SCOTLAND Borders, Edinburgh & Fife

Courtesy of Martin Webb A Stone’s Throw from Edinburgh: Puffins, Gannets and Salmon Courtesy of Philiphaugh

There’s plenty of wildlife and From Selkirk, head east Follow the coastal road north Today, head across to the Heading back to Edinburgh, nature to see in the heart across country to St Abbs from St Abbs, stopping at Firth of Forth and explore stop at the picturesque of Edinburgh. Take a short Head National Nature the lovely dunes of Dunbar the Kingdom of Fife. Take village of Elie and walk out walk up the Water of Leith Reserve. Run by the National on the way. Further on from the Isle of May ferry (check to Kincraig Head. This is a for a chance to see dippers Trust for Scotland, the Dunbar is the pretty town website as sailing times vary) wonderful site for wildflowers or climb up Arthur’s Seat if reserve is home to thousands of North Berwick which is from Anstruther and visit the such as sea campion and you have time. Then head out of guillemots, kittiwakes, home to the Scottish Seabird magnificent Isle of May. This rockrose on the basalt on the A68 towards Melrose razorbills, shags, fulmars, Centre. Open all year, this National Nature Reserve is cliffs. If you’re feeling more and Selkirk. Philiphaugh puffins and herring gulls award-winning visitor centre, home to tens of thousands of adventurous, have a go at the Estate just outside Selkirk during the summer (April cafe and shop explores the seabirds during the summer, ‘Elie Chain Walk’. Head back is an excellent wildlife spot, to August). One of the best wildlife-rich islands of the including puffins, razorbills, to Edinburgh over the Forth particularlyDay for1 spotting waysDay to experience 2 the FirthDay of Forth. 3 One of the main ternsDay and shags. 4 It’s also a Bridge.Day 5 salmon. There’s a visitor magnificant Berwickshire attractions is the Bass Rock popular pupping spot for centre and restaurant and coast is on a landrover safari. which during the summer is grey seals in the autumn. you may spot otters, red Join Clifftop Discovery and home to over 80,000 pairs squirrels, roe deer, badgers, explore the coast, including of North Atlantic gannets. foxes, hares and a whole host the geological site of Hutton’s That’s almost 10% of the of native birds. classic ‘unconformity’ at world population on one rock! Siccar Point. You can get a closer look at the islands by joining Seafari Adventures boat trips from the Seabird Centre.

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

1 Salmon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Otter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Red squirrel all year but best winter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Kittiwake ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Gannet ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Fulmar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Puffin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Razorbill ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Grey seal all year but best in autumn ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Dipper ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Borders, Edinburgh & Fife A Stone’s Throw from Edinburgh: Puffins, Gannets and Salmon www.wild-scotland.co.uk SCOTLAND anstruther 1 Borders, Edinburgh & Fife

North Berwick 5 6

A Stone’s6 Throw from Edinburgh: Puffins, Gannets and Salmon Edinburgh

2 4 St Abbs head

Courtesy of Northshots

3 selkirk

ROUTE STATISTICS Length 5 days / 4 nights Mode of transport Car Courtesy of Northshots Start/finish Edinburgh

1 anstruther pleasure cruises 3 philiphaugh salmon viewing centre 5 scottish seabird centre Wildlife watching boat trip to the Isle of May National Visitor centre and nature trails near Selkirk. Visitor centre about the wildlife of the Bass Rock Nature Reserve in the Firth of Forth. and the islands of the Firth of Forth. Tel: 01333 310054 Tel: 01750 21766 Tel: 01620 890202 www.isleofmayferry.com www.salmonviewingcentre.com www.seabird.org

2 clifftop discovery 4 press mains cottages 6 seafari adventures (forth) Guided off-road safari tours exploring the beautiful Self-catering accommodation. Wildlife watching boat trips to the Isle of May and Berwickshire coast. Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts. other islands in the Firth of Forth. Tel: 01890 771838 Tel: 01890 771310 Tel: 0131 3314857 www.clifftopdiscovery.co.uk www.watchbadgers.co.uk www.seafari.co.uk

Borders, Edinburgh & Fife A Stone’s Throw from Edinburgh: Puffins, Gannets and Salmon www.wild-scotland.co.uk