Courtesy of Northshots

CAIRNGORMS

Courtesy of Northshots

The Wildlife of the

Join the A93 from as it Leaving on the A939, keep From Grantown on Spey head out on Before leaving enjoy heads west along Royal Deeside. At an eye out for hunting the B970 to NNR, an early morning stroll through , follow signs to for hare and . the largest native Scots pinewood in Craigellachie NNR to spot the National Nature Reserve (NNR), Continue to and drop in Britain. View osprey on their treetop peregrine falcons, which regularly where the ancient Caledonian to the Glenlivet Estate Information nest at between April nest here from April to July. Head pinewoods house a wide variety of Centre to find out more about wildlife and August. The rare capercaillie can down the B9152 to the wildlife plants and wildlife including Scottish on the estate. Arrangements can be also be seen here at an organised park at Kincraig to see , a bird unique to Scotland. made (in advance) with “Glenlivet viewing hide, just after sunrise during wildlife, past and present, including A few miles further west, ospreys are Wildlife” for a guided early morning April and May. Scottish specialities wolves, bison, otters, wildcats and often seen fishing at Muir of visit to a lek in April and such as Scottish crossbill and crested more. Take a boat trip out on Loch NNR, where otters are also active. early May. Follow signs to Delnabo tit can be seen throughout the year in Insh to view the water birds and A Daytrip out with 1 “Walk Deeside” will andDay the spectacular 2 Ailnack Gorge, theDay forest nearby. 3 Go out for the day mammalsDay that 4 live around the loch. allow you to experience the upland Scotland’s largest glacial meltwater with a wildlife guide from “Speyside Now head south to haunts of red deer and golden eagle, channel. The area around the gorge Wildlife” or “ Wildlife & NNR near . This is one of or, for a less strenuous activity, join is home to roe deer, red squirrel, red Birdwatch Safaris” to see ptarmigan, Europe’s most important a “landrover safari” with a Balmoral grouse and red deer. Head out of dotterel and other mountain wildlife, where you’re likely to see lapwings, Ranger. Just beyond Ballater, follow Tomintoul on the B9008. About 3 or forest specialities, such as Scottish redshanks and curlews as well the narrow B-road to Loch Muick and miles along this road at Feith Musach crossbill and crested tit. Head to as oystercatchers, snipe and, in wildlife reserve, home during the spring is an excellent Rothiemurchus where one of their the winter, vast flocks of whooper to red deer and golden eagle. End place to see breeding lapwing, local guides can take you out to enjoy swans and greylag geese. Finally, for your day near at Mar Lodge curlew, redshank, oystercatcher and the special wildlife on the estate, or something a little different, end your Estate home to a variety of wildlife snipe. Continue past Tomnavoulin experience ospreys coming in to fish day at Falls of Truim just south of from red squirrels to red deer and and turn right through Tombae, at their fishery. Spend the evening which is a great spot for breeding waders. where roe deer and brown hare at Speyside Wildlife’s forest hide to salmon watching. browse amongst the birches. Stop at see animals that prefer coming out the end of the road by the River Livet after dark, such as pine marten and to spot dipper, grey wagtail, common badger. sandpiper and, during late autumn, spawning salmon.

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

1 Golden eagle ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Pine marten ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Osprey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Scottish crossbill ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Crested tit ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Black grouse ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Red deer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Ptarmigan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Red squirrel ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Dotterel ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

CAIRNGORMS The Wildlife of the www.wild-scotland.co.uk SCOTLAND Courtesy of Northshots CAIRNGORMS

Grantown on spey 7 2 The Wildlife8 of the Cairngorms National Park Aviemore 4 5 10 aberdeen 3 6 newtonmore 9 1 Courtesy of Northshots

Organisations not shown on the map are either regional initiatives or run holidays to the area, but are based elsewhere.

1 Balmoral Luxury Land Rover Safaris 5 Rothiemurchus Estate 9 Northshots Guided wildlife safaris on the Highland estate with walks, Wildlife and landscape photography holidays. royal Balmoral Estate. wildlife tours and hides. Tel: 013397 42534 Tel: 01479 812345 Tel: 01540 651352 www.balmoralcastle.com www.rothiemurchus.net www.northshots.com

2 Glenlivet Wildlife 6 Walk Deeside 10 Speyside Wildlife Off-road wildlife safaris and guided walks. Activity holidays and guided walks Wildlife watching holidays, guided day tours and in Cairngorms National Park. dusk wildlife watches in Cairngorms National Park. Tel: 01807 590241 Tel: 01339 880018 Tel: 01479 812498 www.glenlivet-wildlife.co.uk www.walkdeeside.com www.speysidewildlife.co.uk

3 the cairngorms centre 7 Bird Watching and Wildlife Club 11 Wilderness Scotland Visit Britain’s only herd of free ranging reindeer Accommodation for wildlife-watchers: Group and bespoke walking living in the Cairngorms National Park. The Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey. and activity holidays. Tel: 01479 861228 Tel: 01479 872526 Tel: 0131 6256635 www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk www.bwwc.co.uk www.wildernessscotland.com

4 Highland Wildlife & Birdwatch Safaris 8 Heatherlea ROUTE STATISTICS Guided wildlife safaris in the Wildlife watching holidays. Length 4 days / 3 nights Cairngorms National Park. Mode of transport Car Start Aberdeen Tel: 01479 811169 Tel: 01479 821248 Finish Newtonmore www.highlandwildlifesafaris.co.uk www.heatherlea.co.uk

CAIRNGORMS The Wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park www.wild-scotland.co.uk