Spotting Scotland’s Big Five on the Isle of Arran

The UK’s largest land mammal, red deer are the royalty of Scotland’s hills and glens. Observing the silhouette of a large red stag against a pink-hued sky is a sight you won’t forget in a hurry, and one you’re very likely to see when spending time on Arran.

In autumn, red deer enter what is known as the ‘rut’, when males roar and clash antlers to defend groups of females (known as hinds). ​​In late spring, hinds give birth to a single white-spotted calf, which is carefully hidden in long grass or bracken for protection in its earliest days.

Red deer are most often seen at dawn or dusk, but because of their abundance across Arran, you’ll likely see them simply when you’re out and about exploring. It is common to see them close to the distillery in Lochranza.

The golden eagle is one of Scotland’s most formidable birds of prey, and because they favour mountainous and treeless terrain, the Isle of Arran makes for the perfect habitat.

Smaller only to the white-tailed eagle here in the UK, golden eagles are incredibly impressive birds that enjoy soaring and gliding on air currents. Adults are dark brown with broad wings and a golden sheen on the back of the head. They have distinctly ‘fingered’ wing tips, which, alongside being far larger than a buzzard, make them instantly distinguishable from the latter.

Interestingly, golden eagles were responsible for a delay in the building of Lochranza distillery. During construction, a pair made a nest on a cliff nearby, and because they’re a protected species, all building work had to be paused for a while to give the eagles the best chance to raise their chicks. Eagles also have traditional territories and nesting places, which generations may use – so make sure to keep an eye to the skies if you happen to be visiting the distillery.