Walk on the Wild Side

Join us for a nature-focused tour of our wilding project. The hills around the Hepple Estate have been gently managed for wildlife and farming for decades but since 2020 we have changed gear and are now fully focused on building ecosystem health and encouraging biodiversity. Since 2024 we have been starting to open our world up for small groups to come and see what we have been up to - and we'd love for you to join us.

At a glance

• Arrive for a 10:30 start, finishing around 3pm with lunch included
• An introduction to Rewilding and our landscape-scale project
  
• Guided walk around the estate looking for all sorts of wildlife and nature, plus our natural grazers
• Some uneven ground and variable weather conditions may apply! 

Longhorn Cattle & Exmoor Ponies at Hepple - Cal Thompson / This is Northumberland

Event Overview

Starting at 10:30am, the day will include an introduction to the estate, our ethos and our wildling management methods, before a 3hr-4hr (approximately 5km) professionally guided walk of the estate with numerous breaks as wildlife, history and panoramic views emerge. A simple lunch is included and, weather allowing, will be taken outside. Our walks are intended to be interactive and immersive with our expert guide Richard showing you the best of what Hepple has to offer including some of our wild herbivores such as the Exmoor ponies, Highland cattle and Mangalica pigs. That being said, wildlife is just that - wild! We cannot guarantee wildlife sightings but will do our best to give you a taste of our wilderness. This event will change seasonally and we will aim to find the best nature around, whether that is spring birds, summer wildflowers or autumn fungi. Two trips will never be the same.

Our longhorn cattle amongst the regenerating birch

Your Guide

This event will be led by our in-house Ecologist & Guide, Richard Thompson. Richard grew up roaming the hills around Hepple before heading to Scotland where he gained a master's degree in Conservation and worked as nature-guide in the Scottish Highlands. After returning to his Northumberland roots Richard worked as a professional ecologist before joining the team here at Hepple. Richard is outdoor first-aid trained and is a Hill & Moorland Leader, a qualification that focuses on group management and upland navigation. When not leading our events, Richard can be found conducting various monitoring jobs across the estate including bird & plant surveys, and his favourite, fungi forays. 

Richard, Hepple Guide - Cal Thompson / This is Northumberland

Additional Information

Please note that this event includes periods of rough walking. Please come prepared.

We would strongly encourage bringing: 

• Sturdy boots or comfortable wellies
• Binoculars 
• Backpack with water bottle
• A warm/waterproof coat or jacket
• Waterproof trousers if it's forecast for rain 

If you can leave them in the car so much the better! The weather in the Upper Coquet valley can be very changeable so please come prepared for anything. While we will aim to head out whatever the weather, if the forecast ahead of the event does look especially awful or hazardous, we will contact you to offer a full refund or a booking on an alternative date.

If you need to cancel your booking we can offer a full refund/rebooking to guests up to two weeks before the event. After this time we may not be able to offer you a refund but will aim to do so if we can resell your ticket. If Hepple Wilds need to cancel the event for any reason, we will offer a full refund or reschedule the event.

Unfortunately this event is not currently accessible for wheelchair users or those with physical disabilities that may prevent them from prolonged walking in the outdoors over rough terrain. As we progress with our nature engagement plans, we aim to be able to host more accessible experiences.

In addition, this event is not dog friendly. We may be able to host pooches on our private/bespoke days, with prior arrangement. 

On booking you should be asked about your dietary requirements and any special interests you might have. Please get in touch if you think we need to know anything else. 

We look forward to welcoming you to our home and to the beautiful Hepple Wilds.

Wandering above the Coquet River - White Oak Photos