Guided Walks
Reports/summaries of the walks can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/mikelangmanart
With over 40 years’ experience as a birdwatcher Mike’s knowledge of birds around Torbay is unparalleled.
The walks & cruises vary from general natural history walks to walks concentrating on particular bird groups, species or other wildlife; most cater for birdwatchers of any ability. Places are always limited – booking is essential.
NEW Gift Vouchers: for walks or private tours. Choose a walk or cruise or a voucher amount of your choice.
2026 will be my last year of running walks and cruises.
If you want to try something a little further afield I can highly recommend:
- Wise Birding wisebirding.co.uk and Devon Beaver tours devonbeavertours.co.uk
You can also book onto Mike’s own walks – places are strictly limited, booking is essential:
IMPORTANT. ADMINISTRATION Fees will be applied for a cancellation of a walk booking. Please take note:
30% will be deducted from refunds for a cancellation up to 5 days prior to the walk.
80% deducted from refunds for a cancellation from 4 days – 2 days prior to the walk.
No refunds will be offered for day before, on the day cancellations or failure to attend the walk.
Seabirds and Seafood feast – Guardhouse Café and Berry Head, Brixham
Date: Thursday 1st October 2026 Times: Start 7.15am prompt until 10am approx.
Breakfast served at 9.15am
Places are limited for this popular and exclusive event. (2 places left)
Cost: £30 including guided walk, cooked seafood breakfast ordered on the day from England’s Seafood Feast special menu and a drink at the Guardhouse café
A special event in conjunction with the Guardhouse Cafe and England’s Seafood Feast festival. Enjoy a guided walk around Berry Head with local expert Mike Langman followed by a fishy breakfast (also choice of vegan and full English breakfasts also available) at the Guardhouse Café.
By early October the first of the returning winter flock of Guillemots might be back on the cliffs after spending the summer out at sea. Early mornings are the very best time to see the ‘Brixham Penguins’ before they head out to sea for the day to feed. Torbay and Lyme Bay can be alive with be seabirds at this time of year – Kittiwakes, Skuas and Shearwaters are some of the species we’ll be looking for. There’s a good chance of seeing Dolphins, and Porpoises and we may even be lucky enough to see the splashes of huge Atlantic Bluefin Tuna further out to sea.
October is the most exciting month for passing land migrants and can include rare waifs and strays, often tucked into the scrub around the headland or just passing overhead. The various calls, diagnostic behaviour or plumage will be a feature of the mornings walk.
At 9.15am we’ll head to the Guardhouse café for a fantastic breakfast and drink. Celebrating the English Seafood Feast events 21st Sept- 4th October https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/whats-on/featured-events/seafood-feast . There’s a special fish breakfast to be confirmed – vegan or full breakfast options also available We’ll take your orders at the start of the walk.
What to bring: Binoculars, clothing to suit the weather – Berry Head can be surprisingly cold early in the mornings. Please be aware there may still be ticks around so long trousers are recommended. Optional notepad and paper.
Meet beside the picnic benches beside Berry Head National Nature Reserve car park – parking approx. £6 (free for those with Torbay Council countryside parking permits)
Click here for map: meeting point
How to book: Directly with your guide Mike Langman by emailing mikelangman1@outlook.com
Wildfowl and Warblers – Clennon Lakes
Monday 16th November Time: 9.30-11.30am
£14 adults (members of Friends of Clennon Lakes and under 18’s £10) Places limited to 11 people (FULL)
Contact Mike for more information or to book a place.
The sheltered lakes in Clennon Valley are home to birds found nowhere else in Torbay. Little Grebe, Teal, Gadwall are regular winter visitors with Snipe and Water Rail skulking in the dense lake fringes, sometimes something more unusual turns up too.
Being so near to the coast, at sea level and in the relatively mild winter climate of Devon insectivorous warblers are able to survive the winter months. Chiffchaffs that should be in Africa are regularly seen with Goldcrests and Long-tailed Tits. In previous years Firecrests have been found feeding in the willows and ivy and even rare Yellow-browed Warblers have overwintered.
Colourful Kingfishers are everyone’s favourite and the lakes often boast 2-3 birds during the early autumn. With a supporting cast of perhaps Little Egret, Grey Heron and many other wildfowl at close range Clennon is a great place to learn more about their identification and calls.
The event will be cancelled if heavy rain forecast.
What to bring: Sturdy walking shoes or boots, clothing to suit the weather (remember the weather in November can quickly change), binoculars.
Where to Meet: At 9.30am at the entrance to the Torbay Velopark (cycle track) just below Torbay Leisure Centre car park.
Contact Mike for more information or to book a place.
Exminster Marshes – winter walk
Wednesday 16th December Time: 9.30am -1.30pm
Cost: £22 adults – places limited to 11 people, booking essential (FULL)
Contact Mike for more information or to book a place.
RSPB Exminster Marshes are an incredible birding spot in Devon. A mid morning high tide (14.30hrs) in December will mean the marshes will be alive with waders and wildfowl arriving to rest and roost and hopefully some birds of prey too!
We will take a circular walk starting from the RSPB car park. The walk can be quite wet underfoot so be prepared with wellies. Looking for Lapwing and perhaps Golden Plover on the wet fields then Redwings and Fieldfares in the hawthorn hedgerows. Arriving at the Turf locks pub we’ll scan over the estuary for Avocets, ducks and fields for geese. Walking back along the canal bank perhaps a Kingfisher, Reed Bunting or Cetti’s Warbler will show. Toward the fisherman’s car park the pools and lake can attract Pintail, diving ducks and plenty of Wigeon. Waders like Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Snipe and shanks will forced off the estuary and onto the marshes due to the high tide.
Marsh Harrier and Peregrine have been a regular feature of the marshes in recent winters, often causing a commotion as they hunt over the area.
This walk is about 2.7-3miles and is weather dependant and will be cancelled if heavy rain is predicted or if the marshes are flooded.
What to Bring: Wellington boots (some of the paths are flooded in places), clothing to suit the weather (remember the weather in February can quickly change), binoculars, telescope if you have one and a hot drink and snack.
Where to Meet: At the RSPB car park just past the Swans nest pub, over the bridge on Station Road Meeting point »
Contact Mike for more information or to book a place.
Devon Beaver and Wildlife excursions
Mid April until early September – exclusive small groups
Friend and colleague Chris Townend specialises in walks to see beavers and other wildlife in East Devon:
”We specialise in high quality evening walks to see beavers and full day tours to watch other wildlife in and around East Devon. Our team is based in the beautiful coastal town of Budleigh Salterton situated by the river Otter, in the heart of beaver country! Our lead guide, Chris Townend, has been studying the beaver population on his patch since 2014 and he brings valuable experience gained from running his own successful wildlife watching company, Wise Birding Holidays. We hope to see you soon!” Devon Beavers
Contact Chris for more information or to book a place.
