WILDLIFE AND BIRDS OF Fully Inclusive Wildlife Holiday in the North West Highlands of 8-15 JUNE 2013

Staying in the beautiful Glencanisp Lodge www.glencanisp-lodge.co.uk

Introduction

Experience an unforgettable week in one of Scotland’s most inspiring locations. Your highly skilled, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Ranger guides know Assynt and its wildlife inside out and will take you through a series of natural history wonders including visits to seabed colonies, remote beaches, limestone caves and amazing waterfalls, observing and explaining the sights of golden eagles, pine martens, black throated divers, whales and dolphins, deer, seals, otters and much more.

Return to Glencanisp Lodge for a relaxed evening at your leisure, or visit one of 's renowned restaurants and eateries for supper, and soak up the authentic local hospitality and culture.

The programme for the week is relaxed and flexible, and we will do our best to adapt it to suit the needs and wishes of the group.

Itinerary

Saturday 8 June: Arrival at Glencanisp from 4pm. Evening meal and slideshow, and introduction to the wildlife of Assynt.

Sunday 9 June: to beach coastal walk. This must be one of the most beautiful coastal walks anywhere in the world - from the silver sands and turquoise waters of Achmelvich beach through to the crofting township of Clachtoll through the wildflowers of the machair. We will be looking out for otters, harbour porpoises and other cetaceans, as well as red-throated divers, red-breasted mergansers, eiderducks, wheatears, twite and linnets. The clifftop rocks here are the oldest in , and we will also see the most ancient signs of life anywhere in Europe. We will see how communities have managed to hang on to life ‘on the edge’ over the past two thousand years, and hear stories of skeletons, ancient saunas and ‘catastrophic collapses’.

GLENCANISP LODGE Glencanisp, Lochinver, , Scotland IV27 4LW Tel: 01571 844100 Email: [email protected] The Assynt Foundation Registered Charity no. SCO36540

Monday 10 June: Boat trip to Handa island. A 20-minute boat trip to one of the best seabird colonies in Scotland, Handa has over thirty breeding species. Razorbills, puffins, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, arctic skuas and great skua (Bonxies) are all present and easy to see and photograph. On the north coast of the island, Torridonian sandstone cliffs tower 400 feet above the sea, where you can look for whales and dolphins as well as seals and basking sharks. Handa Island is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Tuesday 11 June: Eagle watching at Glencanisp. This walk up the Glen starts from Glencanisp Lodge and allows you to explore the 44,000 acre community-owned estate of Glencanisp and Drumrunie. We will be looking to spot the resident golden eagles, as well as searching for the breeding black-throated divers, greenshanks, golden plover, ring ouzel and merlins, as well as red deer and we will learn how the community of Assynt are managing the estate for wildlife.

Wednesday 12 June: Relaxing day. This will be a chance for you to take it easy and do your own thing. You can explore the village of Lochinver, visit the Assynt Visitor Centre or the Sealife Centre at the Lochinver Mission, and shop at the many local craft and gift shops – including the famous Highland Stoneware pottery.

Thursday 13 June: Bone caves and . Exploration around Inchnadamph – the largest area of limestone in Scotland. As well as the famous karst scenery and dry river beds, we will explore the famous Bone Caves, where modern excavations revealed bones of animals that inhabited this part of Scotland around the time of the last ice age, some 11,000 years ago, including brown bear, polar bear, reindeer, wolves, arctic fox, lynx and lemmings. Inchnadamph is also well known for its flora, including mountain avens, globeflower, holly fern and serrated wintergreen. This area is also one of the best areas to study geology; indeed it is the centre for Scotland’s first ever Geopark. If we have time we will visit visitor centre.

Friday 14 June: or alternative trip to Achiltibuie. For those who feel energetic and want to tackle it, we will climb Stac Pollaidh, one of the area’s most spectacular mountains. It is a two-hour walk to the top, where there is the chance of seeing ptarmigan, golden eagles, and ravens. But for those who would prefer, we will have an alternative shorter walk and visit to Achiltibuie or .

Saturday 15 June: Depart Glencanisp by 10am. Minibus service to Inverness if required.

Practical Information

Even in June, Assynt weather can be unpredictable, so please come prepared. The Scottish midge is not usually bothersome at this time of year, but it is advisable to bring repellent or headnets just in case.

GLENCANISP LODGE Glencanisp, Lochinver, Sutherland, Scotland IV27 4LW Tel: 01571 844100 Email: [email protected] The Assynt Foundation Registered Charity no. SCO36540

Please ensure you have suitable walking boots, waterproof clothing and a small rucksack. A reasonable level of fitness is expected but most of the time walking will be at an easy, relaxed pace. On Friday there will be an optional walk up Stac Pollaidh.

Who’s It For?

This holiday is for all ages and abilities to enjoy. Aimed at the natural history all-rounder, the week is all about relaxing in some amazing scenery and soaking up spectacular wildlife. There is so much to do and see, there will always be something for everyone.

Accommodation and Catering

As part of the Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates, which is owned and managed by the local community, Glencanisp Lodge is a traditional 12-bedroom Victorian hunting lodge, located in breathtaking surroundings below the iconic mountain of . Sleeping up to 30 guests, and featuring luxurious and spacious public rooms and bedrooms, you will have full use of all lodge facilities during your stay, and you will know that your stay here will help local people in this fragile and remote area of the Highlands.

Bedrooms in the Lodge fall into three categories and can be made up as twin or double rooms. Room categories are reflected in the overall price and are based on two sharing. Single rooms available at a supplementary cost.

Rate 1: Ensuite, front facing Rate 2: Ensuite, rear facing Shared bathroom, front facing Rate 3: Shared bathroom, rear facing

Meals are provided, based on a self-service breakfast (hot and cold), packed lunch and two-course dinner. Glencanisp Lodge is not licensed, so please feel free to bring your own wine if you wish.

Transport

Glencanisp Lodge is situated a mile and a half east of Lochinver village in North West Sutherland, 90 miles north of Inverness.

Transportation to Glencanisp is by car (plenty of parking available) or by minibus transfer from an agreed central point in Inverness (no extra cost). Inverness is accessible by air, rail or road, with connecting bus service to Ullapool and thence to Lochinver. Arrangements for meeting at the minibus will be given to you at the time of booking.

GLENCANISP LODGE Glencanisp, Lochinver, Sutherland, Scotland IV27 4LW Tel: 01571 844100 Email: [email protected] The Assynt Foundation Registered Charity no. SCO36540

Participants are encouraged to car share where possible.

Price (All Inclusive)

Room Rate Shared Single 1 £695 £895 2 £635 £835 3 £575 £775

*Please ensure you have adequate travel/holiday insurance in case of any problems.

Guides

Andy and Roz Summers Highland Council Rangers for Assynt

Andy and Roz have lived in Assynt for sixteen years. They have a young family and run a small croft at Clachtoll where they keep a flock of Hebridean sheep. Andy is the Highland Council Senior Ranger for Caithness and Sutherland. Roz has worked as Seasonal Ranger in Assynt since 1997.

Andy and Roz specialise in leading guided walks, working with local community groups on biodiversity projects, environmental education and providing information for visitors to the area, as well as promoting responsible access to the countryside.

Both dedicated naturalists with special interests in birds, plants, bats and cetaceans, Andy also does voluntary work for the Highland Raptor Study Group looking at Golden Eagles. For more details of the Highland Ranger Service, please contact:

Assynt Visitor Centre, Main Street, Lochinver Tel: 01571 844654 [email protected]

Additional Information

This is a popular week, and spaces are limited, so book quickly!

Contact Assynt Foundation on 01571 844 100 or email: [email protected].

GLENCANISP LODGE Glencanisp, Lochinver, Sutherland, Scotland IV27 4LW Tel: 01571 844100 Email: [email protected] The Assynt Foundation Registered Charity no. SCO36540