NEW! A Scottish Celebration - Wildlife and Whisky

In a true celebration of all things Scottish, we spend the week based at our traditional hotel enjoying winter wildlife, warming whisky and culinary highlights of the Highland region. A brand-new holiday timed to coincide with Burns Night, we explore dramatic Speyside, the wild west coast and the bird-rich Black Isle and Moray Firth, sampling a different dram each evening with links to wherever we have been each day.    

Speciality Highland birds including Red and Black Grouse, Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting, Crested Tit and crossbills will all be looked for, perhaps in snowy, picture postcard surroundings. We also have good chances to see Mountain and Brown Hare, Red Deer and Red Squirrel. Watching our Pine Marten feeding station with a wee dram in hand, will be a great way to spend the evening too!

On the west coast, we look for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Hooded Crow, Raven, Barnacle Geese, Black Guillemot, Slavonian Grebe and three species of diver. Otter and Twite may also be seen here, the latter sometimes wintering on the Moray Firth where fields hold flocks of Linnet, Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Corn Bunting and Grey Partridge. Coastal days here or on the Black Isle can be busty ones, and we pay special attention to flocks of seaduck for Common and Velvet Scoter, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck and Eider. High tide roosts of Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Knot and other waders add further interest, and being a flexible tour, your guide may choose to target a winter rarity or two.

This new tour will run at a relaxed pace, taking time out from birding to participate in two Whisky distillery tours as well as visiting Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness. We enjoy the festivities of Burns Night at our very own hotel, with haggis, venison and other Scottish produce featuring on a menu specially prepared by our chefs for this holiday. In our 35th year, join Heatherlea in celebrating two of Scotland’s most famous assets – its wildlife and whisky!

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

• Both eagles and three species of diver in stunning west coast surroundings.
• Close views of Crested Tit and Red Squirrel, perhaps at a feeding station.
• Flocks of winter sea-duck including Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck and Scaup.
• Sampling some of the finest single malt Scotch whiskies in the world!

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

Day 2: Sunday - Local birding and Burn's Night!
Our award-winning hotel is right in the middle of the best birding habitats, and Black Grouse popping and cooing at the lek will be one of our early targets. Later we walk in Abernethy Forest to look for Crested Tit and other local forest dwellers including Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay and Red Squirrel, perhaps taking advantage of local feeding stations. Scottish Crossbill are found in the forests too, and with both Common and Parrot Crossbill also present, separation of these three species can pose a real identification challenge!  Capercaillie also occur in these forests though are increasingly scarce and we no longer actively look for them. Any sightings should be seen as incidental. Local farmland supports Greylag and Pink-footed Geese, plus wintering Fieldfare and Redwing and finch flocks can include Brambling and Twite. A great first day birding!

In the evening we enjoy a traditional Burn's Supper (other options will be available) and, of course, a wee dram!

Day 3: Monday - Moray Coast
Winter is a busy time on the Moray coast, with large numbers of birds taking advantage of good feeding opportunities both on land and at sea. Offshore rafts of sea-duck include Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser. Red-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, auks including Razorbill and Guillemot, plus Gannet, Shag and Fulmar may also be present, and in recent years we have seen rarities including King Eider and Surf Scoter. Iceland and Glaucous Gull are both regular around the estuaries and harbours, and waders can be expected including Purple Sandpiper. In the fields, Whooper Swan herds and geese flocks are worth checking for scarcer species such as White-fronted, Barnacle and even Snow Geese. And on a day where up to 70 species are possible, farmland birds can include Grey Partridge, Corn Bunting, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and winter thrushes. We finish the day with our first distillery tour of the week - an excellent way to warm up after a winter's day birding!

Day 4: Wednesday - The West Coast
We travel to the west coast, where mountains rise from the sea in one of the most rugged and beautiful regions of Scotland! In sheltered bays, we enjoy winter gatherings of Great Northern, Black-throated and Red-throated Diver with Black Guillemot and Slavonian Grebe also likely. Scanning higher ground, we look for Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Raven, Hooded Crow and 'real' Rock Dove plus Red Deer and Mountain Goat. In hard weather, flocks of thrushes, pipits and finches may move out to the west coast joining Rock Pipit and Twite which traditionally spend the winter there. Following northerly storms there are chances of Little Auk or winter gulls, plus Otter, seal and cetaceans too. It is always an exciting day exploring the west!

Day 5: Thursday - Ptarmigan and raptors in the hills
A full day in the Cairngorms National Park, where in mountain habitats we look for Ptarmigan, with Snow Bunting and Mountain Hare also possible. We have a number of options within the park with little or no walking required, and snow conditions and recent successes will dictate exactly where we try. Raptors will be the main feature for the rest of the day, and out on the moors or in a beautiful Highland glen we have good chances of Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Goshawk, Red Kite, Peregrine and perhaps even Merlin. Displaying Raven are likely too, as are Red Grouse and Red, Roe and Sika Deer. On fast flowing rivers we look for Dipper, Goosander and Goldeneye, while Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, crossbills and other woodland species may be encountered on the edges of birch and spruce plantations.

Day 6: Thursday - Inner Moray Firth and Urquhart Castle
We begin locally taking in any Highland specialities we might not have seen so far. Inland rarities may include Waxwing in an influx year, or a wintering Great Grey Shrike and if present, time may be devoted to them before we head to the coast. Crossing the Moray Firth we arrive on the Black Isle, where a number of close together birding sites can yield great birding in just a few hours. An incoming tide can bring large numbers of wildfowl and waders in nice and close, and wintering sea-duck in the Cromarty Firth include Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser plus Slavonian Grebe. Inland, arable ground and winter stubbles provide feeding for hundreds of Pink-footed Geese as well as farmland birds.

Day 7: Friday - Local round up and Black Isle
We begin locally taking in any Highland specialities we might not have seen so far. Inland rarities may include Waxwing in an influx year, or a wintering Great Grey Shrike and if present, time may be devoted to them before we head to the coast. Crossing the Moray Firth we arrive on the Black Isle, where a number of close together birding sites can yield great birding in just a few hours. An incoming tide can bring large numbers of wildfowl and waders in nice and close, and wintering sea-duck in the Cromarty Firth include Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser plus Slavonian Grebe. Inland, arable ground and winter stubbles provide feeding for hundreds of Pink-footed Geese as well as farmland birds. We end the week with our second distillery tour with an opportunity to sample some local, Speyside malts.

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

What's Included:

• Seven nights comfortable accommodation at The Mountview Hotel, Visit Scotland 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 might be upgraded to double room accommodation at no extra charge.
• Full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch, and a delicious dinner.
• One dram of whisky per person per evening.
• Six full days birdwatching.
• Two tours of local Whisky Distilleries.
• Entrance to Urquhart Castle.
• All transport by comfortable minibus during six full days' birding. All access fees.
• Guidance from a professional Group Leader.
• Courtesy pick-up and return service to Aviemore.
• A checklist specifically prepared for your holiday to record your sightings and notes.

What's not included:

Insurance, drinks (other than mentioned above) 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 any optional mountain walking for Ptarmigan and other mountain species, is likely to be strenuous and in snow.
• Weather Expect a wide variation in weather conditions. Cold winds, sunshine, rain and snow are all possible! Bring waterproofs, walking boots, and warm clothing. Hats and gloves are essential at this time of year.
• Biting insects are not an issue in winter!
• Group size maximum 7 clients per guide.
• Optics Telescopes will be useful, and you should bring binoculars. A camera would be useful too!