Badger Photography Hide

Our hide is dedicated to photographing badgers under natural conditions. During the summer months the nights are short, enabling you to photograph animals in daylight.
If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to email us.

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Cost	From £150
Exclusive Use	Only one booking per night, ideally for one person, but can accommodate two.
Group	Your booking confirmation will give extra handy hints about the evening so that you can maximise the enjoyment from your visit.
Times	Nightly during the summer months (May to September), to start approximately one hour before dusk. The animals are around for a maximum of three hours. The actual meeting time will be given on confirmation of booking.
Location	A meeting point map and timings are provided on confirmation of booking. Be aware that there are no toilet facilities whilst in the hide so apologies, no comfort breaks during the evening.
Public Transport	The hide is a short journey from Aviemore and although it is not on the local bus route, our local taxi company is aware of the location and guests can book directly with Aviemore Taxis 01479 811111. Your meeting point map provided on confirmation of your booking will give them the precise location.
Access	There is a short walk, less than 5 minutes on a wide track and then a downhill path, from the meeting point to the hide. Please remember to bring a torch, as the walk back to your car may be in the dark.
Clothing	Warm, non-rustling, subdued outdoor clothing and walking shoes are preferable. Advice on the “how to do it” for this hide’s location, is provided on confirmation of booking.
Insects	Can occur during the summer months, but not a problem when in the hide.

Our hide is dedicated to photographing badgers under natural conditions. During the summer months the nights are short, enabling you to photograph animals in daylight.

	* Ideal for single photographer use, although hide can accommodate two people
	* Photos are all in natural daylight in the summer months
	* Hide is halfway down a woodland hill, so many shots potentially at eye-level
	* Also potential for backlit pictures from the end of the hide facing the sunset
	* Scrim netting is provided with slits for lenses
	* Shelf and screw fitting for tripod head incorporated
	* Our guide will meet you and walk you to the hide location

Our Badger photography hide is located a short distance from Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park within a peaceful woodland setting. This allows you to photograph and watch these timid creatures from a respectful distance, as they forage the woodland floor and interact with each other in the early evening light.

The hide is bookable on an exclusive basis for an evening. No artificial light is provided, so higher ISOs are needed because of the woodland shade. The consequence of this will depend on the camera being used, but some examples of pictures taken are shown in the website gallery, with the lens/speed/aperture details given on a selection. Flash cannot be used under any circumstances. Tripods can be used, but they are not ideal. We advise the use of beanbags, or you can transfer your tripod head to a screw provided in the shelf.

Scrim netting is provided with slits for lenses. You will be very close to the badgers, so it is essential to be very quiet, although there is carpet on the floor to deaden sound. It is also important to wear non-rustling clothing. A fleece is ideal and much better than a waterproof jacket. The usual advice applies about wearing hats and gloves to make you less visible; even with scrim net, if a low sun is shining directly into the hide, any movement will be noticeable to the Badgers.
Our guide will meet you at the appointed time and walk you to the hide and ensure you are settled before leaving you for th evening.

Just some of what we hope to see..

Badger

"Seeing the group of Badgers coming out to eat their treats, especially licking the peanut butter off the bark of the tree! When it got dark we could still hear them munching on their peanuts. The Badgers surprised us as they were much more humble than we thought they would be"
Jerry Graham and Emily Moore

"We had 3 Badgers come out while we were in the hide. The Badgers were there (one, then later 2) for about 50 minutes. It was a thrill for us to watch them. We are from the USA, and I have only seen one in my life, and Bill has never seen one prior to this outing. (They are very rare in our country and live in remote inaccessible to the public places.)"
Ann Hendrickson

"Great to see our first Badgers albeit in pretty dark conditions so photos not great. But we saw 1 in some light, and another 2 younger-looking Badgers in the dark. Luckily weather was dry, not cold and no midges! Thanks for a great adventure!"
Pamela Burr

"All of it! Such a privilege to see Badgers like this"
Julie Morgan

"At one point we had 5 Badgers and it was just an amazing experience all round. Bait was placed well"
Steph Wallace

"Mum and two baby Badgers, and a quick view of Dad. Very special experience"
Helen Walker

"Seeing the group of three Badgers feeding, but we also enjoyed watching the mice and bats"
Angus Woodward

"The location was lovely photographically. With such a range of natural features and backdrops which were perfect in a Badger habitat. We didn’t see the little one but we had 4 busy Badgers"
Sorcha Lewis

"Watching the Badgers so close to the hide was magical!"
Victoria Pombeiro

"7 badgers showing up"
Zaneta Blaszczyk

"Brilliant close up photos of wild Badgers"
Paul Goodliffe