Wild Isles: Three UK Destinations That Will Get You Closer To Nature

Wild Isles: Three UK Destinations That Will Get You Closer To Nature

Grab your bins: we’re adventuring across some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes with Swarovski Optik to (re)discover the wildlife and wilderness on our doorstep

In partnership withSwarovski Optik Logo



We
spend our lives in search of awe and amazement, crossing
sun-scorched lands and deep blue seas on a quest to find the
remarkable. But in the process – fun though it is – we often forget
the beauty of what lies on our own doorstep. The UK is blessed with
an abundance of jaw-dropping landscapes and diverse ecosystems,
meaning that we needn’t travel far before stumbling upon
spectacular natural habitats. There’s as much activity in the
woodlands and waters of the UK as anywhere else in the world.
That’s why we always stash a pair of Swarovski Optik
binoculars in our bag before heading out to the hills; when those
unexpected moments arise, we’re prepared and ready to pounce.

Ready to get closer to nature? Here are three destinations worth
visiting to spot some of the UK’s most incredible wildlife.

Three of the best UK destinations for nature lovers

NL Pure 32 Swavorski Optics
Male deer, Glencoe, Scotland

NL Pure 32 Optiks, left, and a Glencoe deer | Photo credit:
Felis Creations

Glencoe, Scotland

The wild beauty of Glencoe lives in our minds rent-free. Sure,
you’ve probably seen the lush peaks and verdant glacial valleys of
this Highlands landscape on cinema screens, but nothing prepares
you for the first time you see it in real life, especially from the
perspective provided by a pair of Swarovski Optik lenses. Pick up
the ATC spotter or NL Pure 32 binoculars (both are
waterproof, which, let’s be honest, you’re going to need in
Scotland) and vivid textures jump out at you like a fantasy novel
come to life. Before long, you’re fully immersed in the scenery,
the surrounding world has dissolved and you’re under the spell of
nature.

Keep your eyes on the rolling curves of the hills to spot the
silhouette of Britain’s largest land mammal, the red deer. Viewed
through binoculars, the graceful movements of this iconic creature
become apparent: its eyes tracing the heather-carpeted path ahead;
its ears twitching with the faintest whisper of sound. The trick to
catching sight of these elegant animals is to slow down, be still
and focus. Make yourself comfortable in an undisturbed place and
wait patiently, Swarovski binoculars in hand. The best time to spot
them? Early morning or dusk, when the light is soft and golden.


Puffin in Anglesey, Wales

CL Companion in action, left, and a puffin | Photo credit:
Andre Schönherr

Anglesey, Wales

Heading south, the craggy coastlines of north Wales are calling.
Make tracks for South Stack on Anglesey, where cliffs strewn with
spring squill and kidney vetch plunge seawards. The plants bloom in
the warmer months, exhibiting flowers of vibrant yellow and lilac.
View them with the assistance of the lightweight Swarovski Optik CL Companion and
you’ll witness a buzzing microcosm in action. Petals become landing
pads for curious insects and puffs of pollen disappear lazily into
the balmy air.

These cliffs are a temporary home for all manner of seabirds,
who abandon life at sea for terra firma while breeding. Guillemots
and razorbills nest here under boulders or in cracks and cavities
in the rock, as do puffins, which are easily identifiable by their
bright white chest feathers, stick-thin orange legs, and the flash
of red across the tip of their beaks. In early May, puffins lay a
single egg, so the best time to get a good glimpse of them is
during the months of June and July, when both parents share
incubating duties of the soon-to-hatch chick. Make the most of the
longer days and stay till sunset, when these distinctive birds soar
through the sherbet-hued sky at speeds of up to 88kmph.

Common dolphin, Cornwall, UK
CL Curio Svarovski Optiks

Common dolphin, left, and the CL Curio in use | Photo
credit: Andre Schönherr

Cornwall, England

The rugged, unspoilt beaches of Cornwall are guaranteed to
capture imaginations, especially when admired through a pair of
high-precision binoculars. Zip straight to Lizard, the county’s
most southerly point, to gaze out on the great blue yonder using
your Swarovski Optik CL
Pocket
or CL Curio
binoculars. The picturesque peninsula is characterised by
wind-battered fishermen’s cottages, small coves and striking rock
formations and – beyond the shores – a circus of sealife.

Lively pods of bottlenose or common dolphins frolic, drawn to
this stretch of coastline by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream
and the summer advantage of plentiful fish stocks. Their favourite
meal? Sea bass and trout. Don’t look away (the binoculars’ smooth,
ergonomic design helps with that); after dinner, it’s time for
play, when these beautiful creatures leap out of the water,
flashing their white bellies, dove-grey skin and fins. On a good
day, you’ll also catch sight of seals, whales, porpoises and
turtles through your lenses. In these serene moments, the feeling
of connection to these enchanting sea creatures has never been so
visceral, rooting you both to this place and to nature in a way
that has never felt deeper or more distinct.

Swarovski Optik Logo

The Lowdown

Swarovski Optik is a family-run business that puts nature
first. Founded in Tyrol, Austria, in 1949, it specialises in the
development and manufacture of world-class, high-precision,
long-range optical devices that transform the ordinary into the
extraordinary.

Ready to lace up your boots and get out on the hills?
Adventure awaits. Visit Swarovski Optik
to find out more.

The Cheviot Hills in Northumberland

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