Four & Five Star Quality B&Bs in Scotland Scottish Wildlife

Scotland has a great variety of birds and animals, butterflies and wild flowers. Many of the species here are rare but may be glimpsed in the wild by the keen eyed visitor or viewed at close quarters in one of Scotland's wildlife parks. You will always remember the thrill of watching your first golden eagle soaring high in the sky or coming across your first majestic stag standing proudly on the hillside before leaping away to safety.

Watch out for red deer singly or in herds on the hills in the Highlands. They are most easily seen in the colder months when they descend from the higher slopes to more sheltered ground, climbing higher again as the weather gets hotter but sometimes in the summer, when out walking, you may surprise one in the woods.

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Birds of prey commonly seen circling over wooded areas are probably buzzards. In the Highlands, a large bird with feathered wing tips circling slowly high over bleak mountainous areas may well be a golden eagle (as pictured here) rather than a buzzard. Red kite have been re-introduced and are doing well on the Black Isle (Highlands). Ospreys, re-introduced many years ago, are now frequently seen on many rivers and lochs in the late spring and early summer and numbers are growing all the time. The sea eagle is increasingly seen on the west coast, particularly on the island of Mull.

The elusive and very shy wild cat is rarely spotted but is unmistakeable with its heavier build than the domestic cat, gingery colouring and a thick tail with ringed markings on it.

Native red squirrels are less confident and aggressive than the larger grey squirrels, which are gradually taking over the red squirrel territory and displacing them. They can be spotted in mixed woodland further north and chatter angrily when disturbed.

Dolphins in the Moray Firth near Inverness are very popular with visitors who watch for them from the shore or from boat trips from either Inverness or Avoch on the Black Isle.

In the Cairngorm National Park are very rare capercaillie and crossbills which feed on the pine tree seeds.

Wintertime is when deer can be seen more easily, as well as species which change the colour of their feathers or fur such as ptarmigan, stoats or mountain hares.

SOUTH-WEST SCOTLAND

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Argyll Sea Fari Adventures - Easdale Harbour near Oban. Exhilarating marine excursions aboard a high speed, inflatable boat including seeing the Corrievreckan whirlpool. Open all year weather permitting. Stay at: Blarcreen House (North Connel by Oban) or Roineabhal Country House (Taynuilt) Scottish Sealife Sanctuary - Barcaldine, Connel. Resident seals and otters, hourly talks and feeding demonstrations, marine hospital. Open all year. Stay at: Blarcreen House (North Connel by Oban) or Roineabhal Country House (Taynuilt)

SOUTH-EAST SCOTLAND

Edinburgh and the Lothians Aberlady Bird Reserve. Open all year. Stay at: Fidra House (Athelstaneford) John Muir Country Park (Dunbar). Open all year Stay at: Fidra House (Athelstaneford) Scottish Seabird Centre - The Harbour, North Berwick. Open 10am to 6pm summer, 10am to 4pm winter. Exhibitions, boat trips and cameras showing the birds on the Bass Rock which sits just offshore in the Firth of Forth. Tel: 01620 890202. Stay at: Woodside (Dunbar) or The Glebe House (North Berwick) The Bass Rock - The largest number of visitors to North Berwick fly in every year to set up home on the four islands of Bass Rock, Craigleith, Lamb and Fidra. Around 100,000 sea birds nest on these islands with the largest colony on the Bass Rock, which has 80,000 occupied nest sites. Includes the largest gannet colony in the northern hemisphere. Boat trips available. Stay at: Woodside (Dunbar) or The Glebe House (North Berwick)

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NORTHERN SCOTLAND

Lochaber, Wester Ross and the Isle of Skye Eilean Ban & The Bright Water Centre. The little island of Eilean Ban sits below the elegant, if notorious, Skye Bridge. It is home to otters, with a hide for viewing these secretive creatures. The lighthouse and cottages (once the home of Gavin Maxwell - author of 'The Ring of Bright Water') have been restored and can be visited. The island has been made 'visitor friendly' by the work of the Born Free Foundation and the Eilean Ban Trust. The Visitor Centre in Kyleakin is open Monday - Saturday from 1 March to 1 October. (Tel: 01599 530040). Boat trips to Eilean Ban can be arranged from there with a ranger. Copyright - VisitScotland/ScottishViewpoint West Highland Hawking at Kinlochewe. Falconry experience days and courses in falconry. Open daily but advanced book is required. Tel: 01445 760204. Stay at: Ferroch (Loch Torridon)

North-West Highlands and Wester Ross Hebridean Whale Cruises from Gairloch. Boat trips last 90 minutes and include commentary on local points of interest as well as wildlife, in particular birds and seals. Fees: Adults £9; children 4-16 £5; children under 4 free. Stay at: The Sheiling (Laide, near Gairloch) Summer Queen boat trips from Ullapool. Daily cruises to the Summer Isles from May to September. Trips last 4 hours and include time ashore on one of the islands, giving visitors a chance to explore. Two-hour wildlife cruises to the Isle Martin bird sanctuary and seal islands. Stay at: The Sheiling (Laide, near Gairloch) Statesman Cruises. Boat trips from Kylesku old ferry pier down Loch Glencoull to see Eas-coul-aulin falls - the highest waterfall in Britain. See seals (and pups when born) and other wild life (Golden Eagle and seabirds) as they appear. It is a thoroughly entertaining trip, with humorous commentary. Sailings (subject to weather): Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday at 11am and 3pm; Friday at 11am and 2pm. Tel: 01571 844446 for more information. Stay at: Veyatie (Lochinver) Assynt Visitor Centre, Main Street, Lochinver - See the "Story of Assynt" and watch the nest activity of Grey Herons from nearby Culag Wood on large monitors in the Centre. There is an RSPB representative on hand to answer queries and also take visitors on a guided walk to the heronry. In addition, there are lots games for children and a well-stocked wildlife reference library for the mature visitor. The Visitor Centre is also the base for the local Ranger service and they are on hand to give guidance about the local wildlife activity. The Rangers conduct a programme of guided walks throughout the summer. For more information Telephone 01571 844654 and ask for Andy or Roz Summers. Stay at: Veyatie (Lochinver)

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North-East Highlands / Easter Ross / Orkney Bird-watching in Orkney. With so many habitats in a relatively small area you can experience a vast selection of flora and fauna. RSPB has over 8000 hectares of reserves in Orkney, ranging from sea cliffs to wetlands, maritime heaths to moorlands. Birds resident or recorded include hen harrier, red-throated diver, guillemot, razorbill, arctic tern, shag, puffin, corncrake, peregrine, merlin, whimbrel, sedge warbler, twites, reed bunting, kestrel, short eared owl, teal, widgeon, curlew but there are many, many more. Tel: 01856 850176. Web site: www.rspb.org.uk Wildlife Cruises - Every day from 20th June to 31st August carried out by John O'Groats Ferry Company Stay at Sharvedda (near Thurso) RSPB Forsinard Peatland Reserve. Delightful drive along river Halladale for 14 miles to Forsinard to access guided walks and trails. Visitor Centre. Tel: 01641 571225. Web site: www.rspb.org.uk Stay at Sharvedda (near Thurso)

Inverness, Loch Ness and Nairn Dolphins - The Moray Firth, the sea inlet on which stands Inverness, is one of only two places in the UK where bottle-nosed dolphins can be seen. There are boat trips from Inverness taking visitors out into the Firth where the dolphins will frequently follow the small boat. Other viewing spots are the shore at the narrows between Chanonry Point on the Black Isle to the north of Inverness and Fort George to the east. Sometimes they can be seen from the shoreline just under the Kessock Bridge crossing the Moray Firth. The best times are when the tide is flowing strongly and when the sun is out - they seem to enjoy jumping out of the water when the sun shines! For boat trips Tel: 01463 717900 or see web site inverness-dolphin-cruises.co.uk Stay at: Clach Mhuilinn (Inverness) or Evergreen (Loch Ness)

Red Kites on The Black Isle, north of Inverness. Red kites were reintroduced to this area and can often be seen by car drivers on the A9 between the Kessock Bridge and Tore roundabout. At the Tourist Information centre on the north-bound A9, just across the Kessock Bridge, there is a hut relaying CCTV footage from a kite nest nearby. Stay at: Clach Mhuilinn (Inverness) or Evergreen (Loch Ness) RSPB Loch Ruthven Nature Reserve Situated 16 miles (25 km) south-west of Inverness. The Loch is about 2 miles long and the eastern end forms part of the RSPB nature reserve. This is the best site in Britain to guarantee views of Slavonian grebes with their spectacular breeding colours. Ospreys visit almost daily during their season and red-throated divers, goosanders and other waterfowl can be expected. Passerines include whinchats, redpolls, wheatears and the occasional ring ouzel. You may even see short-eared owls and hen harriers. For further information about this site or the events programme which is run during the summer, contact the RSPB North Scotland Office in Inverness (01463 715000). Stay at: Evergreen (Loch Ness) Upper Findhorn, Coignafearn, near Tomatin This is very much golden eagle country but other species you may see are peregrines, merlins, kestrels and sparrowhawks. Dippers and grey wagtails are found along the burn and lapwings and oystercatchers nest in the meadows near the river. Ring ouzels, wheatears, meadow pipits and the distinctive stonechat are all found here. Occasionally red grouse may be seen or heard. As a bonus you can usually see large herds of red deer browsing on the hill. Stay at: Evergreen (Loch Ness)

NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND

Speyside and the Cairngorm National Park The Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, by Kingussie. Facilities include coffee shop, children's trail, free audio tape, daily warden talks etc. Large drive-through reserve with red deer, Highland cattle, bison, wild horses. Walk to visit wolves, lynx, otters, artic fox. Entrance fee payable. Open every day (weather permitting in winter). Stay at: Glengarry (Kingussie) or Rowan House (Kingussie) RSPB Insh Marshes, Kingussie. Facilities include three nature trails and three hides for birdwatching. Organised day and evening events from April - August. Open at all times. £2 for adults (half price for RSPB members). Web site: www.rspb.org.uk Stay at: Glengarry (Kingussie) or Rowan House (Kingussie)

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Perthshire Lerrocks Farm - Argaty near Doune. Red Kites are back in central Scotland after 130 years. Argaty is the perfect place to observe the spectacle of the Kites' flying acrobatics. Tel: 01786 841373 Open all year - visits to be booked in advance. The Lerrock Farm Red Kite project is a partnership with RSPB Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage. Dundee and Angus Montrose Basin Wildlife Reserve. Scottish Wildlife Trust. Open daily from 15th March to 15th November (10.30am - 5pm); and then Friday - Sunday only from 16th November to 14th March (10.30am - 4pm). Admission Adult £3 Children free.Tel: 01674 676336. Stay at: Ellington (Johnshaven) or Duntrune House (Dundee) Fowlsheugh Reserve (RSPB) at Crawton. Tel: 01224624824 Stay at: Ellington (Johnshaven)

Deeside and Grampian Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve - West of Aboyne beside the A93 and A97 Within the reserve are the lovely Burn O'Vat and the lochs Kinord and Davan. For details telephone 013398 81667 Balmoral Castle & Estates at Crathie, 6 miles northeast of Braemar. Summer holiday home for the Royal family in Scotland. Gardens and grounds open to the public daily from 10am - 5pm from 29 March - 31 July 2008. Fishing and horse riding. Ranger Service with guided walks and luxury land rover safaris. Tel: 013397 42534. Web site: www.balmoralcastle.com Stay at: Auld Cummerton (Strathdon) Macduff Marine Aquarium - Displays of Moray Firth Marine Life; Feed and dive shows; Gift shop. Open daily 10am - 5pm. Admission £4 per adult, concessions for children. Stay at: Academy House (Fordyce near Portsoy) Moray Firth Wildlife Centre - Spey Bay. Moray Firth dolphins exhibition, gift shop & tearoom. Admission Free. Stay at: Academy House (Fordyce near Portsoy)