Wildlife watching

The Isle of Wight is one of the few places in southern England where red squirrels still thrive. There are no grey squirrels here, and the island is home to around 3,000 reds. Look for them at dawn and dusk, especially where gardens border woodland.

The chalk downs and coast around Brighstone are just as special. Compton Bay is one of the best places to see the Glanville fritillary, a butterfly found almost nowhere else in Britain, which flies from late April to early June. In high summer the downs are alive with Adonis and chalkhill blues.

Nearly 100 bird species breed on the island. White-tailed eagles, the UK’s largest birds of prey, have been reintroduced and are often seen over the Solent, while Brent geese arrive from Siberia each autumn. Common and grey seals are now resident around the coast, and dolphins and porpoises are sometimes seen offshore.