With a wealth of wildlife in the immediate area, you might enjoy seeing hares, deer, hedgehogs, foxes and, of an evening, bats flitting across the twilight sky. Birdlife is also diverse, with the frequent sound of buzzards calling and everything from wrens to thrushes to wagtails nesting in the immediate area. Our insect population has also provided enjoyment, with huge numbers of bumble bees and butterflies being regular visitors. The beautiful little Western bee-fly (Bombylius canescens) is also a resident as is the glorious elephant hawk moth.

In winter we are visited by thousands of starlings who frequently land in all the trees around the house on their way home to roost at Roughtor. This is an incredible experience – a cacophony of noise which becomes silent when, as one, the birds lift off into the sky and you hear the beats of vast numbers of wings. To guarantee experiencing the amazing sight of the murmurations over Roughtor as they settle to roost, visit between November and early March.