A Highland Weekend getaway

With Birding Ecosse and The Grant Arms Hotel

 Thursday 11 to Monday 15 September 2025

       ***  4 Spaces available ***  

Thursday 25 to Monday 29 September 2025

       ***  4 Spaces available ***

 Thursday – Arrival day

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

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.

Pick up 0730 – drop off 1900

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

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

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 its very own ruined castle in search of Black Throated Divers, 2023 was a successful season and it was a great to see these two birds once again get off some youngsters.

Black Throated Divers (Adult above Immature Below)

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

Accessibility: No accessibility issues on this tour.

    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! Yellow Browed Warblers, various waders and up to Cranes and White Storks all have been recorded at Strathbeg. Add to that the resident Waders, Swans, Ducks, Tree Sparrows and Marsh Harriers it really 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 incline near to one of the hides.

The view from the main hide.

Heading to Fen Hide – Chances of Bittern?

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

A fantastic break for just £795 per person

So what is included?:

4 nights Full board (Dinner, Bed, Breakfast) at the Speyside Hotel.

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

Return ferry crossing

All guiding fees.

Complimentary Checklist

Use of binoculars if required.

What’s not included:

Transport to and from the Speyside 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.