Scotland wildlife & walking holidays
| country: | Scotland |
| location: | Cairngorms, Aberdeenshire |
| trip type: | Introductory walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 8 Nov |
| price: | From £565 (5 days) excluding flights. Max group size 10 people |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The roar of Red Deer rutting on the hillside, majestic Golden Eagles soaring high above the mountain tops, flocks of Snow Buntings like snowflakes fluttering across the meadows are just some of the things which make this holiday unforgettable. This wildlife walking holiday aims to enjoy the natural wonders of our estate, in the very heart of the Cairngorms National Park, whilst introducing you to the many species that make this their home.
This is a chance to really experience the wonder of nature and with the help of your guide get to fully appreciate the vast array of animal species which make the Cairngorms their home. A holiday on our estate is like no other. Here you are treated as our guests, staying in our warm and comfortable accommodation you will be struck by the friendliness of our staff, quality of our catering and above all the wonderful peace and quiet.
Your guide, Alan, is a mountaineer and has led Leadership Development Expeditions with young people to the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Mongolia, Kilimanjaro and the Andes. An experienced Mountain Leader and First Aider, you can be assured you will be looked after. We are members of Wild Scotland, an Association of Wildlife Tourism Operators, you can be assured that we operate to the highest environmental standards.
As with all walking holidays our walks are dependant on daily weather conditions, estate activities and other factors. We reserve the right to amend this programme. Our itinerary is suitable for fit novices or anyone who takes regular aerobic exercise, regular walkers and hikers and may involve some short sections of ascent, no more than 450m in one day. Participants should ensure they have an appropriate level of fitness to complete 3 days walking.
This is a chance to really experience the wonder of nature and with the help of your guide get to fully appreciate the vast array of animal species which make the Cairngorms their home. A holiday on our estate is like no other. Here you are treated as our guests, staying in our warm and comfortable accommodation you will be struck by the friendliness of our staff, quality of our catering and above all the wonderful peace and quiet.
Your guide, Alan, is a mountaineer and has led Leadership Development Expeditions with young people to the Himalayas, Rajasthan, Mongolia, Kilimanjaro and the Andes. An experienced Mountain Leader and First Aider, you can be assured you will be looked after. We are members of Wild Scotland, an Association of Wildlife Tourism Operators, you can be assured that we operate to the highest environmental standards.
As with all walking holidays our walks are dependant on daily weather conditions, estate activities and other factors. We reserve the right to amend this programme. Our itinerary is suitable for fit novices or anyone who takes regular aerobic exercise, regular walkers and hikers and may involve some short sections of ascent, no more than 450m in one day. Participants should ensure they have an appropriate level of fitness to complete 3 days walking.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival. Arrive and settle in. A short introductory evening will take place to introduce you to your fellow guests. |
| Day 2: | Brig o’ Dee to Balmoral Castle. A majestic start to our wildlife walking holiday through the Ballochbuie Forest with remnants of ancient Caledonian Pinewood, passing the Gargh Allt falls, across the moor and then the Gelder Burn before dropping down to the various Royal Cairns that overlook the Castle. (12 km and 220 m of ascent) |
| Day 3: | Loch Muick Circuit and Dubh Loch. This walk, weather permitting, explores the remote lochs of Muick and the Dubh Loch, offering the visitor fantastic mountain landscapes home to red and black grouse as well as red deer. (15 km and 250 m of ascent) |
| Day 4: | Arctic Inhabitants. This walk will take us to look at some of the wildlife species that inhabit the estate's arctic habitats; snow buntings, ptarmigan and mountain hare. (12 km and 350 m of ascent) |
| Day 5: | Departure. Leave after a hearty breakfast. Haste ye back. |
how this holiday makes a difference
|
Our estate is situated in the Cairngorm National Park; an area which boasts 25% of Britain’s endangered wildlife. During this holiday you will have the opportunity witness the balance between the conservation of the natural environment whilst sustaining the small communities who undertake the conservation work.
You will also meet our Ranger Service who monitor the wildlife and habitats on the estate as well as advise the 120,000 visitors who come to walk in the 18.5K Hectares of mountain and moorland. We make no apology at trying to educate as many customers as possible about the challenges faced by a Highland Estate in the 21st century, managing the landscape in a way which is both ecologically and financially sustainable.  During your stay all the food will be prepared on site and as these holidays are outside the main tourist season you will be providing important revenue to the local butcher, baker, and grocer as well as employment to local people. Come on the train and we will collect you from the railway station. Leave the car at home for this holiday. If you need something during your stay; rest assured we will get it for you. You will see us recycling glass, plastic, paper and vegetable scraps which are composted for the estate gardens. Our efforts to operate our business in a sustainable way have been independently assessed by Visit Scotland the Scottish Tourist Board who have awarded us with a silver Green Tourism Business Scheme award. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |