Courtesy of Northshots

WESTER ROSS

Courtesy of Martin Webb

West Coast Wildlife Experience

Leave on the A835 to is a lovely place to spend a Leaving Gairloch heading south you’ll Get off the beaten track and follow Ullapool, keeping an eye out for deer couple of days and one of the best pass beautiful and Beinn the single track coastal road from on the hill tops (or side of road during places to see whales and dolphins. Eighe National Nature Reserve. The to (which is the winter). At Braemore Junction, Take a boat trip wildlife and whale- loch is home to rare black throated a great lunch stop). The road from turn onto the A832. Just past the watching from the harbour or head divers whose eerie calls carry on the Applecross down to turning, stop at the Corrieshalloch out west through to the wind in the spring. The mountains goes over the magnificent Bealach Gorge (National Trust of Scotland), remote Rua Reidh Lighthouse. Their and ancient pinewoods of Beinn nam Bo pass, the only true alpine a spectacular drop with great views new visitor centre is a great base for Eighe are worth visiting. There are a pass in Britain. Follow the road back of the Falls of Measach. Follow this a walk along the coast. Enjoy the number of trails as well as a visitor towards Inverness, along the wide beautiful road around the coast spectacular aerial acrobats of the centre (open Easter - October). Keep Strath Bran at Achnasheen. Turn to Gairloch, past the magnificent fulmars along the coastal route an eye out for deer, golden eagles onto the A835 towards Inverness mountainDay of An1 Teallach and andDay keep an 2-3eye out for otters andDay the elusive 4 Scottish crossbill. andDay just before 5 Contin take a break keeping an eye out for eagles. on the coast, basking sharks and From and , at Rogie Falls (Forestry Commission Both golden and sea eagles are dolphins out at sea. follow the A896 through the ancient Scotland). A lovely walk through regularly seen in the area. mountains. pinewoods to the Falls where salmon can be seen jumping. Optional detour Rather than heading back to Inverness from Applecross, head west and go over the bridge to Skye.

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

1 Sea (white-tailed) eagle ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Golden eagle ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Bottlenose dolphin around all year, but most regularly seen in summer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Minke whale ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Basking shark ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Fulmar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Black throated diver inland in summer, at coast in winter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Red deer all year but best in winter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Otter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Salmon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

WESTER ROSS West Coast Wildlife Experience www.wild-scotland.co.uk ullapool SCOTLAND 7 WESTER ROSS

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gairloch 1 2 3 10 West Coast Wildlife Experience inverness 5

Courtesy of Northshots

applecross

Courtesy of Northshots

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

1 Gairloch Marine Wildlife Centre & Cruises 5 Torridon Sea tours Wildlife watching boat trips from Wildlife watching boat Gairloch harbour and visitor centre. trips on . Tel: 01445 712636 Tel: 01520 755310 www.porpoise-gairloch.co.uk www.torridonseatours.com

2 Hebridean Whale Cruises 6 C N Do Scotland Wildlife watching boat trips Group walking and nature holidays. ROUTE STATISTICS from Gairloch harbour. Length 5 days / 4 nights Tel: 01445 712458 Tel: 01786 445703 Mode of transport Car www.hebridean-whale-cruises.co.uk www.cndoscotland.com Start/finish Inverness

3 Sealife Glass Bottom Boat 7 Wild Rose Escapes 9 North Tourism Explore the seabed off Gairloch Ethical holidays including wildlife Tourism association for the North Highlands. without getting your feet wet! watching, wild foods and kayaking. Tel: 01445 712540 Tel: 07765 173029 Tel: 07970 027741 www.glassbottomboat.info www.wildrose-escapes.co.uk www.northhighlandsscotland.com

4 Rua Reidh Lighthouse 8 Wilderness Scotland 10 The Old Inn Guided walks and a small Group and bespoke walking A traditional Highland coaching inn visitor centre, open all year. and activity holidays. overlooking Gairloch harbour. Tel: 01445 771263 Tel: 0131 6256635 Tel: 01445 712006 www.ruareidh.co.uk www.wildernessscotland.com www.theoldinn.net

WESTER ROSS West Coast Wildlife Experience www.wild-scotland.co.uk