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Wild Land and Wildlife

Courtesy of Northshots

The wild and rugged north coast Leave on the A9 heading Today is a day of cycling (or walking) Let someone else do the work of Scotland is fantastic for wildlife north. For a scenic diversion, head around Loch More, a truly wild place. today by taking a boat trip out in watching. Head west on the A836 with across the Black Isle towards the By car, turn off the A9 at Mybster, and the Pentland Firth. The turbulent fabulous views over the Atlantic. The picturesque village of Cromarty and travel southeast through Westerdale Pentland Firth is home to a wide dune grasslands at Strathy Bay and take the summer ferry across the on the B870. Pass Strathmore Lodge variety of species and the rocky Strathy Point are rich in rare plants, Cromarty Firth to Nigg. The ferry runs on the left and continue to the head outcrops and promontories along including the rare Scottish primrose. from May to September. Keep your of the loch, bearing right just before the coastline provide ideal ledges for From the cliffs you can enjoy watching eye out for bottlenose dolphins which the fishing lodge at Lochmore nesting seabirds. Whales, dolphins, seabirds and cetaceans. are regularly seen in the Firth. Cottage. Park your car in the area puffins and other seabirds are just before the cattle grid. From here, commonly seen during the summer Continue on to Tongue Bay where From Nigg, follow the B9175 and there is a 20 mile cycle or walk along and if you’re lucky you may spot orca you may see seals and waders rejoinDay the A 9 1heading north. Good goodDay forest tracks,2 keeping an eye whichDay are seen 3 from May onwards. suchDay as dunlins, 4 redshanks and places for breaks are Loch Fleet out for golden eagles and red deer. herons. Head south on the A836 and (see John o’Groats itinerary) and The spectacle of Loch More with If you have time when you get Ben Loyal, the ‘Queen of Scottish . At Latheron, the road Morven, the highest mountain in back, visit Achvarasdal Woods (grid mountains’ comes into view. Travel bears left to across the Caithness (2315ft) in the distance is reference NC 983 649). Just off the down to Altnaharra and if you have Causewaymire, an expansive peat magnificent. On reaching Altnabreach A836 heading west, this site with its time go along the shores of Loch bog, home to sphagnum moss, station, bear left, pass Loch Dhu and network of all-ability paths is a great Naver on either the B873 on the sundew and red deer. Just after continue to Dalwinnan. Bear left place to spot spotted flycatcher, north side or to Klibreck on the south Mybster, stop at Achanarras Quarry again to complete the circular route. twayblade orchid, common hawker side. You’ll need to double back and which is world-famous for the fossil It is easy cycling throughout but and meat-eating sundew. continue south on the A836 through fish that are found there. The fish make sure that you have a map and Strath Vagastie to Lairg. lived in the Devonian period about compass and prepared for changes 380 million years ago. in the weather. From Lairg either take the A839 to Balblair Wood and on to the A9 south, or continue on the A836 through Crossing the by train is a fabulous trip to take... Bonar Bridge and the Fairy Glen at The sprinter train leaves Inverness and travels along the coast to Helmsdale after which it turns inland and stopping at Spinningdale and then to Clashmore remote stations such as Kildonan and Forsinard. Watch out for the red deer, eagles and otters. Stop off at Forsinard to join the A9. Either way you will be and enjoy a walk at the RSPB reserve and visitor centre where there is the dubh lochan trail. Alternatively you can rewarded with magnificent scenery disembark at Altnabreach and walk down to . and wildlife watching opportunities.

Wildlife Highlights Jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sept oct nov dec

1 Bottlenose dolphin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Common hawker ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Common seal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Golden eagle ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Grey heron ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Orca (killer whale) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Puffin Can be seen all year ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Red deer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Twayblade orchid ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Scottish primrose ✓ ✓ ✓

Caithness & SUTHERLAND Wild Land and Wildlife www.wild-scotland.co.uk 1 John o’ groats SCOTLAND thurso Orkney 5 caithness & SUTHERLAND

Wild Land and Wildlife

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3 inverness

ROUTE STATISTICS Length 4 days / 3 nights Mode of transport Car Organisations not shown on the map are Courtesy of Martin Webb Start/finish Inverness either regional initiatives or run holidays to the area, but are based elsewhere.

1 Dunnet Head Educational Trust 4 north tourism 5 orcadian wildlife Small charity promoting Tourism association for the North Highlands. Wildlife watching holidays on the Dunnet Head area. Orkney and Shetland. Tel: 01846 851774 Tel: 07970 027741 Tel: 01856 831240 www.dunnethead.co.uk www.northhighlandsscotland.com www.orcadianwildlife.co.uk

2 Ecoventures holiday companies Wildlife watching boat trips from Cromarty on the . C-N-Do Scotland Speyside Wildlife Tel: 01786 445703 Tel: 01479 812498 Tel: 01381 600323 www.cndoscotland.com www.speysidewildlife.co.uk www.ecoventures.co.uk Heatherlea (Scotland) Wild Green Travel Tel: 01479 821248 Tel: 0131 4786500 www.heatherlea.co.uk www.wildgreentravel.com 3 Red Kite Tours North West Frontiers Wilderness Scotland Tel: 01997 421474 Tel: 0131 6256635 Wildlife tours throughout the Highlands www.nwfrontiers.com www.wildernessscotland.com with wildlife guide, Jonathan Willet. Scottish Cycling Holidays Wildoutdoors Tel: 07740 216595 Tel: 01250 876100 Tel: 01350 727201 www.redkitetours.co.uk www.scotcycle.co.uk www.wildoutdoors.info

Caithness & SUTHERLAND Wild Land and Wildlife www.wild-scotland.co.uk