New holidays

Guided Bird Watching in Western Yorkshire Dales

AdobeStock_1082065257.jpeg
Duration: 4 nights
Interests: Explore nature
from £699pp

Join a group of fellow nature enthusiasts and seek out some of the North West England’s best birdwatching spots with an experienced ornithologist. Autumn sees thousands of birds flock to these shores and we’ll visit some of the area’s most popular birding sites, including RSPB Leighton Moss and Morecambe Bay. By day, you’ll discover natural beauty spots where birdlife thrives and by night, you’ll enjoy expert help identifying what you’ve spotted. 

What you’ll love

  • Daily guided visits to the best birding sites in the area
  • Guidance from an expert ornithologist leader
  • Visiting RSPB Leighton Moss, Morecambe Bay, and Grizedale Forest
  • Chances to spot Marsh Harriers, Bittern, Bearded Tit, Hawfinch, Crossbills and more
  • Relaxing at our country house in the Western Yorkshire Dales

What’s included

  • Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
  • Local ornithologist leader
  • All transport throughout the itinerary
  • Cream tea on arrival day
  • Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
  • Daily packed lunches
  • Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
  • Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information available in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently.

Trip Notes

Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

You’re welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival. After dinner this evening, your local ornithologist leader will introduce themselves and the itinerary. They’ll an introductory on the local area’s birdlife and what you’re likely to see during your holiday. 


Though these holidays don’t cover great distances on foot, they are still active. You'll be hopping on and off the coach and should expect to spend the majority of the day on your feet. Walking to the birdwatching sites may take you across country tracks or footpaths and, at times, off the beaten track so be sure to bring sturdy shoes. 

Leighton Moss RSPB reserve 

We make a fantastic start to the holiday with a visit to this popular little RSPB reserve in Silverdale, a charming village that sits on the Lancashire-Cumbria border. In the care of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds since 1964, Leighton Moss is home to a huge volume and variety of wildfowl and waders.  It also has breeding Marsh Harriers, Bitterns, and Bearded Tits.  

We’ll spend some time at the outer hides on the edge of Morecambe Bay, before visiting the main reserve and the nearby Kent estuary. If we’re lucky, the starlings may treat us to one of their spectacular aerial displays. Please note that the number of starlings and the best locations for murmurations can vary daily, monthly, and yearly. If they’re present, we’ll do our utmost to ensure you experience this incredible natural spectacle. 

Please note entrance fees to Leighton Moss RSPB reserve have not been included in the price of the holiday. We know many of you are RSPB members and will be able to access the reserve free – please remember to bring your membership card. Any non-members, please allow approx. £10 per person for entrance fee. 


Sizergh Castle  

We’ll begin our second day at Sizergh Castle. The sizeable grounds of this16th-century stately home in Kendal are one of the best sites in the area to look for the elusive Hawfinch.  

Grizedale Forest  

Located to the north of Morecambe Bay, Grizedale is one of the finest mixed woodlands in the region, and often a good site for Crossbills. Later in the day, if time allows, we’ll visit one of the reserves on the Leven estuary too.  

Please note entrance fees to Sizergh Castle gardens have not been included in the price of the holiday. We know many of you are National Trust members and will be able to access for free – please remember to bring your membership card. Any non-members, please allow approx. £5 per pereson for entrance fee. 


Morecambe Bay 

We round off our holiday with a visit to Hest Bank RSPB reserve on the east side of Morecambe Bay, another nationally important wader site. Then, we’ll enjoy a gentle stroll along nearby Morecambe promenade, very rewarding for birdwatchers at this time of year.  

The Lune Estuary 

Finally, we’ll head south to the Lune estuary where the saltmarshes, pools, and creeks around Glasson Dock offer sanctuary for Common Redshank, Northern Lapwing, Dunlin, Eurasian Wigeon, and Common Snipes. 


Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.  


Thorns Hall

Delivering on all fronts for countryside lovers, this cosy Grade II-listed manor house is just a skip away from Sedbergh – the Cumbrian market town treasured for its cobbled streets, public school, artisan shops, and bookshops (it’s known as England’s official book town for good reason). You’ll also have the Yorkshire Dales National Park on your doorstep as well as the Howgill Fells - the small group of hills adored by legendary fellwalker, illustrator, and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright. The walking opportunities here are outstanding, but if you fancy travelling further afield there’s Kendal (home of the mint cake), Hawes, Wensleydale, Appleby-in-Westmorland, and Lake Windemere all within easy driving distance.  

 

Rooms

Designed with your comfort in mind, Thorns Hall has 25 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior. 

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV. 

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The spacious Room 25 for its ground floor setting, brick fireplace, comfy seating, large bed, and gorgeous views of the gardens. Room 4 is large and airy while the cosier Room 13 has an exposed wood ceiling and courtyard view. 

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply. 

Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.  

On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.  

Room supplements

Superior Premium single Premium double/twin Choose your room
£25 pppn £20 pppn £20 pppn £30 per room

 

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location 

About your stay

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out). 

Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions. 

Walks talks 
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.  

The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house. 

Food & drink

Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.

HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.

Accessibility

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Thorns Hall

Sedbergh - External_Front.jpg

Getting to Thorns Hall

Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.

More Information

Address

Thorns Hall
Cautley Road
Sedbergh
Cumbria LA10 5LE

Tel: +44 (0)1539 620973

By train

The nearest station is Oxenholme, Lake District, on the main line between London and Glasgow.  

Check National Rail for routes and journey times.  

By shared transfer

If you’re travelling to or from Thorns Hall on Mondays or Fridays or over the festive period, you can join our group transfer from Oxenholme Railway Station.

2024 prices are £40 per person for a return transfer or £20 per person for a single transfer. 2025 prices are £50 per person for a return transfer or £25 per person for a single transfer.

Outward journey: Depart Oxenholme Railway Station at 16:30; arrive at Thorns Hall at 17:10.

Return journey: Depart Thorns Hall at 09:30; arrive at Oxenholme Railway Station at 10:10.

Places are limited so booking is essential. We recommend booking at least 14 days in advance by contacting:

HF Holidays Sales and Support Team
Tel: +44 (0)203 974 8865
Email: reservations@hfholidays.co.uk

By taxi

The journey from Oxenholme station to Thorns Hall is 10 miles and will take about 20 minutes. 

For pricing, please contact Woofs of Sedbergh directly.

Woofs of Sedbergh
You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended company, Woofs of Sedbergh*. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance by contacting:

Tel: +44 (0)1539 620414
Email: woofs.sedbergh@outlook.com

A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Thorns Hall.

*Woofs of Sedbergh is not owned or managed by HF Holidays.

By car

There’s a car park available at Thorns Hall if you decide to drive.

Leave the M6 at junction 37 and follow the A684 eastbound for five miles to Sedbergh. At Sedbergh follow the road into Finkle Street (avoiding the main street), then almost immediately turn left at a small roundabout into Back Lane. At the next mini roundabout turn onto the A683 following signs to Kirkby Stephen. Thorns Hall is 100 yards on the left. 

By air

The nearest airport is Manchester International Airport. 

There are direct trains every hour to Oxenholme with the journey taking around 90 minutes. From Oxenholme station you can complete the journey to Sedbergh by taxi. 

National Rail have up-to-date information on train times and routes. 

Flying to London Heathrow airport is another option, but it'll take you at least four hours to reach Oxenholme. Catch the train to London Paddington station, then the London Underground to London Euston where you can connect to the main line train to Oxenholme. The journey from here is 2.5 hours. 

The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next.  To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.   

Essentials  

  • Suitable footwear such as waterproof walking boots that provide ankle support and good grip  
  • Waterproof and windproof jacket, preferably insulated  
  • Comfortable clothing (jeans & waterproof capes are not suitable)  
  • Waterproof overtrousers  
  • Gloves and a warm hat  
  • Rucksack with waterproof liner 
  • Spotting scope and/or binoculars 
  • Flask for hot drinks   
  • Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)  
  • Sunscreen  
  • UV sunglasses  

Recommended  

  • Several base layers (long-sleeve or short-sleeve)  
  • Cushioned walking socks to avoid blisters  
  • First aid kit, including plasters and insect repellent 
  • Sit mat   
  • Waterproof pouch for valuables  
  • Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)  
  • Wallet/purse  
  • Camera 
  • First-aid kit 

Thorns Hall Calendar

  • Guided Walking
  • Self-Guided Walking
  • Special Interests
  • Unavailable to Book

Russell Hedley

With a lifelong passion for wildlife, Russell is looking forward to sharing his wealth of wildlife knowledge with you to ensure you get the very best out of your holiday.

When not leading for us, Russell works in wildlife education, running events for education, charity and holiday operators alike.

Russell began working with HF Holidays after graduating from the University of Cumbria where he studies Animal Conservation and has received fabulous feedback from our groups.

Guest reviews

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

Members save £30 on all prices. Join today! Click here or call us to find out more.

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.


Holiday prices

Date (Start - End) Itinerary Double / Twin Room Single Room Notes / Offers Trip Notes Book
2025

20 Oct - 24 Oct 2025

4 nights

Itinerary

Single Call to Enquire
Double Call to Enquire
Call to Enquire Call to Enquire Trip Notes

03 Nov - 07 Nov 2025

4 nights

Itinerary

Single Call to Enquire

Double from

£699 pp

from

£699 pp

Call to Enquire Trip Notes
Book Now
Duration:
4 nights
Interests:
Explore nature

4 nights from £699pp

New holidays

or call 020 3974 8865

For group bookings of 10+ guests click here

Add to wishlist Added to wishlist