Wildlife

Highland Your Detailed Itinerary Wildlife are many species of moorland birds nature interest on the east coast. You National Park hosts a Day 1 Day 3 to be found here. might see osprey fishing on Loch wealth of wildlife attractions, Fleet near Golspie, also noted for its including the Loch Garten Osprey Just south of Fort William on the A82, On returning to the mainland via the sea-duck, and there are numerous Centre, Rothiemurchus Estate, take the Corran Ferry across Loch Skye Bridge, go north, round Loch Day 5 places to observe wading birds and the Highland Wildlife Park, Linnhe for Ardgour, taking the A861 Carron, taking A896 for Shieldaig ducks, for example on the salt-flats Kingussie and the Cairngorm Continue north, taking the road to reach Loch Sunart via Strontian. and the Torridons, noting en route and beaches around Dornoch. Mountain Railway; spend the last (signposted) for Handa Island. This Around Loch Sunart are natural Rassal Ashwood, the most northerly two days of your tour exploring at nature reserve is noted for its seabird oakwoods, with a wide range of of its kind in Britain. your leisure. birdlife. Visit point, colonies, and nesting skuas and ’s most westerly landmark, By exploring the Torridon Hills, there divers. Days 8 & 9 the here offers a are excellent opportunities to view Continuing down the A9, look for red spectacular vantage point for bird red deer, with golden eagle also likely. The A838 reaches the north coast at kite on the Black Isle. Visit Chanonry and whale watching. Go east through Glen Torridon to the Kyle of Durness. Minibus trips go Point, where you can spot dolphins reach the National west to the lighthouse at Cape from the beach – pop in to the Nature Reserve, with a nature trail by Wrath. Walk from Balnakeil Bay to Dolphin and Seal Centre at North Day 2 (A832). see puffins at Faraid Head. Kessock first for the latest information on sightings and advice on the best Circle north through Moidart (A861) time to visit the Point. Continue to join “The Road to the Isles” for the Day 4 Day 6 beyond Inverness, southwards, to ferry port of Mallaig. reach the valley of the Spey and the Continue north beyond Gairloch, Inland lies the – a , Scotland’s The Mallaig-Armadale ferry link takes enjoying Loch Ewe (otters here) and unique habitat of peaty moorland largest. It includes the most extensive you to Skye – an excellent wildlife coastal views. Look for birds of prey, interlaced with small lochans, habitat area of high ground in Britain, much destination with a range of options e.g. merlin, from the road on the way for short-eared owl and hen harrier. The information contained in this publication is as supplied to of it only accessible on foot or ski. As VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge was from otter watching at Kylerhea, to to the Corrieshalloch Gorge – Sample it from the A897 at correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept well as sub-Arctic landscapes, it has a taking a wildlife or whale-watching there is good variety of woodland, Forsinard. no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015. variety of woodland habitats, most VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural cruise. with interesting plants. environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so notably pinewoods and extensive dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. heather moorland. Bird species range Cover: Red Deer © Laurie Campbell Take the A835 for . North Day 7 Additional photography: Laurie Campbell & RSPB again, explore the Inverpolly National from the high-level ptarmigan on the Reaching the coast road, A9 Nature Reserve with golden eagle, tops to smaller species such as southbound, there is also plenty of red deer and, perhaps, wild cat. There crested tit and Scottish crossbill. The

To search over 7,000 quality assured For information, inspiration and more accommodations, from bed and breakfasts itineraries online check out: to castles go to: www.visitscotland.com www.visitscotland.com The Highland landscape, wild and unspoilt, provides a range of habitats for wildlife, from the rich seas supporting whales and dolphins, to the high crag and moors, the territory of golden eagles. Though the chance of a casual sighting of seal or otter, red deer or red squirrel, eagle or hen harrier – or any of the other Highland specialities – is quite high anyway, this itinerary takes you to some of the very finest Highland Wildlife wildlife sites in Scotland, many of them nature reserves.

04-Highland wildlife_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/16/2015 1:03:56 PM SANDAY ROUSAY A966 1 © MFAtech Maps STRONSAY A967 www.digital-map.org A986 Kirkwall [email protected] Stromness A965 +44 (0) 207 871 1332 A964 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 A960 St Margaret’s Hope 0 12.5 25 50 Kilometers A961SOUTH Burwick RONALDSAY 0 5 10 20 30 40 Miles Gills Bay abster ARDNAMURCHAN LIGHTHOUSE Durness Scr A836 John o’ Groats VISITOR CENTRE – A lighthouse set Handa Melvich Port of Ness Island Bettyhill Thurso among spectacular scenery on mainland A857 A99 Britain’s most westerly point, enjoy 5 A838 Tongue A882 spectacular views of the and small Arnol RSPB Forsinard Wick isles or join in the centre’s whale watch. A836 Scourie Reserve 6 A858 Stornoway A894 Altnaharra A99 A866 h Callanish c A897 n 2 LEWIS i A894 Dunbeath M Lochinver Highland A859 e Loch h Shin A9 Helmsdale Wildlife T Lairg A835 A839 A839 Brora Tarbert A837 HARRIS Mellon Udrigle Golspie A868 Ullapool SCALPAY Aultbea A949 c h Dornoch Leverburgh i n A836 BERNERAY M Corrieshalloch Poolewe Tain e 4 Gorge KYLERHEA OTTER HAVEN Otternish t l Gairloch i t t h Lossiemouth L A832 A835 i r Viewing hide overlooks the Kylerhea GairlochLochmad Marinedy Life Centre & Cromarty F Cullen Fraserburgh A867 a y A941 Buckie Banff Macduff Narrows, between Skye and the mainland. ‘SailNORTH Gairloch’Uig CruisesA855 3 o r Achnasheen Dingwall A832 M Forres A990 Gardenstown Ideal otter habitat with resident wild otters. UIST Torridon A896 Nairn Elgin A95 A98 A87 Strathpeffer A96 Fochabers A981 BENBECULA North A941 A90 A850 A890 Muir of Ord Kessock A940 Keith A97 Turriff Dunvegan Beauly Craigellachie A947 A950 Portree A890 A948 A865 RAASAY INVERNESS ALLEYA95 A952 Peterhead Lochcarron A82 Daviot A920 A863 A833 A939 Dufftown Huntly SKYE Sconser Kyle of A9 Carbost A831 Grantown- SPEY V Ellon 3 SOUTH Lochalsh Drumnadrochit on-Spey A95 A941 A920 A975 A87 Urquhart A96 A920 UIST Glenelg Castle Carrbridge A938 Inverurie Loch GartenA97 A90 Lochboisdale Broadford Shiel Bridge Loch Tomintoul Alford C Kylerhea 7 Osprey Centre A851 A87 A887 Ness Aviemore A939 Isle of Eriskay Elgol Kylerhea A944 A944 ABERDEEN Canna 2 Fort Augustus Kincraig A9 Cairngorm MountainA980 M Armadale Otter Haven 10 Kingussie 8 Railway Aboyne A888 Invergarry NewtonmoreHighland Castlebay BARRA Rum Mallaig WildlifeRalia Park 9 Rothiemurchus Ballater Banchory Y Braemar Crathie A90 A86 A889 Estate A957 Eigg Arisaig Spean Bridge Cairngorms Stonehaven CM A830 GAIRLOCH MARINE LIFE CENTRE & Muck A82 Glenshee Ardnamurchan Loch National Park A90 A861 Loch A93 ‘SAIL GAIRLOCH’ CRUISES – Wildlife Shiel Fort William Ericht Blair MY Ardnamurchan Spittal of Edzell cruises where you may see Minke whales, 1 Acharacle Atholl Laga Corran Kinloch Glenshee A937 dolphins, porpoise and seals. Wildlife visitor LighthouseColl Rannoch Bruar A924 Brechin Kilchoan Glencoe CY Visitor Centre Strontian Pitlochry Kirriemuir Montrose centre. Tobermory Drimnin Ballachulish A934 A884 Aberfeldy A926 A848 A828 Forfar CMY Tiree Lochaline A826 A923 Glamis A933 Fishnish A827 Dunkeld A928 Loch Tay Blairgowrie Arbroath A15 K MULL Craignure Lismore Tyndrum Killin A923 DUNDEE 4 A822 A94 Carnoustie A849 Oban A930 A85 h A85 Lochearnhead PERTH Iona Crianlaric A85 Scone Loch A85 A919 Fionnphort A816 Awe Loch Lomond and the Crieff Seil Loch Earn A822 A913 St Andrews Luing A819 National Park A917 Auchterarder Cupar Inveraray A83 A82 Callander A9 A816 A823 A916 Crail A821 A84 M90 Glenrothes Ardgartan Dunblane A917 Anstruther A83 Tarbet A81 Kinross A814 Aberfoyle M9 A91 Leven JURA Crinan A815 Loch Lomond A811 A92 r t h o Alva Fi f Fo A886 Drymen Dunfermline Kirkcaldy r t h Lochgilphead A817 A875 Burntisland North Berwick Helensburgh STIRLINGBo'nessRosyth CORRIESHALLOCH GORGE A880 Balloch A198 Dunbar ISLAY Dunoon Gourock EDINBURGH Spectacular gorge, originally created by glacial A846 Colintraive Dumbarton Falkirk M9 A1087 Greenock M80 Linlithgow Haddington meltwater, with the magnificent Falls of Port Askaig Rhubodach M8 M8 Feolin Tarbert Portavadie Wemyss Bay Old Craighall A1 Measach at the end. Viewing platform and M8 M8 Coatbridge Dalkeith Kennacraig A78 Paisley Penicuik Newtongrange Eyemouth Rothesay A6112 suspension bridge. A847 Bowmore Claonaig A844 Largs GLASGOW Roslin A1 Motherwell A68 A846 Bute A760 A702 Millport Hamilton A706 A6105 Berwick-upon-Tweed Gigha A83 Lochranza A737 M77 A703 A7 A78 A701 A698 Port Ellen Tayinloan Ardrossan A721 ARRAN Kilmarnock A71 M74 Lanark A6089 Galashiels Irvine Peebles A72 A698 Coldstream 5 Carradale Brodick Biggar Melrose A699 Troon Kelso A1 A841 Mauchline A701 A699 Prestwick Abington Selkirk Ayr A70 A70 A698 Jedburgh A697 Campbeltown A76 Wanlockhead A708 Hawick A719 A77 A74(M) Sanquhar A6088 Maybole A76 A702 A7 A1 A77 Moffat A68 Girvan A1068 Ballycastle A713 Thornhill

A702 A76 A701 HANDA ISLAND – Offshore island with sea M74 Langholm E N G L A N D A68 A696 A714 A709 Lockerbie cliffs. One of the largest seabird colonies in A77 New Galloway A712 Dumfries A7 north west Europe. Ferry (from Tarbet) runs A712 A75 Gretna NEWCASTLE N O R T H E R N Cairnryan A75 Green April. Newton Stewart Castle New UPON TYNE Douglas Abbey A69 Gatehouse Gretna A69 Stranraer A75 A762 Dalbeattie Larne A751 of Fleet A194(M) I R E L A N D Wigtown A75 A710 Carlisle Portpatrick A77 A75 A711 A689 A755 A746 Kirkcudbright A716 A747 A596 M6 A167 A595 Port Logan Whithorn A686 A689 6 7 8 9 10A6 A689 Mull Of A591 A592 BELFAST Galloway M6 A66 A688 A1(M)

RSPB FORSINARD RESERVE LOCH GARTEN OSPREY CENTRE ROTHIEMURCHUS ESTATE – Guided walks, HIGHLAND WILDLIFE PARK, CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN RAILWAY Discover the birds and the plants of the Flow Close-up views in summer of nesting ospreys via safari tours plus many other outdoor activities. KINGUSSIE – Discover Scottish wildlife past Year round mountain railway, 150m below Country. Wildlife displays and guided walks. tv link. Discover the other birds of the native and present and explore themed habitats on the summit of Cairngorm mountain. UK’s Visitor centre. pinewoods. foot. The centre’s main reserve hosts wolves, highest and fastest. Shop, restaurant and wildcat, bison, beaver, lynx, capercaillie and mountain exhibits. more.