Summer Mammals and More

An all-inclusive wildlife watching holiday in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, based in our delightful converted ‘steading’ in Glen Feshie. We’ll be searching for Scotland’s prize mammals including Otter, Pine Marten, Mountain Hare, Bottlenose Dolphin and a day on the west coast for a boat trip in search of Minke Whale and seals. Expect plenty of great birds too, from eagles to shearwaters. Transport by minibus and boat. Includes some late nights, which will be compensated for by later starts.

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Trip Report

Tour DetailsItineraryKey SpeciesFeedbackAccommodationGallery

Leaders	Craig Round and Kate Mennie
Day 1	Arrive in Glen Feshie in time for an evening meal and a chat about our plans for the coming week. 7 nights at the Steading
Days 2-7	Wildlife and birdwatching exploration including Abernethy Forest, Dava Moor, the Cairngorms, the Moray Firth and West Coast
Day 8	After breakfast we say our farewells and depart

Walking	Time will be spent patiently watching and waiting with only occasional gentle walks of up to 1-2 miles. Walking boots are recommended but walking shoes are fine
Weather	The weather can vary enormously. During a typical week in this season we would expect mixed sun and showers, with temperatures in the range of 15-25ºC. It could be cooler on the boat trips. You may want to bring sunscreen.
Insects	Biting midges can occasionally be a nuisance by lochs and shores, especially in the west
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8.
Boats	Boat trips are in relatively sheltered waters and last 2 hrs (Moray Firth), 2½ hrs (West Coast)
General	Most days will finish very late - when our target mammals are most active - but will be compensated by late breakfasts
Accom	Double, twin and single ensuite rooms, the last single room will be in a self-contained flat 50 metres from the main building, Ballintean Mountain Lodge in Glenfeshie
Group	12

The first holiday of its kind and you tell us, still the best - with an evening hide visit, chance to see Beaver and two boat trips. We won’t leave out other special wildlife of the Highlands either.

	* A superb selection of Scottish mammals and other wildlife
	* Exclusive use of our evening wildlife watching hide for Pine Marten and Badger
	* An inshore boat trip for Bottlenose Dolphins
	* Exciting evening trip to see our newest mammal - European Beaver!
	* A West Coast boat trip for Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise, seals and more
	* Skuas, divers, shearwaters and a good chance of Otter
	* Eagles, Ospreys, Crested Tit, crossbills and Red Squirrels in Speyside


Day 1	Dinner together on Saturday evening starts the holiday, followed by coffee as we discuss the coming week.
Days 2-7	We may start the week with walks near our delightful Steading accommodation, where pale-tailed Red Squirrels can be busy in the tree-tops, and confiding Roe Deer often browse in the meadows. Or we may head up into the wild uplands in search of Mountain Hare. They are grey-brown at this time of year but may keep white feet or ears! Small groups of ancient Wild Goats are here and Golden Eagles hunt the mountain slopes while on the skyline the dramatic silhouette of Red Deer antlers encapsulate so much about the grandeur of the Highlands. After dinner on the second day, we’ll visit our baited hide to see elusive Pine Marten. Full of character, this cat-sized member of the stoat family emerges from the forest, revealing bushy tail and cream-coloured bib - a wonderful animal and a highlight of the week. This is also a chance to enjoy Badgers at very close quarters and perhaps deer too. In the ancient pines of Abernethy Forest we’ll look for Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill, with the chance of Common or Parrot Crossbill too, but Capercaillie and Black Grouse are very elusive at this time of year as they are mid-moult. On Cairngorm’s slopes, we’ll have a close encounter with Reindeer. Reintroduced many years ago, we will walk in with a guide to feed these delightful and friendly animals, while learning about their adaptations to the cold climate in which they live. One evening we have the exciting chance to see Scotland’s newest mammal - European Beaver. Introduced into Tayside they are doing well and are showing regularly at certain sites. We will learn how they are affecting the landscape and hopefully get to see one or two as they come out to feed at dusk. Using a bat detector we will see what species are flitting around the trees - Pipistrelle is most likely but other species such as Daubenton’s are possible too. On another day we will visit a private Estate for a fascinating insight into how such an area survives these days. This includes a visit to a large area of moorland, where we’ll see Red Deer and Red Grouse - both important species for such an estate and a focus on land management. We’ll spend a day on the Black Isle in search of Bottlenose Dolphins, both from land and on an exciting two hour boat trip. There’s nothing more thrilling than the sight of these powerful mammals breaching clear of the water and we stand good chances as they frequently come very close to shore at Chanonry Point and on our boat ride. We have a fast and very powerful boat, able to cover large distances if the animals are some distance away, and sometimes they seem to enjoy following in the wake or bow-riding. We’ll also watch for Common Seal, Harbour Porpoise and numerous seabirds, including various tern species, Eider and auks. Otters are at home in both fresh and seawater and we’ll search for signs and wait patiently at favoured lochs for a sighting of these sleek, playful creatures. While we know of a good freshwater loch near the Moray Coast, the tranquil West Coast sea-lochs offer our best chance. The scenery becomes more and more spectacular as you travel west and Otter activity here is linked more to the tides than the time of day, making them likely to be out in daylight. We have enjoyed wonderful sightings when they catch something too big to handle at sea and they bring it ashore to deal with. Birds such as Black-throated Diver and White-tailed Eagle are also likely here, plus Rock Dove, Twite, Raven and maybe Golden Eagle too. On this special West Coast day we’ll also experience an exciting boat journey into the realm of the Minke Whale. Heading out to sea to the north of Skye the scenery all around is breathtaking and we’ll surely see hundreds of Manx Shearwater plus Gannets, Kittiwakes and Guillemots. We’re likely to se Harbour Porpoise and both Grey and Common Seals too - but we’ll look out for ‘hurries’ of Kittiwakes and other birds over the water signifying a mass of fish below the surface and this is often where a Minke Whale may be found - a thrilling experience.
Day 8	After breakfast on Saturday we say our farewells.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Pine Marten	Reindeer	Black-throated Diver
Badger	Red Squirrel	Manx Shearwater
Otter	Mountain Hare	Merlin
Fox	Golden Eagle	Peregrine
Common Seal	White-tailed Sea Eagle	Red Grouse
Grey Seal	Sparrowhawk	Arctic Skua
Bottlenose Dolphin	Red Kite	Storm Petrel
Harbour Porpoise	Buzzard	Rock Dove
Minke Whale	Crested Tit	Black Guillemot
Red Deer	Slavonian Grebe	Pipistrelle Bat
Sika Deer	Osprey	Mountain Goat
Roe Deer	Red-throated Diver	Great Spotted Woodpecker
Mountain Goat

“Seeing the basking sharks alongside the boat was amazing. The scenery was fantastic. The drive over the grouse moors with the gamekeeper”
Jane Luckett

"The new visit to the Beaver hide was just incredible! I also love the night hide and getting up close with the mammals."
Emma Pearcey

"There are so many highlights to this holiday, it is difficult to know where to start. Seeing Dolphins, Minke Whale and Puffins off the coast of Gairloch, to seeing Osprey, Golden Eagles and White-tailed Eagles. Visiting the hide where we saw 5 Badgers and a Pine Marten , having our own Short-eared Owl flying display and seeing a deer chase Fox cubs. It's difficult to decide which bit was more exciting. Craig and Duncan are so knowledgable about all the different species and were so friendly and kind, this just added to making the trip quite so fantastic. I had an amazing holiday, so thank you all."
Felicity Tomlin

"There were a lot! The Steading and it's location. The food every day. Our guides, Craig & Duncan. Seeing the Pine Marten at the hide. Craig 'squeaking in' the Short Eared Owl, giving us brilliant views through our binoculars as it flew directly towards us! The Roe Deer chasing the fox cubs at Insh Marshes reserve. The very honest, informative and educational afternoon on Alvie Estate, with stunning scenery. Seeing the Minke Whale. Great views of Osprey and Sea Eagle."
Ronan Kane

"My holiday highlight was the rib ride surrounded by Bottlenose Dolphins at Cromarty whilst they were feeding and playing by jumping out of the water. A magical afternoon with these beautiful creatures. They were as interested in us as we were in them!"
Melanie Rogers

"In one week Craig and Chrissie managed to tick two life long ambitions off the list for me: Seeing Red Squirrel and then Dolphins in their natural habitat swimming freely, for me though the whole week was a highlight!"
Sarah Dyer

"The highlights for me were seeing mammals or birds I'd never seen before, which were a Long-eared Owl, a Marsh Harrier, a Pine Marten and Mountain Hare. It was also wonderful to see Golden Eagles and the rare and endangered Hen Harrier even though I'd seen both of these on a previous trip to Mull. I lost count of the number of times I said ' Wow' on this holiday."
Sheila Jones

"Having been collected from the station as we were arriving at the Steading seeing a pair of Roe Deer by the road side. I knew my week was off to a good start and I was right. Every day brought new delights. Thankyou to all those who plan and deliver such short periods of perfection!"
Kathleen Murray

"Seeing our first Red Squirrel driving into the Steading, we instantly knew it was going to be an excellent holiday."
Caroline & Paul Hastilow

"Ospreys particularly at the Steading. Pine Martens, and so much happening at the hide. Tawny Owl responding to Craig's distressed rabbit calls. Dolphins and sea bird colonies."
Christina Lowe

"Watching an Otter fish off the west coast for many minutes, coming ashore momentarily to curl up on a rock before returning to fish once more. Seeing a Pine Marten so close at the night hide. So good was the experience we repeated the trip the following week as we were still in the area."
Juliette Hatt

You only have to arrive at our beautifully converted Steading at Ballintean and you’ll know you’ve come to the right place. Few roads reach into the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park, but the one to Ballintean in stunning Glen Feshie – known as ‘the jewel of the Cairngorms’ – takes you into its very heart. Our 120 acres are flanked by pine forest, with the sweeping slopes of the Cairngorms rising up before you, just across the tumbling waters of the clear, rushing River Feshie.

Astonishing wildlife begins right outside the door and you can wander wherever you like. Crested Tit, Woodcock, Common Sandpiper, Dipper and Grey Wagtail can be seen, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and, regularly, Golden Eagle fly over. We have our very own forest hide and Osprey nest. Scottish Crossbill, Redstart and Red Squirrel are in our woods, Pine Marten visit our baited sites and Otter lurk along the river. It’s no wonder we hardly want to leave home each day.

It was designed with our holidays completely in mind and you’ll enjoy all the facilities of a small country hotel, simple elegant ensuite rooms, beautiful furnishings and a warm welcome that will linger with you long after you’ve returned home. It’s completely informal, but with all that you might need and the personal attention of all of us as hosts. There’s every chance to really unwind and it’s all yours for the week.

Each bedroom combines simplicity with individual character, comfort and crisp modern facilities. Windows enjoy every aspect of the glorious views, allowing sunlight to glance along timber beams and the wooden floors of the huge split-level lounge and natural history library.

Our ‘piece de resistance’ is the dining room’s magnificent table that we all eat around. It helps to create the relaxed informality that our holidays are renowned for and it’s a chance for us all to enjoy delicious meals prepared by our talented duo of chefs.

Mealtimes are something we take very seriously and, with a choice at dinner every night from a menu that uses the finest Highland produce, you’ll enjoy a real taste of Scotland amidst bistro-like surroundings. Our breakfast choice is imaginative and substantial, we can cater for a wide variety of dietary needs, and our carefully prepared choice of packed lunch each day includes home-bakes, fruit and hot drinks. All presented with a smile and attention to detail.

Our Steading is always a holiday highlight for our guests – we know you’ll love it

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