La Brenne in Spring
The natural heart of France

Monday 14 - Sunday 20 May 2012 (7 days)
(date changed since our brochure came out)

After a couple of years' break, we are back in La Brenne - where we ran our first overseas trip, over 20 years ago! Remarkably, it has changed little in that time, and still provides one of the best bird and wildlife holidays in central France.



A Pond Terrapin basks in the early morning sun by a reedbed where Great Reed and Savi's Warblers sing. Out over the lake Black and Whiskered Terns hawk for surface insects, while a succession of Purple Herons fly into their colony in the reeds, untroubled by the constant presence of Marsh Harriers. Suddenly, a tiny black and buff heron flies out from the reeds across the water to vanish again into the thicket on the other side - a Little Bittern, one of Europe's most secretive waterbirds...

La Brenne is a magical place: more than a thousand lakes, they say, surrounded by a superb mix of woodland, dry heath and open farmland. The lakes have been managed for centuries to provide fish, and a complex pattern of ownership has led to a huge diversity of habitats, both wet and dry. Right in the middle of France, there is a unique mix of northern, southern and continental species making it an ideal spot for a short French wildlife holiday. This will be our eleventh visit to La Brenne.

Accommodation
Logis de France (1-cheminée) hotel adjacent to one of the lakes. All rooms are en suite.

Numbers: Max. 7 clients

Leader: David Simpson


Please note that this trip can be combined with our Dordogne trip in May (5 - 11 May). We'll deduct £100 off the combined fight-inclusive price for both tours, and accommodation for the night between the two trips will be free of charge!

Price: £ 1,395
Single supp.: £ 155
Deposit: £ 300 per person

The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return flights London Stansted-Tours/Poitiers, accommodation, meals, minibus transport, incidental tips, admissions, and leadership.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, and other personal expenses.

*For an ex-flight cost of the tour (ex Tours/Poitiers) please deduct £ 100 per person from the tour cost.

La Brenne map

Outline Itinerary
Day 1We fly from London Stansted (Ryanair) to Limoges/Poitiers (not Tours) where we meet David Simpson. From here it is about a two-hour drive down to La Brenne. Our base is a small hotel right next to one of the lakes. Overnight La Brenne
Days 2-6The lakes themselves in La Brenne should be hosting over 500 pairs of Whiskered Terns (the best French site for these), nesting amongst the water lilies. Herons are especially good with eight possible heron species. Raptors, too, can be absolutely stunning and include Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Black Kite, Honey Buzzard and all three harriers. We also hope that Bee-eaters return to a riverside colony and fill the air with their liquid calls. Five nights La Brenne
Day 7We may have time for a little birdwatching in the morning before our flight home.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary