Itinerary
- Day 1
Loch of the Lowes to Carrbridge
You'll meet at your designated pickup point and travel north toward the Highlands. The drive takes you to Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre near Dunkeld, where you can watch for breeding ospreys, deer, otters and red squirrels from the observation hide. After some time there, you'll head on to Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore to see both native Scottish animals and exotic species like polar bears. By evening you'll check in at Carrbridge Hotel where dinner is included.
- Start point
- North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD, United Kingdom (Glasgow - Bus stop on North Hanover Street, opposite Queens Street Station, 07:45)
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Carrbridge Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve - osprey observation from hide with binoculars, telescopes and closed-circuit television
- Visit Highland Wildlife Park near Aviemore - viewing native and exotic animals including Scottish Wildcats, Amur Tigers, Snow Leopards, Red Pandas and Polar Bears
Landmarks Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve Highland Wildlife Park - Day 2
Inverness Dolphin Cruise and House of Aigas
Following breakfast at your hotel, you'll drive to Inverness to join a dolphin cruise on the Moray Firth. There's a good chance of spotting bottlenose dolphins, seals, porpoises and various seabirds during the cruise. Once back on the mainland, lunch happens at House of Aigas Field Centre and features produce from the estate. After eating, a guided walk takes you around the grounds where you can see beaver dams and learn about Scottish Wildcat projects and other native wildlife. You'll return to the hotel for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Scottish breakfast), Lunch (Lunch at House of Aigas Field Centre using estate produce), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Carrbridge Hotel)
Included Activities
- Dolphin Cruise on Moray Firth from Inverness - viewing bottlenose dolphins, seals, porpoises and seabirds
- Guided walk at House of Aigas Field Centre estate - viewing beaver dam, Scottish Wildcat project and native wildlife including red squirrels
- Lunch at House of Aigas Field Centre using estate produce
Optional Activities
- Shore observation of dolphins at close quarters if time allows and conditions are favourable
Landmarks Moray Firth House of Aigas Field Centre - Day 3
Beinn Eighe and Inverewe Gardens
After breakfast, you'll travel through mountain scenery to reach Kinlochewe and Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, which happens to be Britain's oldest nature reserve from 1951. A walk through ancient Caledonian Pine forest lets you see the historic Wild Wood of Caledon firsthand. In the afternoon, you move on to Inverewe Gardens, which holds some of the country's most outstanding collections of native and exotic plants. Dinner waits back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Carrbridge Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve - nature trail through ancient Caledonian Pine forest including Scots Pine, Birch, Juniper and Heather woodland
- Visit Inverewe Gardens - one of the country's most outstanding gardens with native and exotic botanical specimens
Landmarks Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve Slioch Inverewe Gardens - Day 4
Abernethy and Insh Marshes
Following breakfast, you'll check out and head south to Abernethy National Nature Reserve at Loch Garten to look for crested tits, crossbills and ospreys from the Osprey Centre. Next stop is the RSPB Reserve at Insh Marshes near Kingussie where you can spot breeding waders like Curlews, Lapwings, Redshanks and Snipes. The drive home starts in the early afternoon, getting you back to your original pickup point by evening.
- End point
- North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD, United Kingdom (Glasgow - Bus stop on North Hanover Street, opposite Queens Street Station, 19:45)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Abernethy National Nature Reserve at Loch Garten - Osprey Centre viewing and observation of crested tits, crossbills and ospreys
- Visit RSPB Reserve at Insh Marshes near Kingussie - observation of breeding waders including Curlews, Lapwings, Redshanks and Snipes
Landmarks Abernethy National Nature Reserve Insh Marshes RSPB Reserve
