Highlands and the West Coast

An exciting, early-spring holiday including an overnight visit to the rugged and remote West coast. As spring arrives into the Highlands we celebrate the season with visits to the very best birding and wildlife sites. During this tour we search for Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit, Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill plus three species of diver and Slavonian Grebe in stunning summer plumage. This holiday takes in some of our most stunning and iconic scenery, all the while enjoying superb birdlife and general wildlife.

This is also an excellent time of year to enjoy mammals, and we hope to enjoy views of Otter, Common and Grey Seals, Mountain and Brown Hare (including boxing hares if we are lucky!), Red and Roe Deer and perhaps Harbour Porpoise or dolphins on the coast. A feast of spring wildlife!

KEY MOMENTS at our Friday round-up - which will be yours?

• White-tailed Eagles on the west coast - 'the flying barndoor'
• Three species of diver, all coming into summer plumage
• Crested Tit and crossbills in the Strathspey forests
• The first Osprey to return to their Highland home 

Day 1: Saturday - Arrival
Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore.

Day 2: Sunday - Local Specialities
We begin with a local day, and our award-winning hotel is right in the middle of the best birding habitats. After breakfast we head to nearby Abernethy Forest, to look for Crested Tit, other local breeding birds and Red Squirrel. Scottish Crossbill are found in the pine forests and with both Common and Parrot Crossbill also present, separation of these three species can pose a real identification challenge! During these months open ground gives us chances of Golden Eagle with Dipper, Goosander and Goldeneye possible on local rivers.

Day 3: Monday - Nethy to Wester Ross
Today we head westwards, working remote sealochs, bays and beaches as we go. Rugged Wester Ross offers iconic scenery around every corner and the mountains often have a snowy cap, giving us picture postcard views across the bays. A superb time to be on the West Coast, the longer days giving us excellent chances of Otters whatever the weather. Some of our known sites are among the best places in the UK to see divers, with large numbers of Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated present. Offshore we look for Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser, with chances of passage waders and gulls that often include Iceland and Glaucous. We spend the night on the West Coast at a coastal location.

Day 4: Tuesday - Wester Ross to Nethy
Today we target eagles, with Golden and White-tailed both likely. Eagle country is synonymous with rugged glens and steep crags, with truly breathtaking views. We should see numbers of Red Deer, Hooded Crow, Raven and 'real Rock Dove in these places too. Late March is also a time for passage Merlin, whilst the first Wheatears should be around if winds are favourable. Returning to the coast, we have another chance of Otter, whilst scanning for rarer seaduck or divers. Late March is a good time for White-billed Diver on the underwatched west coast, and we check the numerous Great Northern Diver carefully for their rarer cousins. We head back east mid-afternoon, arriving back at the Mountview in the early evening.

Day 5: Wednesday - Spring specialities
We make an early start after breakfast to seek Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek. Red Grouse are present here too and on the Crown Estates at Glenlivet we have exclusive access to secluded spots where you won’t see many other birders, with further chances of Golden Eagle, Merlin, Hen Harrier and perhaps the first returning Osprey too. The stunning surrounding scenery, less known among birders, with Raven and other moorland species all contribute to a truly special day.

Day 6: Thursday - Cairngorm Mountain
In the mountains we seek Ptarmigan (NB conditions can be wet and therefore very difficult at times, in the spring melt). Other birds on this day may include Snow Bunting, Black-throated and Red-throated Diver, Goldeneye and Peregrine, and local birchwoods hold Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. Returning Osprey and many breeding wader species are likely as we enjoy the best of local birding. Lingering thrush flocks, Waxwing and Whooper Swan are are also sometimes present too.

Day 7: Friday - Moray Coast
Spring birding along the Moray Coast is particularly enjoyable as newly arriving migrants complement wintering birds. This day can easily include Osprey fishing, rafts of Common Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Great Northern and Red-throated Diver, Glaucous and Iceland Gull, and spring waders including Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover, many changing into bright summer plumage. We watch too for Stonechat, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Grey Partridge in farmland. We may also see Bottle-nosed Dolphin, and with auks, Gannet, gulls and more, this is a rewarding day!

Day 8: Saturday - Departure
Breakfast and departure. Don’t forget our courtesy return service to Aviemore.

This holiday can be combined with:

SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
 Highland Birding in March, Highlands and Ardnamurchan, Highlands and East Coast Birding

What's included in your holiday price

• Six nights comfortable accommodation at The Mountview Hotel, VisitScotland rated 3 Star. All rooms are en-suite, with TV and hospitality tray. There is no single supplement, and guests are never expected to share. Single guests may be upgraded to double room accommodation at no extra charge.
• One night in comfortable en-suite hotel accommodation on the West Coast.
• Full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch, and a delicious dinner.
• Six full days wildlife watching.
• Guidance from a professional Group Leader.
• All transport by comfortable minibus.
• All estate access fees.
• A checklist specifically prepared for your holiday to record your sightings and notes.
• Courtesy bus service to and from transport in Aviemore.

What's not included in your holiday price

• Insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature.

More holiday information

Accommodation at Mountview Hotel can be seen here. All accommodation is en-suite unless otherwise advised before your booking is confirmed.
Food There is a choice of evening meal, and vegetarian, vegan and other diets are welcome.
Breakfast may be chosen from a full Scottish menu. You don't need flasks for hot drinks.
Walking will be light, although optional mountain walking for Ptarmigan can be strenuous, depending on the level of snow.
Weather Expect a wide variation in weather conditions. Blazing sunshine, snow and rain are equally likely, and you will probably experience a bit of everything. Bring waterproofs, walking boots or shoes and warm clothing.
Biting insects are unlikely to be encountered.
Group size maximum 7 clients per guide.
Optics Telescopes will be useful, and you should bring binoculars. We have a limited number of top quality Swarovski binoculars, which you may borrow at no charge (subject to availability). A camera would be useful too!

Getting here is easy!

BY CAR Travel north to Perth. Take A9 signposted Inverness to exit north of Aviemore. Follow signs northeast through Boat of Garten to Nethy Bridge (ten miles). In Nethy Bridge, drive through the village, over the River Nethy, and you will see our sign 200 metres ahead on the right.

BY RAIL Don't forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore on Saturdays at 16:30 and 19:30, but please let us know at least 48 hours in advance! The best train to Aviemore is the ‘Highland Chieftain’ on the East Coast Line. This leaves London Kings Cross at 12.00, arriving Aviemore at 19.28. We recommend you connect with this service if possible. Our pickup also works well with the 16:19 arrival from Edinburgh. In general, rail travel via Edinburgh is easier than via Glasgow, where a trip across the city between stations is needed, often followed by a change at Perth. Return trains leave Aviemore at 07.25, 08.29 (fast train to London –recommended), 09.24. 10:27 and 11.23. However we can only make 2 journeys to Aviemore on Saturday morning, so you may be taken to Aviemore a little earlier.  Rail enquiries: 0845 7484950, www.nationalrail.co.uk.

BY AIR Flights to Inverness are becoming available all the time, for latest info call our office. Currently direct flights to Inverness are available from: Belfast, Dublin, Amsterdam, Birmingham, Jersey (all Flybe), London Gatwick, London Luton and Bristol (all Easyjet). A new service has just been launched with daily service to London Heathrow with British Airways. Guests arriving in Inverness airport can then take a taxi to Nethy Bridge, or take the Airport Flyer bus to Inverness, from where they can take the train to Aviemore where we can collect you. Our courtesy collection service is on Saturdays at 16:30 and 19:30, but please let us know which at least 48 hours in advance! We will be able to meet the 15:51 and 18:46 trains departing from Inverness that arrive at 16:34 and 19:24 respectively.