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Leaders
| We match your specific day guiding needs to the skills of our guides, to ensure you have the best day out possible. We therefore have a pool of guides that we use, each with specific knowledge and interests. You can book a standard day – 9am-5pm – or an extended day. Extended days can start early or finish late, depending on the species you would like to see. The full details on the itinerary tab tell you which days out work best as extended days. Your guide will suggest the best start time. It will be dependent on the time of year and the main species you would like to look for.
Please provide a mobile phone number on the booking form, so that your guide can get in contact with you two or three days before your due day out, to ensure all details in place. For extended days booked, this will include a suggestion of the best start time.
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Weather
| Weather varies from cold to warm and sunny (-5° to +25°C), with less rainfall than much of Scotland but snow possible in the mountains |
| Cost | £195 Standard day if booked online (£250 if booked manually via our office) max 8 hours
£250 Extended day if booked online (£295 if booked manually via our office) max 10 hours
Actual time to be agreed between you and your guide
(either day out includes transport for you and up to 6 companions)
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| Walking | Most walks will be on wide sandy
tracks, except in the Cairngorms,
where terrain is more steep and
uneven, so walking boots are essential.
Your guide will discuss walking options
with you beforehand |
| Options | Pine Forest
Cairngorm Mountains
Moorland and Moray Firth
Highland Glen
Woodland Walks
River Spey Walk
Our Cairngorm National Park
(more details about each day can be found on the itinerary tab)
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| Included | Wildlife guide on an exclusive basis
for you and up to 6 guests.
Transport for the day in comfortable
8-seater minibus or car |
| Insects | Biting midges occur in some places during the summer |
If you’ve only a day or two to spare, or you’d like to see
the wildlife of the Cairngorms but don’t know where to start,
then a day out with one of our wildlife guides is just for you.
| * | * Our expert guides have a wealth of knowledge about the wildlife of Scotland |
| * | * Book your own guide and comfortable minibus for up to seven guests |
| * | * Target the species you want to see in the Cairngorms National Park and wider area |
| * | * Collection from your accommodation or location of your choice |
| * | * Combine this with an evening at our wildlife watching hide |
| * | * Ideal for families, small groups, couples or individuals |
| * | * Perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement etc. |
| The Cairngorms National Park is home to some
of our most iconic but elusive species of wildlife.
Finding them in this vast and spectacular landscape
can be a real challenge, especially if you have
limited time or are unfamiliar with the area. Our
expert local guides know the area intimately, so
can take you to the best locations to help you find
the species you’d most like to see.
They can help you identify those species, recognise
different bird calls, show you how to use fieldcraft
and read animal tracks and signs. They can tell you
about the behaviour and general biology of the
species that you find in the Highlands, but most
of all they will ensure that you have an exciting,
fulfilling and rewarding day out.
We can provide an itinerary that matches your
specific wildlife wishes. Alternatively, if you’d just
like to see a diverse range of Highland species,
then leave that to us. On the day, we’ll judge the
weather and decide where the wildlife can be
found. In our comfortable 8-seater minibus we’ll
take you through different habitats, to find the best
wildlife. The day can include as much, or as little
walking as you’d like.
Two or three days before your day out, your guide
will contact you to discuss what you’d like to
see and any specific requests that you may have. They’ll also agree a start time with you. You’ll
be collected from your accommodation in the
Grantown-Aviemore-Kingussie area, or we can
pick you up from an agreed location. Standard
Days out last around eight hours (normally
9am-5pm) and extended days out last around ten
hours, with an early start or later finish.
To help you choose the best day, we’ve given you
our suggested itineraries, showing the habitat you’ll
visit and some of the species that can be found
there. These are our favourites, but if you’d like to
do something different, then please email us and
we would be very happy to advise.
If you’re staying outwith the Spey Valley, we can
organise an exclusive day out, subject to mileage
and guide availability and give you a specific price.
Pine Forest - Visit the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest
for Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Crested Tit, Scottish
Crossbill and other woodland birds. Mammals may
include Red Squirrel and Roe Deer. This itinerary
involves a degree of walking on good tracks and
trails through the forest. Wildlife can be found year
round, but the best seasons can be autumn, winter
and early spring. Autumn and winter can be some
of the best times to look for Capercaillie.
Cairngorm Mountains - Walk into the
Cairngorms for Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Dotterel
and Ring Ouzel. We take the funicular railway up
Cairngorm and have special permission to go out
from the top station on to the mountain and walk
to the summit. The walk is on good paths, but
does require walking shoes or boots and suitable
clothing. Wildlife can be seen on the higher
tops year-round. Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and
Mountain Hare are present all year; Ring Ouzels
arrive from mid-March onwards and Dotterel
are present from May until the end of August.
A longer walk into the Cairngorms on lower tracks
can also be taken dependent upon levels of fitness.
Moorland and Moray Firth - Explore the
vast open moorlands and windswept lochs
for divers, Osprey, Merlin, Peregrine, Red
Kite and Red Grouse, before heading to the
Moray coast for Osprey (during the summer),
seaduck, waders and terns. Dependent on tide
times, there’s a chance of Bottlenose Dolphin.
This itinerary involves more time driving, so may
be suitable for the less mobile. Divers can be found
on freshwater lochs during the breeding season
from April through to the end of September,,
when they relocate to the coast and winter on
the sea. The winter months on the Moray Coast
can be excellent for seaduck, including Common
and Velvet Scoter and Long-tailed Duck, as well as
wintering waders including Purple Sandpiper.
Highland Glen - Visit a spectacular local glen
for Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Peregrine,
Merlin, Ring Ouzel, Red Deer, Mountain Hare and
Wild Goats. We drive through spectacular scenery
into the heart of the mountains and then take a
low level walk further into the glen on good gravel
tracks. A broad range of wildlife, including the
eagles, can be found all year. The Red Deer rut
takes place from late September through October.
Woodland Walks - Local woods provide a tranquil
location to look and listen for Wood Warbler, Pied
Flycatcher and other woodland birds. Peregrine
breed on the crags and Ospreys are regularly
seen throughout the spring/summer. We can walk
to the viewpoint if you wish, to get stunning views
across to the mountains and surrounding glens.
This itinerary does require a reasonable degree
of fitness. The best time to visit for migrant birds,
is from late April through to August. We’ll combine
this location with another lowland wood further
along the Strath.
River Spey Walk - During spring or early
summer the famous ‘River Spey’ will be teeming
with birdlife; Dipper, Goosander, Grey Wagtail,
Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper and feeding
Swifts, Swallows and martins with a chance of Otter. In summer the riverbanks can be good for
butterflies, including Dark Green Fritillary. In winter,
the river provides a calm and tranquil place for
Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye and other
resident birds.
Our Cairngorms National Park - If you’ve never
been before and you want to see what makes this
place special, from the landscape, to the wildlife,
then just leave it to us. We know all the nooks and
crannies in the Cairngorms and the best time of
year to visit them. We’ll make sure we target the
Scottish specialities and leave more than enough
room to drink in the scenery and marvel at the
landscape. Golden Eagles in the glens, Red Deer on
the hills, Ptarmigan on the mountains and Crested
Tits in the forests; we can decide what’s best for
you. Our guides will discuss any preferences you
have and how much walking you want to do, when
they contact you before your day out.
Capercaillie Policy
Capercaillie can be found in the forests of the
Cairngorms National Park, but they are, for
whatever reason, a declining species that are easily
disturbed. We minimise any disturbance at crucial
times to help protect the birds, by adhering to the
following policies:
We won’t take guests to look specifically for
Capercaillie before 9.00am during the lekking
period (1 March - 31 May).
When going into Capercaillie habitat, we always
stay on marked tracks and paths and never go
looking off these.
When there is an alpha male (also known as a
‘rogue’ bird) in the area we won’t go to see this
bird. They are part of the lek, so we would be
‘knowingly’ disturbing them.
We suggest looking for Capercaillie through the
autumn and winter months, when the birds can be
easier to find. We won’t be disturbing them then
and young birds will have fledged and dispersed
into the forests.
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Just some of what we hope to see..
| Red-throated Diver | Capercaillie | (Snow Bunting) |
| Black-throated Diver | Dotterel (mid May-June) | Red Squirrel |
| Slavonian Grebe | Guillemot | Mountain Hare |
| Red Kite | Razorbill | Otter |
| Golden Eagle | Black Guillemot | Red Deer |
| White-tailed Sea Eagle | Puffin | Sika Deer |
| Osprey (April-mid Sept) | Dipper | Roe Deer |
| Merlin | Ring Ouzel | Mountain Goat |
| Peregrine | Crested Tit | Bottlenose Dolphin |
| Red Grouse | Scottish Crossbill | Common Seal |
| Ptarmigan | (Parrot Crossbill) | Grey Seal |
| Black Grouse | | |
"We had always wanted to see a Black Grouse lek and Simon did not disappoint us. The fact that it had snowed the day before, showed the grouse up even better. We had visited Speyside before but there were still certain iconic species which we had not seen, including Slavonian Grebe, Goosander and Ring Ouzel, Simon managed to find us all three. We saw much else besides and altogether it was a great day out."
Stephen Megahey
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"I enjoyed the mix of elevations and habitats that we experienced in one day. The highlights were seeing Capercaillie tracks, seeing Snow Buntings up close, and likewise seeing the Red Grouse up close. But especially I appreciate the breadth and depth of the Jack's knowledge..... from geology to natural history to cultural history... yet he was an excellent birder."
Jonathan Pope
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"Simon was FANTASTIC. The first day he gave me an overview of the tour. Daily he would let me know about the plan for the day and activities such as hikes. I loved the hike to the top of Cairngorm Mountain to see the Snow Bunting during which we were pelted with dry ice-like snow and gale winds. Hikes into the forests were wonderful. Simon endeavored to find as many of the target birds on my list as possible. He did a really good job.
Black Grouse on Lek with males and females. Great Spotted Woodpecker and Red Squirrels at feeders at the Pottery. Red Kite - really really great views in glen (ask Simon where). Ringed Ouzel - saw on my own on the way down the funucular (tram). Rock Ptarmigan - climbed to the top of Cairngorm Mountain only to have them at the Ptarmigan Building. HaHaHa. Slovonian Grebe - male starting to practice mating 'dance'. I had 16 life birds which I think is great. I've been birding in Ireland several times (family there) so had seen some birds there previously.
If I come back to Scotland, I'll be certain to contact Speyside wildlife and head to western Scotland."
Sharon Kirkpatrick
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"Crammed a lot into 8 hours, which was rewarding. We will remember it as one of the most memorable days of our 35 years of visiting Speyside. Black-throated Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Golden Eagles, Wild Goats, 16-point Red Deer stag and beautiful Strathdearn."
Michael Dawson
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"Duncan was brilliant. Fully involved us in his decision making and reasoning as to why we were going to a certain place at a certain time. A very collaborative experience. For us Duncan is up there with the very best of the guides we've used over the past 15 years. His interest and knowledge about a wide range of elements of nature and the area we birded in made the 3 days we spent with him fascinating and educational - and he was generally very good company - and certainly knows how to find a good cafe, something we rate very highly!
Seven Black Grouse leking on the first morning and then a single Black Grouse close to the road the second day - excellent views. Watching a White-tailed Eagle swooping down on an unfortunate Red Grouse. Watching Duncan and Richard stalking a Mountain Hare...he knew they were there from the very start and waited for them to lie down on the wet ground before he made his move!"
Richard & Karen Gordon
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"Simon, our guide, was so knowledgable, not only about the wild life, but about the landscape and Scottish history in general. He had the answers to all of our questions - no matter how silly or obscure. We saw so many amazing species, it's hard to pick a favourite highlight in particular. We saw a herd of about 70 stags at the top of a hill which was pretty magical, and another herd proceeding in a line through the snow up a mountain. We saw a couple of Golden Eagles from a very long way away. And seeing a couple of Mountain Goat sparring was pretty cool too. But I think my most favourite part was seeing a little fat Red Squirrel sat in a tree very close to us, with a Crested Tit less than a couple of feet away."
Holly Nowell
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"Seeing no fewer than five Golden Eagles, several in the air together, along with a White-tailed Eagle! That was pretty special. Managing to track down one of the few remaining Waxwing in the area was an added bonus, as was a lovely close-up view of a Snow Bunting."
Marc & Katy Read
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"Simon was an excellent guide, taking us to sites we would have missed unaided. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him."
Neil Bird
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"We thoroughly enjoyed Sally's company and benefited greatly from her knowledge and expertise on the birds, mammals and flora of the Highlands."
Susan Grey
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"Sally was FANTASTIC. SO knowledgable and she had gone above and beyond in trying to get us to see all the things we asked for. She made sure each of us got the best experience possible."
Susan, Robert & Alice Logan
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"Starting with a walk in the Caledonian pine forest was wonderful and it helped that it was sunny before the fog came and breeze came in. We both got great looks at the Crested Tit. We saw some very typical birds and enjoyed looks at two different types of hare and Red Deer standing on the mountain. We met up and chatted with a real Scottish gamekeeper and saw a fellow herding his sheep with his dog. At the end of the day we had great looks at grouse. The scenery was beautiful and we saw what we could given the time and the season."
Patty & Andy Towle
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"Simon was superb. He was very engaging and knowledgeable, particularly with William (14 years old). He took on board our wish list for wildlife while being realistic about what could be achieved and creating the opportunity to see other wildlife we hadn't anticipated. Ahead of the day, Simon was very communicative via email giving us confidence in the activity in advance. William rated him A+."
John & William Tobin
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"On my birthday we visited Chanonry Point, in the Moray Firth and true to his word Simon found us dolphins with the weather being superb and water like glass. What fantastic memories for my 60th."
Frances Perry
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"Our guide. Blackcock at dawn. Capercaillie female in a tree. Ptarmigan outside the Ptarmigan Restaurant on Cairngorm. A displaying Golden Eagle (at a distance). 4 species of deer. Polecats and Badgers. Finding Black-throated Divers after a lengthy search. New sites, to which we had never been before on at least 6 previous occasions. Being led excellently rather than having to do the leading."
John Wyatt
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"Lying in the snow looking at a Ptarmigan. Watching three female Capercaillies fly in front of us. The walk on the Saturday morning to see the Capercaillies. Just being outside in such beautiful landscapes - we all enjoyed the walks a lot. Saturday in particular was an excellent day."
Willow Grylls
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"Amazing views of a male Capercaillie flying off through the Abernethy forest. Dawn Black Grouse lek against calm, crystal clear skies and snowy mountains."
Ian Callender
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"My main objective was to find a Scottish Crossbill and show it to one of my American friends with a very large world bird list. Simon chose to look in Abernethy - and we were successful including recordings of the bird. My friend also keen to see the sub-species of birds that occur only in Scotland, and we achieved this for all but two of the Speyside species (and found those on the following day)."
Mark Tasker
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"All the trip was excellent"
Susan Kelly
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"We had a wonderful day learning about Scottish wildlife with Duncan"
Pam Watters
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"The highlight had to be seeing a Golden Eagle for the first time, especially as we'd been waiting a while and it was beginning to look as if we wouldn't be lucky. Watching it soaring overhead is something we'll always remember. It was also wonderful to see parts of such a beautiful area that we wouldn't have visited by ourselves. Duncan is a wonderful guide, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable and we learned so much. He's great company and his advice helped us enjoy other days of our holiday."
Alastair & Fran Jepson
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"Ospreys, birds in general and just being with someone who had superb local knowledge and was able to bring everything and everywhere to "life". Duncan was superb and would highly recommend him and Speyside Wildlife to anyone."
Richard & Charlotte Russell
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"Duncan was incredibly knowledgeable not only about birds and wildlife, but also an array of other issues of land, geology and wider issues impacting on the environment. This really helped us understand many issues. He was able to keep the entire group interested on an array of different subjects. We all thoroughly enjoyed the day out and he helped us go to places where we might see other birds such as Ring Ouzels and Crested Tits. We also managed to go on walks he recommended which we may have not known about and managed to see more Golden Eagles, a great treat. For me, I had never seen a Tree Pipit, for others seeing deer, Golden Eagles, hares, various birds. A lovely walk across various terrains and habitats and having a knowledgeable and entertaining guide."
Chris Holroyde
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"Very enjoyable day trip to the west coast of Scotland. Different landscape, very picturesque. Given ample opportunities to take photos. Duncan was very good pointing out wildlife, and also gave information regarding the landscape and history of the area. The main highlight had to be the sighting of a White-tailed Eagle soaring up into the clouds."
Paul Webb
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"Having a guide (Tim) who was as enthusiastic as we were made our day out even more enjoyable."
Steve Hay
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"We had a most productive and enjoyable day out once again with John Picton. The day started with a visit to a Black Grouse lek, which was fascinating to watch through the scope John set up for us. Then it was up to Cairngorm Mountain to look for the bird that was at the top of our wishlist for the trip - the Ptarmigan! It was so busy up there with skiers due to it being the school holidays and the slopes having been closed the day before, so I wasn't too sure how successful we would be, however as always John managed to come up trumps and found a number of Ptarmigan on the mountain, as well as Red Grouse and Mountain Hare...fantastic!
Following the mountain excursion we did try to find the last of the four british grouse species - the Capercaillie, but this time we were unlucky. However three of the four species for us was great, especially as we had had such a lovely Capercaillie sighting with John the previous year.
It was a pleasure to be out with John again and for him to share his vast wildlife knowledge with us throughout the day. A huge 'Thank you' from us all!"
Sue Berry
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"Two life birds: Crested Tit and Dipper. Great views of Brambling and of many of the regular local birds. Hiking throught the forest in a serious snowstorm."
David Mackenzie
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