James Lowen

I would really like to give this book more than four stars.

The variety of wildlife included is amazing. Birds, of course, and sea mammals, but also mice, bats, otters, water rats... snakes and other reptiles. When you get to insects, he includes the butterflies and dragonflies you expect, but also smaller and less obvious ones. Oh, and spiders, of course. But animals are not the only wildlife - there are plants, too. Orchids, and poppies, and orchids and yellow birdsnest, and orchids. Did I remember to mention the orchids?

Each outing has a double page including how to get there, whether it is accessible for wheelchairs and child friendly, other places of interest in the area, as well as a description of the possible sights and two or three photos. They are ordered by the recommended day for doing the outing (with notes on how flexible this is) so geographically you would bounce all over if you really wanted to do them all.

So why 'just' four stars? I guess mostly because I would have liked to see pictures of more of the species he describes. It would be useful to have lists of days by accessibility and child friendliness. With 3s, I would have liked to know how much my walker is going to limit my day. Of course, all that would double the size of the book. Of course also that this is 2020 and a trip to the UK to do these things just isn't practical, so I'm feeling frustrated.

Oh, and note that you need to check details before going. For example, the Dragonfly Centre at Wicken Fen was closed in 2019. Some of the days are organized around the tides.… (plus d'informations)

If you want to see wildlife in Europe, this book is a good starting point. The more so because now we can only read and dream about it.

In this case, Europe means not UK. Lowen has written about both day trips and weekend breaks in Britain already. This time he wants to travel further afield. The pattern is to travel in such a way that you have two full days (and sometimes their nights) looking at wildlife. He labels each destination with 1-5 for its suitability for wheelchairs and children. Sometimes this includes short notes. I would have liked to see more specific information, but having mobility information at all is a win. There is also information about travel, accommodation, tours, and how to use an extended stay. There is a suggested time of year, one tour for each weekend of the year, but notes on how flexible that is for the animals (and plants) highlighted.

The trips are concentrated in Spain and Portugal. These destinations are popular from Britain, and there are cheap flights available. This may not be as convenient for those of us who live elsewhere.

The writing itself is well done. His enthusiasm for wildlife is catching, and there are some wonderful turns of phrases ( in the chapter entitled 'Keep Calm and Carrion' you read: 'Camera shutters machine-gun in exultation.') I was somewhat disappointed in misspellings of German names in the Vienna chapter.

Still this has given me something to dream about until we can travel again.… (plus d'informations)