|
|
Want your own Scottish wildlife-watching holiday or just a guide for a day or two in the Cairngorms National Park? You've come to the right place!
|
| * | Target the species you’ve always wanted to see in Speyside and the rest of Scotland |
| * | Design your own holiday the way you want it - anywhere you want it! |
| * | Accommodation, transport etc. can all be taken care of |
| * | Ideal for bird groups, families, couples or individuals |
| * | Perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement etc. |
| * | Our expert guides have a wealth of local knowledge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Want your own Scottish wildlife-watching holiday or just a guide for a day or two in the Cairngorms National Park? You've come to the right place!
|
Guides
| We try our best to match your specific day guiding needs to the skills of our guides, to ensure you have the best day possible. We therefore have a pool of guides that we use, each with specific knowledge and interests. |
|
Guiding
| £140.00 Standard day
£175.00 Extended day
(includes transport) |
|
Packages
| Tailor-made packages, including accommodation, meals, transport etc, can be arranged to suit your budget - just ask and we’ll be delighted to put a quote together for you. |
|
Insects
| Biting midges occur in summer |
|
Weather
| Weather varies from cold to warm & sunny (-5°-25°C), with less rainfall than much of Scotland but snow possible in the mountains |
|
Walking
| Most walks will be on wide sandy tracks, except in the Cairngorms where terrain is more steep & uneven so walking boots are essential |
| | |
|
|
We’ve got years’ of experience in organising private wildlife tours, with a long list of delighted RSPB members’ groups, Wildlife Trust groups, families, couples and individuals who have experienced our exclusive packages - ten days, a week or just a day or two.
In such a vast area, where the special wildlife is thinly spread and elusive, you’ll benefit from our unbeatable local knowledge to track down the species you most want to see. We’ll judge the weather, know the terrain and most of all make it fun for everyone.
We’ll tailor the itinerary to find the species you most want to see or, if you’re not sure, show you all the best wildlife around Speyside or further afield. Some of our typical days might be:
Pine Forest - visit local pine forests for Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and other woodland birds, with chance of Red Squirrel.
Highland Glen - Visit a local glen to see Golden Eagle, Red Deer, Red-throated Diver, Red Kite, Ring Ouzel, Peregrine etc.
Moorland & Moray Firth - Explore moorland for Red Grouse, Black-throated Diver and Mountain Hare before visiting the Moray Firth for Osprey, seaduck and terns. There’s a good chance of Bottlenose Dolphin as well as Otter.
Cairngorm Moutains - Walk into the Cairngorms in search of Ptarmigan, Dotterel and Snow Bunting.
West Coast - Journey to the west coast for either: a private boat trip to view seabirds, including Puffin, plus Minke Whale, and search for Otter along the shoreline; or view White-tailed Sea Eagles and search for Otter on land.
Highland Experience - Travel deep into the Highland glens on this 4x4 safari, allowing you to get close to Red Deer, Sika Deer, Roe Deer and take photos.
Have lunch whilst looking for Golden Eagle and other raptors.
If you’re looking for a more complete package then our years’ of experience, first rate admin team and attention to every detail, make us ideally placed to organise your trip, wherever you want to go. We can:
* Book accommodation to suit your budget
* Advise on your travel arrangements
* Collect and return you to the airport or station
* Arrange your car hire
* Take care of packed lunches on your days out
* Recommend other local attractions and activities
* Organise your bird club’s all inclusive holiday
Just let us know when you’d like to come and what you’d like to see and we’ll soon put together ideas and prices for you to look at.
|
Just some of what we hope to see...
|
Red-throated Diver
|
Ptarmigan
|
Puffin
|
Otter
|
|
Black-throated Diver
|
Black Grouse
|
Dipper
|
Red Deer
|
|
Slavonian Grebe
|
Capercaillie
|
Ring Ouzel
|
Sika Deer
|
|
Red Kite
|
Dotterel (mid May-June)
|
Crested Tit
|
Roe Deer
|
|
Golden Eagle
|
Arctic Skua
|
Scottish Crossbill
|
Mountain Goat
|
|
White-tailed Sea Eagle
|
Great Skua
|
(Parrot Crossbill)
|
Bottlenose Dolphin
|
|
Osprey (April-mid Sept)
|
Guillemot
|
(Snow Bunting)
|
Common Seal
|
|
Merlin
|
Razorbill
|
Red Squirrel
|
Grey Seal
|
|
Peregrine
|
Black Guillemot
|
Mountain Hare
|
Minke Whale
|
|
Red Grouse
| | | |
"05.00am springtime in Aviemore, me and my wife are eagerly awaiting our guide John amidst the awakening birds in their chorus of springsongs. Spot on time comes our guide: "Hi I'm John, you must be Edwin & Anne-Marie. I suggest we start going and talk on the way". The aim is a Capercaillie lek. Rather than driving there straight John drives through the awakening forest and fields and brakes when two Roe Deer cross metres in front of the car. "Never mind the first one he say's, it's always the second you have to worry about". He planned a stop on the way from where two leks of Black Grouse are visible both at the same time. Birds are displaying on both places and we can hear their gurgling and rolling sounds, wonderful. Next stop is the long awaited Caper lek. After no wait we get lucky as well, two big Cocks displaying in full plumage of black, red, green and white with raised tails opposite each other, in between them only 2 metres. A childhood wish fulfilled. John and Speyside, thank you!!"
Edwin & Anne-Marie Schuurman
|
"The days guiding was excellent and provided great views of Red Deer, and we saw Crested Tit which we had never seen before. It wasn't so much what we saw it was the whole experience being with someone who had a love of wildlife and could inform us of all aspects of wildlife in the area. The day with our guide John prepared us for our week at Carrbridge and the surrounding area. It enabled us to make the most of our holiday and maximise wildlife spotting opportunities. I would definately use a Speyside Guide again as it was an excellent day out. Finally, I would like to compliment your guide for the wildlife hide, who's name escapes me. Although we were unlucky to see anything, he was outstanding. Extremely interesting to talk to, his knowledge off all the species, Pine Marten, Badger, Deer and much more was just fantastic. He was enthusiastic and informative, he is the sort of person you could sit and listen to for hours. We learnedt so much and even though we didn't see anything we still had a great evening. I am looking forward to visiting the hide again and hope he will be our host. Many thanks for the vouchers."
Janet Mew
|
"John's encyclopaedic knowledge and exemplary local knowledge combined to make sure all our wish list was well and truly met. In addition 4 Pine Martens in first ten minutes (in hide 2 days later) has left us wanting more."
Richard Lewis
|
"Friendly, knowledgeable and keen to deliver what we were looking for."
Mrs Gilfillan
|
"After two days with our guide John we had already observed many bird species on our 'wanted list' but no Golden Eagle and on our final day we spent many hours of patient observation along raptor valley. Suddenly, 3 dark spots could just be picked out rising over the mountain peak and we were rewarded with the view of three soaring and twisting eagles - two adults and a juvenile. This was not only exciting but also a rare sight, a fantastic climax to three brilliant days with Speyside Wildlife."
David Postill
|
"Excellent, very knowledgeable and friendly guide and it was excellent as I set the pace on how I wanted my day."
Mike Hems
|
"The guide kept me well informed on a wide range of subjects and was enthusiastic."
Kathy Elam
|
"The full day was a highlight but two particular events stand out. To watch Golden Eagle attack an Oystercatcher, miss, sit in close view for 15 mins, then be mobbed by Merlins, Buzzard and Peregrine was something I will never forget. A close sighting of a family of Parrot Crossbills... I would like to take this opportunity to thank Duncan for a wonderful day."
Tony Clarke
|
"Our guide made it clear we would move at our own pace and he was very knowledgeable about wildlife and many other areas of interest relating to the local area."
Mr & Mrs Carter
|
"Very friendly and informative, would not hesitate booking with John again and recommending him with others."
Linda Simpson
|
"It was my 50th Birthday and my wife promised me anything I wanted to try and ease the pain! I requested my 400th UK bird species. This was duly delivered in the form of Ptarmigan up in the snow covered Cairngorms. We had amazing views and even managed some photos. Thank you to Speyside Wildlife."
Mr & Mrs Powell
|
"Hi we really enjoyed our trips this year, the Evening Wildlife drive was fantastic. We had the Pine Marten three times, Fantastic!! The Highland Experience with Keith was superb with plenty of wildlife and a very very good experience - we were very, very pleased. Thank you."
Lynas & Brenda Neale
|
|
|
|
|