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A Highland Weekend getaway
With Birding Ecosse and The Grant Arms Hotel
Thursday 03 to Monday 07 July 2025
*** 4 Spaces available ***
Thursday – Arrival day
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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!
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Friday
Merkinch Local Nature Reserve
Join us as we head North to Inverness and the small but beautifully formed Merkinch Nature reserve. A lovely walk along a shoreside path gives great opportunities to catch up with some of our summer migrants. Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap with all be in full song in the scrub along the side of the path whilst Curlews and Oystercatcher call noisily on the foreshore, it is a great area with a brilliant variety of birds on offer.
Sedge Warbler
As we approach the Caledonian canal end of the walk we may be lucky enough to catch up with the local otter, a lingering Black Tailed Godwit or Greenshank, or even the jewel like Kingfisher, not an easy bird to catch up with this far North.
Kingfisher
Moving on from Merkinch and after a refreshing coffee/tea we have a short walk along to Carnoc Point, where the River Ness flows finally into the firth, once again great chances of summer migrants, along with non-breeding waders and Otter!
Osprey
The rest of the day will be spent exploring the mystical Black Isle visiting one of the the best areas in the area, RSPB Udale bay, on offer here? Osprey hunting over the mud flats, Skylarks singing in the fields behind the hide and a variety of ducks, geese and waders washing in the fresh water stream.
A fantastic way to start the weekend!
Pick up 0800 – Drop off 1700
Accessibility: Today involves a walk of around 2 miles on well made lever gravel path,
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 Divers, a truly beautiful sight seeing these stunning Divers glide over the lochs surface. Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Lapwing and Oystercatchers give great views and photo opportunities on the Loch shore and nearby sheep fields.
Black Throated Diver
Lapwing
Lapwing chick
Calling at a local lochan we will check on the status of another speciality, that being the beautiful, colourful and charismatic Slavonian Grebe.
Slavonian Grebe
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 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 1700
Sunday
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RSPB Troup Head and the Moray Coast
The Stunning Troup Head Gannetry.Today is one of my favourite outings of the Birding Ecosse itinerary. A trip on the “Seacat” out to Scotland’s only mainland Gannetry. Some 3000 Gannets call this rugged bit of Cliff home, and it is not just Gannets, oh no! It also has Kittiwakes, Common Guillemot (some showing the Bridled form) Black Guillemot, Razorbills and….. Puffins!
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Incoming Gannet
An interesting Gannet showing one Bird Flu affected eye and one normal eye!
Atlantic Puffin
Common Guillemot (Bridled Form)
The rest of the day is spent exploring this beautiful part of the coastline, Lossiemouth, Hopeman, Burghead the list goes on and on each village has it owns unique atmosphere and characteristics.
What else may we pickup? Well how about Bottle Nosed Dolphin, Common and Grey Seals and the off chance of a Minky Whale!
(Bad weather alternative if Seacat not sailing will be exploring the nooks, crannies and pretty fishing villages this area has to offer)
Pick up 0800 – Drop Off 1700
***All for just £795 per person***
So what is included?:
4 nights Full board (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast)
3 Full days Birding.
Delicious packed Lunch on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Tea/Coffee morning and afternoon on Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Boat trip out to RSPB Troup Head
All transport on outings
All guiding fees.
Use of binoculars if required.
Complimentary Checklist
What’s not included:
Transport to and from hotel
Drinks at hotel
Personal insurance
Travel Insurance (Recommended)
Items of a personal nature
Interested? Then please feel free to contact Birding Ecosse for more information or to book your place.
