The beautiful Grant Arms Hotel

Arriving on Tuesday afternoon settle into your room in the Stunning Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey, home of the BWWC, 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

The Stunning West Coast

A winter plumaged Great Northern Diver

Today we head over to the glorious West Coast of Scotland and some of the most beautiful scenery on mainland UK.  Here we will be searching for all three regularly occurring British Divers, most will be in their summer garb by this time. It is also a great area for picking up early Greenshanks. Not forgetting the “Big Ones” that is Golden and White Tailed Eagles, which are both possible.  It is also here we stand a great chance of Twite, Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and Stonechat.  So all in all a great day out.

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1730/1800

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 it is off to a beautiful classic Scottish Loch, complete with ruined castle in search of Black Throated and Red Throated Divers, 2022 was a successful season for the pair and it was a great feeling to see them get off some young fledges, hopefully securing the breeding in this area.

Calling in at the hotels very own superb hide we will check for the arrival of another speciality, that being the beautiful, colourful and charismatic Slavonian Grebe, before heading “up high” in the Birding Ecosse vehicle, were we shall search for the “”Mountain Blackbird” the beautiful Ring Ouzel.

We finish 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 the 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 is its 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.

Accessibility: Todays tour may involve a short steep walk on an uneven gravel path,

Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1700

Sunday

Selkies and Tysties!

Osprey death stare

We shall stand atop rugged sea cliffs watching Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Shag busily feeding their ever growing broods, whilst in the crystal clear waters below Summer plumaged Black Guillemots buzz about busily, their stunning black and white plumage brightened by their bright red legs!

One of my favourite pictures, if you look closely, the white patches are actually the white wing coverts of three Black Guillemots “flying” under the water!

And as if that was not enough, we stand a great chance of seeing Bottle Nosed Dolphins, Grey and Common Seals!

And if you are lucky, as we have one of our many refreshment stops, I will even explain the title of the day “Selkies and Tysties” A truly magical way to spend a summers day in Scotland!

Accessibility: Todays tour involves a walk of around 1 mile on rugged and uneven paths, sometimes near to cliff edges and drops.

Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1730/1800

Monday

Give yourself a treat!  Enjoy a long lie before you head down for your last breakfast at the Grant Arms. 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!

***All this for only £780 per person!***