Winter walks to take in the best of British wildlife

1. Spot purple sandpipers at Portland, Dorset

The purple sandpiper is a hardy bird. These winter visitors scratch out a living on the wave-battered cliffs all around the British Isles. Ducking and diving between the crashing waves, they search for food between strands of slippery seaweed and in rocky nooks and crannies. Weighing in at less than 75g (that's about the same as two packets of crisps) they will feast on insects, winkles, crustaceans, plants and spiders.

How to see them

The South West coastal path covers more than 600 miles around Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, taking in some of the UK's most dramatic coastal scenery. Head to the section at Portland, near the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth for a circular walk and a chance to glimpse the purple sandpiper. For many the lighthouse will bring back childhood memories of The Adventures of Portland Bill, but the cliffs that fall away below the lighthouse are also a great place to spot purple sandpipers as they dash from incoming waves. But be careful, stormy conditions and large swells can make this a dangerous spot for birders too. It's well worth investing in sensible footwear and checking the weather conditions before you set out.

What can I expect to see?

2. Head to the Kent coast

Easily accessible from the capital, this stretch of coastline takes in the white cliffs of Dover, a myriad of rock pools, and for the keen-eyed, the chance to spot the unmistakable flash of turquoise that signals that a kingfisher is about.

BBC Springwatch cameraman Richard Taylor-Jones loves this stretch of coastline, and his walk between the famous cliffs and Ramsgate harbour offers a variety of winter wildlife for those brave enough to brace the conditions.

Dots of yellow cover the landscape, signalling the early-flowering presence of gorse; an opportunist that will take hold wherever it can lay its roots. The estuary of Pegwell Bay is a hub for birds from brent geese to golden plover and lapwing, and at the abandoned hoverport at Pegwell little egrets fish around old sluice gates - shuffling their feet to shake their prey up from the sediment.

Richard Taylor-Jones explores why this place is so special to him.

3. Spot seals at Rhossilli 

Jutting out from the south coast of Wales, the Gower peninsular offers huge expanses of sandy beaches, rocky islands and tidal rock pools to explore. At Rhossili, the beach stretches for more than three miles, backed by sandy dunes. 

Walk along the top of the cliffs, looking out for choughs feeding on the cliff top. These distinctive birds can be recognised by their red beaks and legs, contrasting against a black body. 

A short walk later, you'll arrive at Worms Head - one of the most distinctive landmarks of the Gower. This tidal island juts away from the mainland, cut off when the high tides come in. Here there are rock pools to explore - keep an eye out for crabs and anemones looking for their next meal.

If conditions are right, grey seals will haul up on the beaches below the rocky outcrop. There's steep path down to the island, but if you can't manage it there are binoculars attached to a wooden pole for keen wildlife spotters.

To improve your chances of spotting a juvenile grey seal, head slightly further along the coast to Overton Mere, just to the west of Rhossili. Paul Thornton, a wildlife officer at Wales Wildlife Trust, says this is the best location to spot these seals shortly after pupping. 

4. Wildlife around the city, Belfast

In Belfast, you're never far from nature. The city's Botanical Gardens offer an array of tropical plants, seasonal displays and intriguing (yet non-native) birds of paradise. 

But heading out of the city you'll find the real spectacle. Head west, out past the suburbs and into the hills, where Divis and the Black Mountain offer views across the city and beyond. The hills here are home to a tapestry of species with stonechats, skylarks, snipe and peregrine falcons all flourishing on the heathland.

There are two routes on offer here, the first a ridge trail taking in the skyline of Belfast (and the nature that lives there too). The second, a summit trail to the top of Divis Mountain, promises views of the peaks of Scotland, Cumbria and Wales on a clear day.

The National Trust has guides on both routes, and says they're both achievable in a few hours - perfect if you've smaller feet in tow (or are too full of turkey for a huge hike!) 

5. From the forest to the sea, Tentsmuir

Follow in the footsteps of Pictish tribesmen and women while exploring Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve between St Andrews and Dundee on the north east Scottish coast.

Standing at more than 50 square miles, this extensive reserve is home to an array of winged and land-based species.

Every winter, more than 20,000 waterfowl overwinter here, and cormorant, black-tailed godwit, oystercatcher, grey plover and sanderlings can be found in large numbers too. Red squirrels also call the forest on the reserve ‘home’, and grey and common seals can both be seen around the year.

Within the forest and on the surrounding beaches, there are a variety of tracks covering more than 30km. Take your pick from one of the acorn trails, offering views through the forest and ending with seal spotting, or the seashell trail taking in the dunes and manmade relics from World War Two.

In Winterwatch 2018, we'll be looking at the sanderlings that call this place home. Here's a sneak peek.