ESSEX ADVENTURES A A A

Make natural connections to wildlife and nature. Learn animal track & sign, natural navigation and how get closer to wildlife on a walking workshop or hedgerow safari. Turn up and enjoy a fully guided walk or seasonally themed walk or activity across Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and surrounding counties.

Outdoor adventures

Natural Connections

Make natural connections to wildlife and nature. Learn ‘natural skills’ on a walking workshops or hedgerow safari. Turn up and enjoy a guided walk or seasonally themed walks and activities.

Outdoor adventures

Natural Connections

Make natural connections to wildlife and nature. Learn ‘natural skills’ on a walking workshops or hedgerow safari. Turn up and enjoy a guided walk or seasonally themed walks and activities.

Badger animal track in sand showing the claws and pads clearly

Walking workshop

Walking workshops are practical, hands on and usually take place entirely outdoors. Walk and learn to identify common animal tracks and sign, use natural navigation techniques to find you way around the countryside and learn how to get closer to nature and find your 'natural connection'.

misty woodland scene with a conifer in the foreground and heathland beyond on a hedgerow discovery walk

Hedgerow Safari

I describe hedgerow safari as more of a discovery adventure than a guided walk. Each season there will be something new to discover and learn about in the countryside. Even with a 'focus' a great safari can be put off course and delight in discovering the unexpected.

Find out more about hedgerow safari - dates, locations and places available here

group in autumn woodland with leaves on the ground on a guided walk in woodland walking away from the camera

Fully guided walks

Guided walks with a focus on a longer day out, a bit of leg stretch and discovering new areas. Regular walks across the counties of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire and the foray 'abroad'. Check the guided walk pages for FREE walks each month.

Find out more about guided walks - dates, locations and monthly FREE walks

front view of a mountain bike showing the MTB and legs of rider on a guided tuition ride from a qualified

Mountain biking

Qualified mountain bike guiding and instruction in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. Fantastic cross country rides, half and full day rides and bespoke instruction available. Check out the MTB pages for FREE regular rides.

Find out more about mountain biking - guided rides, tuition and FREE rides for beginners

bird track in wet sand showing the a classic bird track shape
fungi eaten by a slug showing the teeth pattern seen in Dorset woodland on a countryside workshop looking at track and sign
green woodpecker zygodactyl track in soft mud on a path in Hampshire woodland showing the toe pads and claws

Animal Track & Sign

Walking workshop

Learn how to find, record and identify common animal track and sign found in the countryside. A practical hands-on workshop learning and discovering whatever is found along the way with a few learning resources thrown in!

twin robin tracks in soft mud on a Hampshire track after rain seen on a track and sign walking workshop guided walk

Introduction to animal track and sign

Mammals, birds and insects leave behind all sorts of clues even if you don't see who made them; tracks, scat, feather, bone, fur, paths, trails, feeding sign and mortal remains (of the victim and the culprit!)

bird of prey kill site or plucking table on a mossy log seen in Wiltshire woodland on a track and sign workshop

Learn how to find, record and identify countryside track and sign.

This walking workshop will focus on discovering common animal tracks and sign, learning how to distinguish between them and being able to record information to look up ones you might not know.

squirrel track on a woodland path showing toe pads and details of track on a track and sign workshop

The aim is to find enough examples of track and sign of a variety of species in differing settings for you to be able to find more yourself. I might also bring my box of bones and other track and sign treasures for you to look through!

great spotted woodpeck sap feeding wells on a tree trunk on countryside walking workshop

The start locations and routes may be fluid depending on the ground and weather conditions leading up to and on the actual workshop. Joining details will be for a 'central' meeting point with a few options; please make your self familiar with the locations of all the suggested start locations and how to get there (we may look at car sharing).

sign that a slug has been eating a fungi on a forest floor with circular bite marks on the top

Introduction to track and sign

Autumn and winter dates you can book TODAY.. Check out the dates and locations pages for all dates and start points.

All dates

You can see all dates and places remaining on the dates and locations page here

Locations

You can see all the start locations used for walks and rides on the dates and locations page here

Book & pay

Use the booking form to reserve a place with a deposit or pay in full on the booking form page here

FAQ's

You can find out more information about activities, what to bring on the FAQ’s page here

sunlight shines behind a lower bottom of a beech tree to create shadow on the forest floor
hare seen in a grassy field on a hedgerow safari discovery walk in the countryside
lossy lower tree root buttress near a woodland countryside path

Hedgerow Safari

Walk & learn

Slow paced countryside walk with a seasonal, subject or 

two people walk away down a woodland path on a walk and learn discovery walk

Discover, explore and learn

A guided walking adventure with an aim to discover, learn about or simply enjoy what ever we see along the way! Each season reveals more to see and learn or just to explore and enjoy.


A ‘walk and learn’ guided walk exploring the countryside on tracks, paths and through woodlands to see what we can see, hear and enjoy along the way.

autumn grey squirrel discovered and seen sitting in a tree eating a hazel nut

I describe this as more of a 'bimble' rather than a walk because we will spend time looking and enjoying whatever plants, animals, animal tracks and sign, fungi, trees and views we encounter along the way. Routes are chosen to find the best the season has to offer and are flexible to take account of the days weather and pace of the group.

6 fungi photographed form underheath to show the details of the gills on a woodland exploring walk in wiltshire

Every season you will discover something different, see something unexpected but always learn something new.
You might see wild flower meadows, playful hare, rutting deer, animal tracks, ancient ruins, burial mounds, roman roads, bronze age hill forts and structures, majestic trees, bountiful hedgerows, learn some history and geography.

spring march hare siting upright in a field in profile to the camera

Those taking part will need to be able to walk up to 12/16km (max) on what might be muddy and uneven surfaces, depending on the time of year. The pace will be slow and easy to maximising the chance to see some birds, animals and to enjoy the time outdoors.
Stopping to look and going off on a discovery tangent is positively encouraged.

Hedgerow safari  walk and learn

Book & pay on the website booking form or check the walking workshop pages for more information and FAQ’s.

MIAS level 2 - Mountain bike leader

Nigel Parrish - Guided rides, small group and one to one courses and instruction in all aspects off road riding - red and blue trails

MTB guide & instructor

Qualified and fully insured - Guiding, coaching/instruction, off-road cross country, blue and red trail centre routes

Bespoke & groups

1:1, 1:2 & small group off road navigation, cycle skills, coaching & instruction available -

MTB navigation

Bronze National Navigation Award Scheme 'on-your-bike' - Learn how to plan and navigate off-road routes

Regular & free rides

Regular group rides and free rides each month throughout the year

lady on a fully guided walk in Dorset and Wiltshire looks back at the camera and smiles
A man walking towards the camera look content on the countryside guided activity walk
a lady sits on a log in the countryside with her rucksack next to her on a Dorset guided walk

Guided walks

Fully guided activities

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim.

classic Dorset road side finger post with a rounded top and location with black letters on a white background

Guided walks

Full and half day guided walks

Regular midweek and weekend guided walks take place throughout the year in Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire and surrounding counties but are generally 'centred' around Cranbourne Chase and south Hampshire.

spring bluebells alongside a narrow woodland path on a contryside guided walking actvity

Most guided walks take place in small groups and are at an enjoyable pace with plenty of time to enjoy the countryside. Summer long walks and fitness walks might be at a moderate pace to cover the ground and feature a few more ups and downs. 

summer large round hay bales in a Dorset countryside field

Two day 'area focussed' walks take place across the south of England and feature a walk on each day with the option to book one of the days only or both days together to take in the best walking the area has to offer.

Routes take place on a variety of tracks, paths and rights of way that are suited to the season. Spring and winter walks will use better surfaced tracks and paths and will be generally shorter in duration and may be modified at the last minute if the weather is bit rubbish.

Area focussed walks will take in the best routes that area offers with the option to walk both days, or just one of the days.

Area walks are published well in advance so you can arrange accommodation if you want to stay in that area and make a weekend of it.

fovant downs early morning guided walk cloud inversion looking north to the Wiltshire village with frost on the grass in foreground

Whole day walks will start at around 09:30 until around 4:30 and half day walks until around 12:30. Full joining details will be sent around a week before the walk date.

You can read a description of each walk and the Frequently asked Questions for more information about what to bring, fitness required and what happens of the weather is not too great.

Fully guided walks  Free walks to book now

Book & pay on the website booking form or check the walking workshop pages for more information and FAQ’s.