A Highland Weekend getaway

With Birding Ecosse and The Grant Arms Hotel

Thursday 05 to Monday 09 August 2027

*** 4 Spaces Available***

And

Thursday 19 to Monday 23 August 2026

*** 4 Spaces Available*** 

 Thursday – Arrival day

Arriving on Thursday afternoon settle into your room in the Stunning Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey, before enjoying your exquisite evening meal in the beautiful dining room prior to perhaps a few nightcaps in the Hotels “Capercaillie” bar.

Be sure to get a good night’s sleep though as the tour starts early tomorrow morning!

Friday

All aboard!

 It’s the Pelagic season – All aboard!!

An exciting day ahead as we head over to Ullapool to catch the Ferry across to Stornoway. Witness pelagic birds close up, Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Skuas and Divers, Puffins and Black Guillemots are all up for grabs.  (Please note we do not spend time in Stornoway, it is purely a pelagic trip)

Immature Arctic Skua

Culinary highlight of the trip? A fantastic special hot chocolate with whipped cream whilst watching seabirds!

Target Birds for today: Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, Great, Arctic and Pomarine Skua, Puffin.

(Bad weather: Very occasionally the ferry may cancel or run late due to weather or operational purposes, in these few instances we will operate a land based sea watch at a location suitable at that time)

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

Sooty Shearwater – one of a single flock of 400 birds!

Pick up 07:30 – Drop off around 19:00

Saturday

Highland Birds

This is a “must do” trip when you visit the Highland of Scotland!  The day starts off with a visit to a traditional Black Grouse Lek, and at the same time the “Go Back Go Back Go Back” calls of its Red Cousin fill the air.

Red Grouse

Next we head off in search of the charismatic Crested Tit and perhaps Dippers

We spend the rest of the day in a what has to be one of the most beautiful valleys in Scotland, and it is here we will search for two of the “Big Ones” they are White Tailed and Golden Eagles.  This area is probably the most productive sites in this part of Scotland to see these iconic birds, and the reason they are here?  Herds of Red Deer roam the hillside, Britain largest land mammal is very common as its it smaller relative the Roe Deer, we may even stumble across the secretive Sika deer.  Mountain Hare, Brown Hare, Feral Goats and Red squirrel are also often encountered.

Great Birds, great Scenery and fantastic experiences it really is a day not to be missed.

Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1630

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

    Sunday

The Beautiful Moray Coast

From tidal estuaries, fresh water lochs, farmland, open sea and coastal Dunes bristling with migrant enticing bushes this is a brilliant day for turning up the unexpected!

This area of coast is a migrant friendly environment, who knows what we may turn up!  And not forgetting our bread and butter birds at this time of the year, Arctic and Great Skua are frequently seen just offshore harassing the local Kittiwakes, Common and Velvet Scoters are beginning to arrive back after their summer holidays in the far North and the Handsome Male Common Eiders are just fresh in the new plumage.

                                          The menacing Arctic Skua – Pirates of the Skies.

Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1630

 Monday

Give yourself a treat!  Enjoy a long lie before you head down for your last breakfast, sit back and enjoy the memories of the past two full days birding in the glorious Scottish Highlands, and start planning your next trip North!

A fantastic break for just £880 per person

So what is included?:

4 nights Full board (Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and packed lunches ) 

Delicious packed Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Tea/Coffee morning and afternoon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

3 Fully guided Birding days.

All transport on outings

All guiding fees.

Complimentary Checklist

Use of binoculars if required.

Whats not included:

Transport to and from the Hotel

Drinks at hotel

Personal insurance

Items of a personal nature

Interested?  Then please feel free to contact Birding Ecosse for more information or to book your place.