Hepple Safari - Driven Tour

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

• Tour lasts around 2.5 hours
• A introduction to Rewilding and our landscape-scale project, with a focus on our exciting grazing regime 
  
• Guided drive around the estate looking for all sorts of wildlife and nature, with stops for chance encounters and a scenic sundowner
• Short walks from the vehicle will be available but this event is designed to more accessible and less reliant on walking long distances 

Checking out our Highland Cows from our Land Rover - Cal Thompson / This is Northumberland

Event Overview

Starting at approximately 1:15pm we will have a short introduction to the estate's history and management before a an approximately 2.5hr professionally guided tour the estate in our Classic Land Rover Defender. Using a vehicle will allow us to access various bits of the estate quickly and with less walking than some of our other experiences on offer, while still providing numerous breaks for wildlife, history and panoramic views. Our days are intended to be interactive and immersive, showing you the best of what Hepple has to offer. 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. We will also be aiming to meet up with our various grazing animals; the Mangalica pigs, Exmoor ponies and longhorn and Highland cattle. Towards the end of the drive we will find a scenic spot to pull up for a 'sundowner' drink with a view. 

Our noble steed, while out exploring the woods at Hepple

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

We would strongly encourage bringing:

• Sturdy trainers, boots or comfortable wellies
• Binoculars
• Backpack with water bottle
• A warm/waterproof coat or jacket

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 while this event does not include much walking, it is not currently accessible for wheelchair users. As we progress with our nature engagement plans, we aim to be able to host more accessible experiences. While the vehicle means there is much less walking than some of our other events, people with mobility issues may find the vehicle difficult to enter/exit however a step and assistance will be provided.

In addition, this event is not dog friendly. We may be able to host pooches on our private/bespoke days, with prior arrangement. Six people can fit in the vehicle comfortably. There may be room for a couple more, on request.

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.

En route across the estate - Chris Woodcock / White Oak Photos