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
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Scotland's Winter Wildlife Photography Tour
Tour Code: GBR53A 7-day wildlife photography holiday to the Scottish Highlands, focusing on photographing the area's charismatic birds and mammals and stunning mountain landscapes.
£2,495
Highlights
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Summary
Some of the finest opportunities for photography in Britain are to be found in the Scottish Highlands and during this holiday we aim to photograph several charismatic mammal species that are rare or absent south of the Scottish border. In specific locations or from specialist hides we will photograph Red Squirrels, Crested Tit and Red Deer. On Dava Moor our target will be Red Grouse with its wonderfully colourful plumage which can look especially good photographed against a background of snow, and we'll journey to the Findhorn Valley to photograph another Scottish speciality, the Mountain Hare. We'll also visit the Moray Coast in search of wintering sea ducks and waders, as well as ascend the slopes of Cairngorm in search of Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting.
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Use of specialist photography hides & tracking on foot
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Photograph Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare & Red Deer
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Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting & Crested Tit among special birds
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Spectacular snow-capped mountain scenery
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Led by a professional photographer
Grading
Grade B – Moderate day walks. Photography of Mountain Hares and Ptarmigan in particular is on foot, and involves walking in mountains, including uphill sections and steep/rough terrain at time. The Ptarmigan excursion is up to a four mile round trip on foot with almost 1000 feet of elevation gain (the trail is good but at this time of year can sometimes be buried under snow!). Ptarmigan especially is a demanding species to find, so some effort will be required, though the results are extremely rewarding.
We travel by minibus most days, but will spend plenty of the time exploring on foot. Enjoyment of this tour, therefore, demands a reasonable level of fitness and an enjoyment of walking (or, the unfit should be prepared to feel tired at times!). All walks will be taken at a leisurely pace, and a built-in flexibility will take into account of the overall abilities of the group.
Some of the finest opportunities for mammal photography in Britain are to be found in the Scottish Highlands, where the mountains also support good populations of moorland and alpine birds that are difficult to photograph elsewhere. During this week long break, we will photograph several charismatic species that are rare or absent south of the Scottish border, such as Red Squirrel, Crested Tit, Mountain Hare and Ptarmigan, using a combination of hides and tracking on foot in the wild and rugged terrain.
We meet in Inverness then spend one night by the Moray coast before making our way south. On the first afternoon we will seek out the sheltered bays along the coast in search of wintering sea ducks, waders and divers, such as Long-tailed Duck and Goldeneye, before transferring to our first hotel where our photographer-leader will introduce the week. The next morning we will have a further chance to photograph the wildfowl in this area before we head inland.
En-route south we will stop for opportunities to photograph Red Grouse on the moors, prior to arriving at our base for the next 5 nights. From our comfortable hotel near Aviemore, we will be surrounded by superb scenery, with easy access to the Cairngorms and numerous wildlife viewing spots. Over the following days, we will visit specially constructed hides in order to photograph Red Squirrel and woodland locations for both Crested Tit and Red Deer. We will also enjoy excursions searching for Ptarmigan, Snow Buntings and Mountain Hare, mainly on foot. With stunning landscapes wherever we go, there will often be the opportunity to enjoy some landscape photography too.
On the last morning of the tour we will have a final opportunity to seek out the wildlife of this region before enjoying a last lunch together, which will give us a chance to review our images and reflect on a productive week of wildlife photography.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Accommodation:
We stay in a comfortable hotel by the Moray Coast for the first night then at a small hotel near Aviemore. All rooms have en-suite facilities.
- Food:
All food is included in the price, from the evening meal on the first day to lunch on the last day.
Dates & Prices
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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