THE NATURAL HABITAT
Spring Seabirds and West Coast Sealife
Spring is often regarded as the prime time for Scottish wildlife watching. The numerous seabird colonies around the coast offer excellent opportunities to watch the arrival of migratory species such as Puffins, Gannets, Guillemots and Shags arriving on these shores.
Leaving Glasgow and heading north and west you can take time to explore the Loch Lomond National Park or the Argyll Forest Park around Lochgoilhead. Pushing on further north and west around the head of Loch Fyne and then through Inveraray to Loch Awe and west to Oban. This will allow you to experience some of the beautiful West Highland scenery and famous lochs.
From Oban take the ferry to Mull and spend some time exploring this beautiful island before heading south-west along the scenic Ross of Mull where you reach Fionnphort, the departure point for the magical Isle of Iona. St Columba arrived on Iona in 563 A.D and founded a monastery and the Isle is regarded as the cradle of Christianity in Scotland. It’s a deeply beautiful place surrounded by sugar white sand and turquoise waters.
Returning to Tobermory in Mull you can use any of the wildlife companies on the island for day trips to spot white tailed and golden eagles, seals, otters and deer.
A must between May and July is to organise a sea trip to Staffa and the Treshinish Isles which are home to spectacular cliffs and colonies of Scotland’s most approachable puffins.
Bottlenose Dolphins in the Moray Firth
The Moray Firth in the north east of Scotland is home to a school of bottlenose dolphins and the nearby Beauly and Cromarty Firth’s also offer excellent opportunities for viewing these beautiful creatures. They are year round residents in these waters but spring and summer offers the best opportunities for viewing them up close.
From Glasgow take the short trip to Stirling where you can visit the wonderful castle which is every bit as beautiful as it's Edinburgh counterpart. Stirling was at the centre of Scotland’s most famous battles with England. In 1297 William Wallace defeated the English army at the battle of Stirling Bridge and then in1314 Robert the Bruce repeated the feat at the battle of Bannockburn.
Heading north to Perth there are many options you can take. To the west lies the lovely little town of Crieff lying at the start of the Grampian foothills. North and west of Perth is the holiday destination of Pitlochry, which is also home to a large hydro-electric dam and the famous salmon ladder, which the salmon leap on their annual migrations in late spring and at the end of summer – a sight not to be missed.
Leaving Pitlochry behind you can head east and north through Glen Shee towards Braemar where the world famous Highland Games are held and where Her Majesty the Queen has her summer residence. The road north from Braemar splits at Grantown on Spey and here you head north to Nairn and the Moray Firth and its resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Day trips are easy to book with many of the companies that operate here.
These routes are only a couple of options for you to consider. There are so may beautiful sights and routes that it would be an impossible job to try and list them all. If you have any specific ideas or would like any help or guidance with planning your routes then we are happy to help. Please feel free to contact us.
