Trip created by Stevie Christie
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Region: Multi-Location
Trip Type: Wildlife
Comfort: Classic
Difficulty:
All you need to know about your trip, this essential document is a must for all adventures.
Download ItineraryThis wildlife holiday in Scotland is a fresh way to experience the fantastic and diverse wildlife of the Scottish Highlands.
Rather than being a list-ticking trip, it’s designed to be a fun and informative multi-activity trip across the Highlands.
Led by our expert guides, we’ll seek out species such as dolphins, red deer and golden eagles as we explore Scotland’s wild places. And while we will visit a hide or two, most of the wildlife will be encountered as we enjoy activities such as boat trips, walks and even some sea kayaking. All activities will be conducted at an easy pace, so are suitable for everyone to enjoy.
On the way to Strontian, we stop at Loch Ness and visit Urquhart Castle, the spectacular ruined castle on the banks of the loch. Rumour has it that Nessie resides in a sub-aqua cave beneath the castle, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled and may end this wildlife trip with a sighting of the most elusive creature of all. (D)
From our hotel it’s a short transfer to the pier where we jump on the ferry for the 15 minute crossing to the Isle of Mull. We’ll go in search of its famous sea eagles and golden eagles, as well as spending time on the coast looking for otters. Even the ferry journey offers the chance to look for dolphins, whales and basking sharks. (B,L)
Today, we enjoy sea kayaking in the sheltered waters of the Arisaig skerries. This relaxed day will allow us to enjoy close encounters with seals, and perhaps even otters or porpoises. No experience is needed to enjoy the sea kayaking and you’ll be looked after by qualified, expert guides. (B, L)
Today we transfer east to the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, where we enjoy an afternoon stop at the RSPB Reserve at Insh Marshes. One of the most important wetlands in Europe, we can look out for many bird species such as lapwing, redshank and curlew. Roe deer can also be seen here. After checking into our hotel and having dinner, we head out for an evening excursion to a wildlife hide. As dusk falls, we hope to see species such as pine marten and badger. (B, L)
Today we explore the wildlife of the Cairngorm mountains. Accessing the mountains from a high-level car park at 2000 feet, we enjoy an easy hike into the Northern Corries, where we hope to see Scotland’s only herd of reindeer. We’ll also look out for red deer, mountain hares, ptarmigan and golden eagles – as well as enjoying the spectacular scenery. (B, L)
Show-casing the diversity of the Scottish Highlands, a short transfer from our hotel in the mountains takes us to the coast where we hop onto a boat for a dolphin-spotting excursion in the Moray Firth, one of the best places in Scotland to see these playful creatures. Back on dry land, we’ll enjoy a beautiful coastal walk, exploring the sand dunes and nature of this often overlooked coastline. (B, L, D)
Leaving the hotel after breakfast we visit a nearby nature reserve where we should be able to see ospreys, red squirrels and a number of other species which inhabit this beautiful and ancient Scots Pine Forest. (B)
To download a PDF copy of our Trip Itinerary, containing full details about this holiday, please complete the form below:
ACCOMMODATION
In Ardnamurchan, we stay at a small, family-run, Highland guest house which has one of the best panoramic loch and mountain views in Scotland. The hotel was renovated in 2008 and offers comfortable rooms with free wi-fi. The meals here are a delight, with a strong focus on locally sourced produce.
We spend 3 nights in and around the Cairngorms National Park. Our base here is at the beautiful Dalrachney Lodge, located in a sleepy Highland village called Carrbridge. Dalrachney Lodge offers the highest standards of customer care and service, all set in a welcoming and comfortable environment.
SINGLE ROOMS
There is no supplement charged to solo travellers, however, you will be required to share a room with another person of the same sex. For this itinerary, a supplement of £285 per person will be payable where a single, en-suite room is required. This is subject to availability as per our booking terms and conditions.
The meals throughout this wildlife tour of the Scottish Highlands are a delight, with a strong focus on seasonal and locally sourced produce.
On this trip, we generally eat dinner as a group however if you would like to make alternative arrangements you are free to do so. Your guide will have an evening off during this trip where they do not eat with the group. They will recommend options for dinner that evening and will help you make any necessary reservations.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
You will be met by your Wilderness Scotland Guide at the fixed seating area in the centre of Inverness Railway Station at 2:00pm on Day 1 of your trip. You will be returned to Inverness station by 1:00pm on the final day.
For advice on getting to and from Scotland please our travel advice page on our website: www.wildernessscotland.com/faq/travel-to-scotland/
86 People viewed this trip in the last week
| Trip Dates for 2019 | Availability | Status | Price | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th May - 31st May 2019 | 2 place(s) left | CONFIRMED | £1,725 | Book Now |
| 8th Jun - 14th Jun 2019 | Trip Full | FULLY BOOKED | £1,725 |
Sometimes it's nice to get family and friends together and travel privately for some quality time. This means you benefit from all the features of the group departure, including hand-picked accommodation and expert local guides and we'll take care of it all. Then you can make your choice of departures dates and we'll get back to you to finalise the details.
As an avid adventurer, Stevie has life-long experience in Scotland’s outdoors. He’s Co-Owner and Head of Adventure with Wilderness and been with us for over 15 years in a variety of roles, with innovative trip design being both a passion and a speciality. In his spare time, Stevie runs the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival, bringing the world’s most inspiring adventure filmmakers and athletes to an audience of over 1,500 each year. His experience of living in the Cairngorms National Park for over 7 years has helped design this exciting wildlife trip.
- Stevie Christie
Call Stevie Ask Stevie a QuestionGreen Graded Wildlife Holidays 1-3
All of our wildlife trips are graded Green and involve straightforward hiking with no major ascents, as well as other activities which are pitched at novice level. You can expect to be active for around 5 hours each day so you will need a reasonable level of fitness. Please note that there may be some early starts and late nights as we seek to maximise our chances of finding wildlife, although you can always opt out of activities if you prefer an early night or long lie in the morning!
So to help you decide if you are fit enough for this kind of trip, ask yourself:
Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 19 review(s) of Wildlife Adventures – The Scottish Highlands
Every client receives a feedback survey when they return from their guided, self guided or tailor made holiday with us. Once completed the review is published on our website just as soon as our database updates. The little touches and details are important to us and where issues are raised we make positive changes to our trips to improve your experience.
That’s why we read each of our client’s reviews and although we don’t respond to all of them, if it’s glowing feedback then we get the satisfaction of helping to make your holidays truly memorable.
Laureen Esser
Reviewed on 21/07/2018
The Bottom Line
Kate Boynton
Reviewed on 09/07/2018
The Bottom Line
This is a fun trip - kayaking with seals was such a fun day, going to a RSPB reserve and getting a fantastic lecture from Peter. The day on Mull really seemed to solidified the group as we watched Golden Eagles, Buzzards etc fly, dive and in one case attack a larger bird. The Hide was so great - the owl, Pine Martins and Badgers were well worth the wait for them to show up.
Graeme Coss
Reviewed on 05/07/2018
The Bottom Line
A wonderful experience. Very relaxing and stimulating at the same time. The weather was unexpectedly hot, and that was a challenge at times. Even some wildlife felt the heat and were scarce on certain days. But that was all understandable. Some people might feel too much time was spent in the mini-van, driving from one location to the next, but that didn't bother me. The detailed itinerary and the grading made it clear that we would not be hiking 8 hours a day every day. In sum, Highly recommended.
Jeanell Buckley
Reviewed on 05/07/2018
The Bottom Line
I would recommend this holiday for anyone wanting to learn and engage with Scottish wildlife. A truly wonderful experience
Ralph Sales
Reviewed on 20/07/2017
The Bottom Line
I am considering next year but age will be a major issue. I am hoping for another enjoyable trip.
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