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Summer in the Cairngorms - A Vegetarian/Vegan tour
Tour Code: GBR317A 5-day holiday exploring beautiful lochans, ancient pine forests and secluded glades in search of the summer wildlife of the Cairngorms.
£1,495 (land only)
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The Cairngorms National Park is Britain’s largest and protects habitats ranging from high mountain peaks to forests of native Scots Pine and picturesque steep-sided glens. On this 5-day wildlife holiday we will based at a comfortable hotel specialising in vegan cuisine and only a few minutes’ walk from Pitlochry train station. From here we will enjoy the region’s varied natural history and spectacular landscapes on a series of short drives and leisurely walks. In the summer the park’s pools, burns and rivers come alive with dragonflies and amongst them will be some real specialties including Northern Emerald, White-faced Darter and Golden-ringed Dragonfly.
Small White, Lesser Butterfly and Heath Fragrant Orchids should all be flower and amongst the Caledonian Forest, the UK’s only indigenous pine forest, we will look for Crested Tit, Common, Scottish and Parrot Crossbills, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Red Squirrel and Pine Marten. Our hotel’s menu is 100% plant-based and showcases local, seasonal and foraged produce, craft beers, a unique wine list and cocktails inspired by the region.
Whether you are an omnivore, vegetarian or vegan, we warmly welcome you to join a tour (or two!) from our new collection of vegetarian and vegan wildlife tours.
- Experience a 3-course vegan gourmet dinner each evening and delicious vegan breakfast each morning
- Picnic lunches a choice between vegan or vegetarian (including local cheeses)
- The special orchid species sought include Lesser Twayblade, Small White and Coralroot
- Superb avifauna including crossbills, Crested Tit, Wood Warbler and more
- Odonatan specialties including Northern Damselfly, Northern Emerald, White-faced Darter and Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: David Jackson
Dave has been fascinated by the natural world from an early age when his dad used to take him fishing at a local lake in Hertfordshire, however, he didn’t have the concentration to sit still for long unless trying to encourage a Robin to feed from his hand!
In adult life, he has been a long-serving committee member of the local RSPB Members’ Group and took part in the charity’s fund-raising bike rides from London to Oxford, ‘Pedal for Puffins’ and ‘Pedal for Parrots’.
Dave is also a serving committee member of the Northamptonshire Bird Club and, although birds are his first love, he has an interest in all natural history and gives illustrated talks to groups and societies from his travels to Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, The Gambia and more.
After a career in financial services, David took early retirement and finally found “his true vocation” - leading for Naturetrek. He has now led multiple tours to countries including Iceland, Scotland, St. Lucia and The Gambia. He also leads tours in our portfolio of Vegetarian and Vegan Wildlife Holidays.
When not touring, he volunteers for Wildlife Trust BCN at Pitsford Nature Reserve SSSI where he is involved in many aspects of conservation, maintenance and survey work.
He also runs Naturetrek’s 'Introduction to Macro Photography at Pitsford SSSI' Day Trip, where a number of Dave’s photos are displayed to commemorate the Trust’s 50-year anniversary and he is always pleased to assist those on his tours in improving their photography skills
A selection of Dave’s images (including his Eurasian Sparrowhawk voted Birdguides Photo of the Year 2022) can be viewed here: Birdguides Portfolio.
2026
Tour Leader: David Jackson
Dave has been fascinated by the natural world from an early age when his dad used to take him fishing at a local lake in Hertfordshire, however, he didn’t have the concentration to sit still for long unless trying to encourage a Robin to feed from his hand!
In adult life, he has been a long-serving committee member of the local RSPB Members’ Group and took part in the charity’s fund-raising bike rides from London to Oxford, ‘Pedal for Puffins’ and ‘Pedal for Parrots’.
Dave is also a serving committee member of the Northamptonshire Bird Club and, although birds are his first love, he has an interest in all natural history and gives illustrated talks to groups and societies from his travels to Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, The Gambia and more.
After a career in financial services, David took early retirement and finally found “his true vocation” - leading for Naturetrek. He has now led multiple tours to countries including Iceland, Scotland, St. Lucia and The Gambia. He also leads tours in our portfolio of Vegetarian and Vegan Wildlife Holidays.
When not touring, he volunteers for Wildlife Trust BCN at Pitsford Nature Reserve SSSI where he is involved in many aspects of conservation, maintenance and survey work.
He also runs Naturetrek’s 'Introduction to Macro Photography at Pitsford SSSI' Day Trip, where a number of Dave’s photos are displayed to commemorate the Trust’s 50-year anniversary and he is always pleased to assist those on his tours in improving their photography skills
A selection of Dave’s images (including his Eurasian Sparrowhawk voted Birdguides Photo of the Year 2022) can be viewed here: Birdguides Portfolio.
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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.
Enquire
Why Naturetrek?
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:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
