Mick Durham was very knowledgeable about the birds and Mull in general. He went to great lengths to find us eagles and knew all their territories and breeding sites. Our hotel was in a dramatic location with very large rooms and good views from all our windows. The staff were very friendly and helpful.
S.M. Essex, Feb 24
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Mull in Winter
Tour Code: GBR182This week-long tour to Mull explores the island's moorlands, hillsides and coastlines in search of its birds, mammals and magnificent late-winter landscapes.
£1,895 (land only)
Highlights
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Summary
This week-long tour to Mull explores the island's moorlands, hillsides and coastlines in search of its birds, mammals and spectacular late-winter landscapes. Mull is justly famous for its raptors including our two largest, the White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle, but we will also hope to see Hen Harrier and Merlin too. We will search the rocky bays and inlets for Otter and wintering divers, grebes, geese and seaducks, whilst offshore we should find Common Seals and perhaps a passing pod of Bottlenose Dolphins. Red Deer are common on the mountain slopes and the landscapes in the crisp winter light are just stunning.
- Spectacular scenery.
- Raptors, including Golden and White-tailed Eagles, harriers and possible Short-eared Owl.
- A chance to watch the charismatic European Otter.
- Other mammals including Red Deer, Grey and Common Seals.
- Possibility of all three UK diver species – Great Northern, Red-throated & Black-throated.
- Visit the lovely, historic island of Iona.
Grading
Grade A/B - easy to moderate day walks only.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Accommodation:
We will stay in a comfortable hotel on Mull.
- Food:
Evening meals and breakfasts in included in the holiday cost; lunches are additional.
Reviews
Dates & Prices
2025
Tour Leader: Mick Durham
Mick trained as an English and Outdoor Education teacher and spent much of his working life teaching a range of activities such as mountaineering and climbing, canoeing, orienteering and camping in a local authority centre in North Wales. When not working he spent much of his time watching and photographing wildlife. He moved to Scotland over 20-years ago and has continued with his photography, concentrating on Scottish wildlife. Since retiring he has worked as a guide leading wildlife photography groups abroad and guiding wildlife groups in Scotland. In 2013 he gained his Fellowship with the Royal Photographic Society and is currently the Chair of the Natural History Distinctions Panel responsible for assessing Associate and Fellowship submissions.
Although interested in all kinds of wildlife, Mick is particularly keen on photographing wildlife in cold climates and also the wildlife found throughout Scotland. In particular he is passionate about Scottish coastal Otters and he has been observing and photographing these enigmatic creatures since he first visited Mull in 1988.
2026
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Flight-free Wildlife Holidays
At Naturetrek we make full use of the Eurostar rail service through the channel tunnel, and of the ferry routes between England’s south coast and France and Spain, to offer a range of ‘flightless’ wildlife holidays in Belgium, Holland, France and Spain. In addition, we also offer the widest selection of wildlife holidays within the UK, none of which require a flight to participate in. Therefore, if you prefer not to fly, for whatever reason, we have a range of varied and exciting wildlife holidays for you to choose from, and we are committed to regularly adding more.
It is also the case that many of our other holidays within Europe are also accessible by rail. Generally, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and we’d be pleased to offer advice to anybody who wishes to join any of our tours within Europe by a means other than flying!
Our specialist recommends...
Kerrie Porteous - Operations Manager
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.
EnquireWhy 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!