September 2024 – Weekend

A Highland weekend

with Birding Ecosse and the Grant Arms Hotel

Thursday 12 to Monday 16 September 2024

**** 2 Spaces available ****

The magnificent Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey

Join Birding Ecosse for a long weekend at the luxurious Grant Arms Hotel situated in Grantown on Spey, deep in the Scottish Highlands.

     Thursday

Arriving on Thursday afternoon why not treat yourself to a couple of “local brews” in the hotels stunning Capercaillie bar, prior to you enjoying your evening meal in the beautiful dining room.

Friday

It’s life on an ocean wave!

 It’s 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, Great, Arctic and Pomarine Skuas, our 2023 sailings turned up 420 Sooty Shearwaters in once flock! Plus 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)

A regular sighting on this trip, a Northern Gannet

A Trio of Manx Shearwaters

Culinary highlight of the trip? A fantastic hot chocolate whilst watching seabirds! Magic!

Target Birds for today: Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, All the Skuas, Puffin.

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

Saturday

    The Beautiful Moray Coast

Spey Bay – Osprey and Dolphins, a great way to start the day!

Starting off at the Iconic Dolphin Area at Spey Bay we will make our way West along this stunning coastline. 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.

Sunday

RSPB Loch of Strathbeg

Today we head off to one of the flagship RSPB reserves in Scotland, RSPB Loch Of Strathbeg, hotspot at this time of year for migrants big and small! 2022 turned up Pectoral Sandpiper, Greenshank, Ruff, Snipe, Black Tailed Godwit and Otter all in the same scope view! Add to that 9 Common Cranes it really was a very special day!  Add to that the resident Wader, Swans, Ducks, Tree Sparrows and Marsh Harriers it is a great day out (plus we get to use some bird hides, quite a rarity up here!)

Accessibility: Todays tour may involve a walk of around 1 1/2 miles on even gravel paths, with a short slope near to one of the hides.

Pectoral Sandpiper


The view from the main hide.

Common Crane from the Dunbar Hide

Pick up 0800 – Drop Off 1700

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 three full days birding in the glorious Scottish Highlands, and start planning your next trip North!

*** 4 Nights Full Board, 3 Days fully guided Birding Trips all for just £780 per person***

Add an extra day on Monday 16 September 2024 (Eagle day) for only £195 extra!

So what is included?:

4 nights Full board (Dinner, Bed and Breakfast) at the Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey.

3 Full days Birding.

Delicious packed Lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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

All transport on outings

All guiding fees.

Use of binoculars if required.

Complimentary Checklist

What’s not included:

Transport to and from the Grant Arms 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.