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Wildlife and Nature holidays In Scotland |
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From John o' Groats and Cape Wrath to the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick, Scotland is packed with prime real estate for sea birds. Every spring pairs of guillemots, gannets, razorbills and puffins eagerly snap up a precarious cliff ledge perch from the thousands that line the coast. A temperate climate, dramatic landscapes, and generations of traditional care for the land have shaped Scotland into a wonderful place for wildlife.
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Scotland's famous rivers that cut through the land host salmon and trout. Our very own 'Big 5' - Scottish wildcat, pine marten, badger, fox and otter are here and there's nothing more breathtaking than the silhouette of a proud red deer stag in a glen.
Scotland's wildlife-rich seascape is also the envy of many with over 22 species of whales and dolphins sighted off our coast. Minke whales and bottlenose dolphins are regular if you know where to look, and basking sharks, at up to 11m long the largest shark in the northern hemisphere, are a frequent summer visitor. Unseen by most people, but accessible to all.
You can explore Scotland's mountains and forests and spot capercaillie, red kite, pine marten, red squirrel and many more fascinating species!
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It's a Wildlife haven and birdwatchers paradise with cliffs and islands that are some of the world's most incredible seabird cities with puffins, gannets and more. Geese gather in astounding winter flocks, and black grouse and capercaillie share ancient pine forests with red squirrels. Our birds of prey are inspiring too with osprey, red kite, and Europe's largest, the white-tailed sea eagle. Our mountains are home to some truly iconic creatures. Golden eagles nest in some of their highest density in Europe, red grouse flight across heather moors.
There's a higher density of otters in some areas than any other in north-west Europe, and seals bask lazily on the shore everywhere.
Scotlands ancient Caledonian pinewood forests once spread across thousands of kilometers of the Highlands. They now remain at just 84 sites and cover 180 km2 in the north and west. However, the forests aren't just Scots pine rich. Juniper, birch, willow, rowan and aspen trees are all native pinewood forest species. The forests are ideal habitat for a vast number of plant and animal species, some of which are endemic to Scotland and rely upon the Caledonian forests for their survival.
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The endangered Red Squirrel
The Cowal peninsula is one of the best regions to see many of the endangered Red squirrels they have a typical head to body length of 19 to 23 a tail length of 15 to 20 cm and a mass of 250 to 340. The red squirrel is slightly smaller than the common eastern grey squirrel, unfortunately the grey squirrel is the main reason for the red squirrels decline and you will see particularly in this area of Cowal, the many measures taken to try to preserve this endangered species such as their own rope bridges and tunnels across the busier roads!!
Where to see Scottish wildlife
Each region of Scotland offers excellent opportunities to see wildlife, whatever the time of year in a choice of Luxury self-catering Cottages in scenic wildlife havens |
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Quality self-catering accommodation for your Wildlife and Nature Holiday
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Sutherland North Coast, Cape Wrath to John o' Groats
kyle of tongue North Coast of Scotland
Luxury self catering cottage offering you total peace and tranquillity, set in a Wildlife Haven of outstanding beauty...The kyle of Tongue is a wildlife paradise - look out for seabirds, Eagles, Ptarmigans, Otters, Seals, Red Deer, and much more. Enjoy whale and Porpoise spotting in the Kyle of Tongue.
Dunnet Head, North Coast of Scotland
Luxury 4 star cottage offering you total "comfort and relaxation" while enjoying spectacular views of the Pentland Firth, the Isles of Orkney, Soy and Scapa Flow... and once a month on average the famous and mysterious Northern lights! Living with you during your stay on and around this most beautiful peninsula are Puffins, a variety of Eagles and Deer....and if you want to see, Kingfishers, Otters, Seals, Dolphins, whales and a whole host of other wildlife...simply take a 1/4 mile stroll from the cottage down the single track road to Brough bay.
Sea View Helmsdale, Sutherland
Luxury crofters cottage, newly restored remote, detatched and easily accessible by car even in the winter. Offering fantastic sea views and a breathtaking unforgetable journey to the Far North of scotland. Arrive to total comfort and relaxation, enjoy spectacular views of the North Sea and the famous Greentable, or fish for Brown Trout and Salmon in the River Helmsdale and Brora...and once a month on average maybe a wee glimsp of the famous and mysterious Northern lights! Living with you during your stay on and around this most beautiful region are Puffins, a variety of Eagles and Deer....and if you want to see, Kingfishers, Otters, Seals, Dolphins, whales and a whole host of other wildlife...simply take a 1/2 mile stroll from the cottage down the single track road to Navidale bay. The flow Country to the North is a very important breeding ground for the Slavonian Grebe, Capercaillie, Ptarmigan, Osprey, Dotterel, Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill and Snow Bunting and for waders like the Golden Plover and Greenshank, waterfowl such as Red- and Black-throated Divers, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser, as well as raptors like Hen Harrier and Merlin.
North West Islands, Skye, Harris and Lewis
Luxury self-catering crofters cottage located at Loch Bay, North West Skye on the spectacular Waternish peninsular. Offering you cosy accommodation and breathtaking unrestricted views of Loch Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the Inner and Outer Hebrides Islands. Within this small area you can enjoy numerous walks along beautiful shorelines as well as forestry walks. See wildlife including Whales, Porpoises, Seals, Golden Eagles, Corncrake and Great Skua's and an extraordinary array of unique art and Craft enterprises.
Luxury cottage located on the Isle of Harris. Offering you cosy accommodation and spectacular open views of the North Uist's Islands, the Sound of Harris and Skye. Leverburgh has an abundance of wildlife from Sharks and Dolphins to Golden eagles and Corncrakes. You can also see Otters, Seals, Porpoises, Gannets, Peregrines, Artic Terns, Cormorants, Buzzards. You can experience the wonder of wildlife watching at sunset in the Sound of Harris...local guides can take you on an evening sail from Leverburgh pier to un-inhabited islands offshore.
The remote but accessable Island of Scalpay off Harris
Luxury self catering detatched holiday home set on the remote Island of Scalpay (now linked by toll free road bridge) from Harris in the Western Isles, enjoying breathtaking views of the Harbour. Scalpay and Harris have an abundance of wildlife from basking sharks and dolphins to Golden eagles and Corncrakes. With luck you can also see Otters, Seals, Porpoises, Gannets, Peregrines, Artic Terns, Cormorants, Buzzards. Deer tend to keep to the high ground during the summer. The islands provide total peace and tranquility.
The Remote Isle of Rona off Skye
2000 was the year of Castaway on Taransay Island with all the tension and strife! But did you ever dream of the ultimate Luxury castaway Island holiday? Sea birds dominate Rona and expect to see colonies of fulmar, shag, black guillemot (tystie) cormorants and Common tern. Herring and great black-backed gulls, Eider ducks, Oystercatcher, mallard and shelduck, Sea eagles, Puffins, Gannet, Speregrine, Buzzard, Sparrow, Ravens and Hooded Crow. Passerines seen, include Robin, pied wagtail, Dunnock, Wren, Great tit, Coal tit, Goldcrest, Blackbird, Songthrush, Chaffinch Wheatear, Stonechat, Meadow pipit, Rock pipit, Skylark, Corncrakes, Red grouse, Woodcock, Great northern diver. Whales and pods of Minkie Whales up to 30 foot along with both grey and common seals. Expect many Common porpoise and some Orcas or killer whales, Northern bottle nosed whales and several species of dolphin including, striped, common, bottlenosed and white beaked. Basking sharks are becoming more common. Otters frequent much of the shoreline of Rona.
North West, Wester Ross, Lochaber, Lorne
Cosy well furnished Chalets set in an area outstanding beauty and wildlife, offering you spectacular un-restricted views across Loch Broom and the mountains which slope and reflect into beautiful Loch Broom itself, enjoy fantastic sunsets over the Summer Isles and surrounding valley and watch deer and an abundance of wildlife pass by your home during your stay!. You can view Deer, Buzzards, Eagles, Herons and Peregrine Falcons, Wild Goats, Dolphins, Whales and many other creatures in the surrounding area. During your stay in Leckmelm you can see a number of smaller birds, including Finches, Mallards, Swifts, Doves and many of Sparrows
West Highlands, Argyll, Loch Lomond, Trossachs
Treat yourselves to a great value holiday of relaxation, walking, fishing, golfing and bird watching in a choice of Luxury Log Cabins. Loch Eck and abounds in wildlife from Seagulls, Eagles, Herons, Buzzards, Cormorants, Gannets, Eider Ducks, Swans and Seals to the famous Scottish Wildcat. Loch Eck is also rich in Salmon trout, and also the Gwyniad or fresh-water Herring and a remarkably translucent fish 4 or 5 inches long called the Goldie.
A most Beautiful detached self-catering holiday cottage nestling on the banks of Loch Fyne with it's lovely mature garden extending to the waters edge and own moorings, where visitors can tie up their own boats. Shore Cottage sits just 20 yards from the water's edge and offers clear un-restricted views up, down and across Loch Fyne to Inverary and beyond. Seagulls, Herons, Eagles, Buzzards, Cormorants, Gannets, Eider Ducks, Swans and Seals are frequent passers-by.
Inchmurrin Island on Loch Lomond
Inchmurrin Island self catering Cabins and Appartments on beautiful Loch Lomond provide the ultimate dream hideaway self-catering experience. Inchmurrin Island is the largest of Loch Lomond's islands with easy un-restricted ferry access on demand at anytime on and off the Island. This small island is owned entirely by the proprietors allowing guests the freedom to roam and explore the many walks, beaches and woodlands the Island offers. In this precious naturalists paradise, you can see and find, Deer, Capercaillie, Osprey, Buzzards, Ptarmigan, Golden Eagle, Perigrine, Wildcats, Geese, Falcon. You can catch Salmon on Loch Lomond and the River Leven. Pike on Loch Lomond from the boat or the bank. Also rainbow trout fishing at local fisheries
A detached self-catering holiday cottage located in the peacefull village of Ardentinny by the shores of Loch Long, Argyll. Fully refurbished, Sanna cottage offers en-suite facility, modern life comfort and delightfull "highland village" life. Wildlife overflows in this area expect to see a variety of Marine animals from Common Grey Seals and Porpoise,
Bottlenose Dolphin, Basking Shark and even Minke Whale. Birdlife from many Herons and Mute Swans to gannets,
Herons, Eider Ducks, Guillemots, Black Guillemots, Manx shearwater, Kittiwakes, Shag, Common Terns, winter Wigeon, Oyster Catchers, Curlew, Lapwings. For the fisherman stocks of Sea Salmon, Brown trout, shoals of mackerel and some Pilchard.
Peace and tranquillity awaits you. Exceptional self catering cottages with stunning mountain views, in rural Glenlivet Grampian in the North East of Scotland. In Winter enjoy snow covered mountains and an huge variety of wildlife from Red Deer, Stags, Rut and Mountain Hare to Stoat visitors including Fieldfare, Redwing, Snow Bunting, Waxwing and Brambling. Many birds including Flocks Pink Footed Goose, Whitefronted Goose, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose. Also Badgers, Red Squirrel, Barn Owl, Tawny Owl, and Long Eared Owl, Pipstrelle, Long Eared Bats.
A charming detached stone cottage in quiet setting with superb views of surrounding countryside close to all local amenities, whilst within walking distance of Pitlochry..the famous old Victorian town. Pitlochry is famous for its stunning mountain scenery and tranquil lochs. Visit Pitlochry dam and fish ladder, queens view Strath tummel, dry slope skiing at Kinnloch Rannoch, many distilleries and castles, stunning day trips to Glencoe, Balmoral, Loch ness, Inverness and Fort William.
Nestling in private grounds with stunning, picturesque views over the Aberdeenshire countryside Nettle Self Catering Cottages provide an extremely high standard of accommodation and are situated in Seggat near Turriff Aberdeenshire. They offer a peacefull countryside location with fantastic views Aberdeenshire has some of the most wonderful rural scenery to offer for you and your family including the pretty Moray coastal villages of Cullen, Gardenstown, Findochty, Portsoy and Banff. The sandy coastlines of Morayshire and Aberdeenshire stretch from Stonehaven on the East coast to Nairn in the west and you can expect to see a variety of wildlife ranging from Fulmars and Kittiwakes, Shag, Black Guillemots, Ptarmigans, Snow Bunting, Dotterel, Merlin, Twite, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat, Golden Plover, Crested Tits, Siskins, crossbills, Capercaillies, Black Grouse, Short-eared Owl, Willow warblers, Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers in spring.
