Leaders

Sally Nowell and Ailie Brown

Day 1	Arrive in the Cairngorms, 4 nights Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel
Days 2-4	Explore the Cairngorms National Park including Abernethy Forest, the River Spey and the mountains and moors
Days 5	Leisurely drive down Loch Laggan, past Ben Nevis, before taking ferry to Mull
Day 6-9	Birdwatching and wildlife exploration of Mull, including a trip to Iona, the Gribun Cliffs, Loch na Keal and Loch Scridain 5 nights Isle of Mull Hotel
Days 10-11	Catch a different ferry and travel back to the Cairngorms for 1 night, Tigh na Sgiath Country House Hotel

Walking	Most walks are 1-2 miles on wide sandy tracks, although there is the possibility of a forest walk of up to 4 miles. Coastal walks on uneven terrain of 2-3 miles. Walking boots recommended and collapsible/telescopic walking poles could be useful
Weather	Varies from cold to warm and sunny, with windy weather regular on the isles (0°-15°C)
Insects	Biting insects are unlikely to be a problem, but you may wish to bring repellent
Meals	All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 11
Accom	Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite or private facilities
Group	12

The best of Speyside’s birds and mammals, plus the magic of the Isle of Mull, perhaps the best place in the UK to see Otter and White-tailed and Golden Eagle.

	*   Prime time in the UK’s White-tailed and Golden Eagle hotspots
	*   Visit the Caledonian Pine Forest looking for Red Squirrel, Crested Tit and crossbill
	*   Early morning visit to witness the spectacle of Black Grouse
	*   Explore the some of the wildlife hotspots in the Cairngorms National Park
	*   Visit to Mull in search of the enchanting Eurasian Otter
	*   Short-eared Owl, Hen Harrier and potential for three diver species in breeding plumage!
	*   A trip to the beautiful island of Iona

Day 1	Dinner together on Wednesday evening begins this holiday at our base in the Cairngorms, at a delightful country house hotel, where we’ll discuss the itinerary for the days ahead.
Days 2-4	We’ll visit the ancient pines of Abernethy Forest, a remnant of the ‘Great Wood of Caledon’, in search of dainty Crested Tits and parties of crossbill. We’ll also make a special effort to see Black Grouse as they ‘bubble and coo’ at dawn - a fabulous spectacle. Red Squirrels are abundant in the forest and our summer visitors will be starting to arrive, with Redstart, Tree Pipit and Willow Warblers all in full voice. At dusk we’ll pay a visit to our mammal hide hoping for close views of Pine Marten and Badger. Ospreys have just returned and are settling in at local eyries. Sand Martins, Swallows and House Martins sweep low over the lochs after arriving back from Africa. The River Spey holds Dipper and Grey Wagtail and maybe an early returning Common Sandpiper, while Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher and Snipe are calling and ‘drumming’ in display over marshes, where odd lingering Whooper Swans gleam white amongst the flooded watery landscape. Rare and exquisitely plumed Slavonian Grebes and beautiful Red-throated and Black-throated Divers in immaculate summer plumage, are beginning their return to remote breeding lochs. On the wild moors of Dava and the Monadhliaths, newly arrived Wheatears add a flash of colour to the moorland, along with the cackling of Red Grouse and the mournful piping of Golden Plover. We shall scour the moorlands and hillsides in search of Mountain Hare, as their coats change from pure white to their mottled spring colouring, allowing them to hide more easily from hunting raptors including both Golden and White-tailed Eagles In the Cairngorm foothills we shall be hoping to catch the sight and sound of the beautiful Ring Ouzel. If weather allows we may be able to walk into some of the lower boulder fields in search of Ptarmigan. Along the River Spey we enjoy views of Dipper, Grey Wagtails and stunning courting Goldeneye.
Days 5-9	Leaving the Cairngorms, we’ll drive down the shores of Loch Laggan, past Ben Nevis, just outside Fort William and continue down the coast to Oban, before catching an afternoon ferry to the Isle of Mull, often getting some good bird and cetacean views enroute. We’ll be able to immerse ourselves in Mull’s wildlife immediately when we arrive, as our hotel is on the shoreline of the Sound of Mull. From our base, we’ll explore the rocky coastline, moors and dramatic mountainous glens looking for Eider, Merlin, Raven, Twite, Great Northern Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Rock Dove, Hooded Crow, Common Crossbill and Black Guillemot, with the chance of rarer seaduck and white-winged gulls such as Glaucous and Iceland. Common and Grey Seals will be hauled out on numerous skerries. Early spring is a great time to watch eagles soaring and displaying over their territories, Mull is without doubt one of ‘the’ best places to see both species of eagle in Britain. Coniferous woodland holds Siskin and sometimes Common Crossbill. Along the rugged shorelines we shall be constantly looking for views of Otters, such engaging animals, as easy to see here as anywhere in Scotland. Although the island is rightly famous for its eagles, we shall be looking for other upland raptors as well. Hen Harrier, Merlin and Short-eared Owl frequent the moors, hillsides and estuaries. Peregrines patrol the sea cliffs around Gribun, while family parties of Raven fill the air with their cronking calls. We’ll take the short passenger ferry to the beautiful white sandy beaches of Iona. A chance to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this tranquil island. A visit to the abbey is possible, or a walk to a beach to look for charming Ringed Plover, Eider, Turnstone and Sanderling.
Day 10-11	Leaving Mull, we’ll catch a morning ferry across to the Morvern Peninsula and take a spectacular drive back to Speyside, with plenty of time to birdwatch as we go. We have another opportunity to look for Otter, with chances of Harbour Porpoise, divers and eagles as well. We arrive back in the Cairngorms in time for dinner. On the last morning we’ll breakfast together before saying our farewells.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Great Northern Diver	Black Grouse	Black Guillemot
Black-throated Diver	Hen Harrier	Glaucous Gull
Red-throated Diver	Short-eared Owl	Ring Ouzel
White-tailed Eagle	Ptarmigan	Otter
Golden Eagle	Snow Bunting	Pine Marten
Crested Tit	Whooper Swan	Merlin
crossbill	Slavonian Grebe