A world-class wonderland for nature lovers

Nature lovers should head over to the Isle of Man (visitisleofman.com), a world class destination for spotting wildlife on a scale unrivalled across Britain. With news that a pod of over 150 Bottle-nosed Dolphins have been spotted a number of times recently frolicking near the coast, the biggest single group seen off the Island since records began, wildlife enthusiasts should take a trip to see these stunning creatures in the wild.

Visitors can also take a leisurely boat trip to view the Island's seal colonies or watch them from the comfort of the Sound Café, overlooking the ‘Calf Sound’ a truly dramatic stretch of tide-rip in which the seals play effortlessly.

Flocks of rare waxwings have also recently been spotted on the Isle of Man. The exotic-looking birds occasionally visit the British Isles; however this large scale influx was caused by the failure of berry crops in their native Scandinavia.

The Isle of Man's stunning coastal environment is home to over twice as many Hen Harriers as England, and bird watchers travel from around the world to watch these beautiful animals coming to a communal roost at dusk on winter evenings in the Island's RAMSAR site, an internationally important wetland habitat. This site, the Ballaugh Curragh, is also home to a sizeable population of Red-necked Wallabies, descended from animals that escaped from the nearby Wildlife Park, itself well worth a visit.

A weekend spent on the Island, in habitats that range from heather-clad moors, through wooded river valleys, dramatic cliffs, long sandy beaches and secluded coves, provides plenty of opportunities to see over 80 species of bird, as well as the chance for the occasional rarity. In winter, almost any clifftop walk should be rewarded with great views of Chough, over 150 pairs of which nest on the Island.

So layer up, pull on your wellies and see what the Isle of Man has to offer for wildlife lovers.

More information on the Isle of Man see Visitisleofman.com.