, Lincolnshire
On the Lincolnshire drift amongst Grimsby and Mablethorpe is the nature hold of Donna Nook. This is a true sanctuary for dark seals. The seals occupy this area from late October all the way to the end of December. It is during this time that they leave the ocean to have their white pups on land.
The UK is home to somewhere in the range of 40% of the world’s dark seals. If you love seals then you simply can’t miss this spot!
Lackford Lakes, Suffolk
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Lackford Lakes is six miles north-west of Bury St Edmunds. This location is a beautiful sanctuary for kingfishers. The luminous kingfisher draws countless nature photographers here because it is one of the best places in the UK to capture pictures of them.
These lakes also attract little hawks, stoats and owls during the summer. However, if you want to see the stoats you’ll need to get there early, these creatures appear most often in the early morning.
So that’s it! Hope you enjoyed our roundup of the best places for nature photography in the UK. If you are just now beginning your nature photography career, you might want to check out some tips for beginners to make sure you don’t miss the perfect snap due to being caught off guard!