Any guesses?

This is the caterpillar of the Oak eggar moth (Lasiocampa quercus). It's the first one I've seen this year and seemed to be taking advantage of a spell of sunshine by warming its self on a 'lounger' shaped rock!

The name Oak eggar is a little misleading as they don’t associate with oak trees as you might first think; in fact it refers to their cocoons which resemble the shape of acorns. They are found on heath and moorlands with their main food plants in the uplands being heather and bilberry.

This next one is the Emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia) caterpillar.

After hatching from eggs the caterpillars spend the summer months (May through to August) feeding on heather and bilberry before over-wintering as pupae and emerging as a moth in April/May.

The Emperor moth is one of the largest in the UK with a wingspan of 4-6cm. This (not great picture!) shows both a male and female spotted on a guided walk earlier this year. Given that they only live between 3-4 weeks it’s unlikely they’ll be any around now but there should be caterpillars to spot … if the birds haven’t got to them first!