Wanderlust UK – September 2019

(Axel Boer) #1
138 wanderlust.co.ukSeptember 2019

DISCOVER


FromtrekkingfarfromtheMountFujicrowdsoutsideTokyotoabird-spottingbreakinMadrid
and the ultimate effortless escape from London – our experts offer their advice

Mya-RoseCraig
TwitcherMya-Rose,
aka‘Birdgirl’,isan
ambassadorforLeica’s
SportOptics
(leicastore-uk.co.uk)

TomFay
BasedinJapansince
2007,Tomisthe
co-authorofHiking
andTrekkinginthe
JapanAlpsandMount
Fuji(cicerone.co.uk)

Helen&NeilMatthews
Thepairaretheauthors
ofBradt’sSlowTravel:
TheChilterns&The
ThamesValley
(bradtguides.com)

SPOTTING BIRDS AROUND
THE SPANISH CAPITAL

Q


I’m o to Madrid for a city
break with my (youngish)
family, but would like to spend one
day out of the city spotting birds
with them – is there a good area to
do this that’s easy to access? And
what could we see?

A


There are some excellent places
to see unusual birds within
a short drive of Madrid, so you should
be able to have an enjoyable day in
August suitable for the whole family,
even young children. Just 30 minutes
north-east of the airport, Fresno de
Torote, makes a great €irst port of call.
Pull oƒ the road on the M„113 before
the village and scan the €ields for
great and little bustard. You also have
a good chance of seeing Spanish
imperial eagle; cinerous (black) and
griƒ on vultures, as well as roller and
calandra lark here.
Allow a couple of hours before
heading west to El Monte de el Pardo
north of Madrid, a former royal
hunting ground and now a great
place for a family stroll. The beautiful
Mediterranean forest around the lake
is good for spotting cinerous, griƒ on
and Egyptian vulture; Spanish
imperial, golden, Bonelli’s, and
short-toed eagle; azure-winged
magpie; and golden oriole.
Alternatively, head south to Laguna
de Navaseca in Castilla-La Mancha,
the setting of famous Spanish novel
Don Quixote. It’s about a two-hour
drive, but it’s worth it if you want to
spot birds such as white-headed
duck, black-necked grebe; €lamingos
and other waterbirds, which you can
sit and watch from the bird hide next
to the car park.
Mya-Rose Craig

EXPERTS


Ask the experts


HIKING AWAY FROM THE
HORDES IN JAPAN

Q


I’d like to try a moderate-
ability trek outside of Tokyo,
Japan, but I hear that Mount Fuji
tends to be either closed or
extremely busy. Is there an
alternative that will deliver views
without the queues?

A


Japan is a great hiking
destination and as 70% of the
country is mountainous there are
countless Mount Fuji alternatives to
choose from. The North, or Kita, Alps
are home to some of the most
impressive mountains in the country,
and the two- or three-day round trip
to the summit of Mount Jōnen
(2,857m) oƒ ers fantastic views, a
moderate challenge and none of the
Fuji-san crowds. The trek begins from
the picturesque mountain resort of
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