Oliver is an excellent tour leader. Great photographer, great knowledge of birds/wildlife. Friendly, patiently answering millions of our questions about camera settings, post processing etc. Awesome field craft skills, teaching us how to approach wildlife to get great photos but without disturbing them. Every day was different but every day was excellent. Very nice hotel, clean, beautiful location, friendly staff, delicious food. Very happy customer:-), enjoyed every single minute of it!
H.S. Essex, Sep24
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Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Autumn Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands - Photography Tour
Tour Code: GBR156A specialist photography tour focusing on the birds and mammals of the Cairngorms.
£2,195
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This week-long autumn tour focuses on some of the iconic species that can be found year round in the Scottish Highlands, from the Red Squirrels that bound around the forest floors to the montane species such as Mountain Hare and Red Deer. We’ll also take time to photograph woodland birds, visit a rookery where it’s possible to capture some stunning black and white images, as well as seek out the graceful Whooper Swans that have returned to overwinter, not forgetting the stunning landscapes that we can find around us. Evening excursions will include a Pine Marten hide and some astrophotography.
- Use of specialist photography hides
- Mammals include Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare, Pine Marten and Red Deer
- Photograph Red Grouse and woodland birds
- Stunning scenery of the Cairngorm Mountains, Speyside and Caledonian pine forests
Grading
Grade B. There will be a moderate amount of walking on this tour, including over some rougher terrain, and you must be able to carry your photography equipment.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Food:
All meals is included in the cost of the tour, from the evening meal on Day 1 to lunch on Day 7.
Reviews
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I have been on tours with Oliver before, and I hope to go again. He is a first class birder with almost unnatural eye sight. He is also an excellent photographer. What makes his tours exceptional is that these two technical skills are combined with a determination to ensure that the clients get the best out of their holidays. I learnt a lot about birds and photographing them.
T.B. Suffolk, Oct24
Dates & Prices
2025
2026
Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?
For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.
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At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
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Wildlife photographer Oliver Smart writes about his photography-focused tours in the UK and the joys of capturing British wildlife on camera.