Looe Island Nature Reserve is taking bookings for a new season of guided walks.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust administers the island as a nature reserve and quiet haven for wildlife.

After arriving by boat visitors are escorted around the island at the start of the visit. Then there’s a chance to explore or join the warden for a slide show in Jetty Cottage. The whole trip lasts around three-and-a-half hours.

The reserve is home to many nesting sea birds such as cormorants, shags, fulmars and oystercatchers.

It has the largest breeding colony in Cornwall of the great black-backed gull, which has a huge wing span of around 1.5m.

The breeding colonies and displays of wildlife flowers along the coastline offer wonderful views. The island is also home to Britain’s largest mammal, grey seals.

The guided walk also takes in the self-sufficiency fruit and vegetable plots. The gardens are managed with wildlife in mind and it is here that you are likely to see one of around 17 butterflies that are regularly recorded on the island.

Dates this year are:

April 8 and 23, May 8, June 7, July 7 and 22, September 4 and October 3.

In addition there are two speciality walks, each guided by local experts: 

Sunday, July 3: Birds of Looe Island with Derek Spooner.

Thursday, September 15: History of Looe Island with Mark Camp.

Callum Deveney, Head of Nature Reserves says,

Further information via the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s website: www.cornwallwildlifetrust/islandwalks