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Speyside in Spring
Tour Code: GBR68An exciting and varied 7-day holiday to Speyside in search of the iconic wildlife of the Scottish Highlands, as well as the seabirds of the Moray Firth.
£1,895
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
The wild landscapes around the River Spey in the Scottish Highlands are amongst the most unspoilt in the UK. Here, the alpine uplands, windswept moorlands, remote lochs and ancient Caledonian pinewoods support some of the country’s rarest and most exciting creatures. On this tour, we’ll stay for six nights in Grantown-on-Spey, the perfect base from which to search for iconic birds and mammals, from Crested Tit and Golden Eagle to Red Squirrel and Mountain Hare. We’ll also visit Troup Head on the Moray Firth, where we will witness spectacular breeding colonies of seabirds, including Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins.
- Enjoy some of the UK’s most dramatic & wildlife-rich landscapes.
- Woodland birds such as Crested Tit, Redstart, Wood Warbler & Spotted Flycatcher.
- Lekking Black Grouse.
- Breeding Osprey, Red-throated Diver & Slavonian Grebe on lochs.
- Upland species including Ring Ouzel, Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan & Snow Bunting.
- Vast seabird colonies on the Moray Firth.
- Mammals such as Red Deer, Red Squirrel, Pine Marten & possibly Bottlenose Dolphin.
Grading
Grade B. Easy to moderate day walks covering several miles each day. Some longer walks that include hills.
This holiday to the Scottish Highlands provides the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful variety of habitats and wildlife, from the raucous colonies of seabirds at Troup Head on the Moray Firth to the hardy mountain specialists of the Cairngorms. Primarily focusing on the woodlands, moorlands and uplands that flank the River Spey, we will spend time on this tour exploring one of Scotland’s most famous habitats, the ancient Caledonian Forest. Speyside is an especially scenic part of the country and the landscapes and vistas of this breath taking region will surely be as much of a highlight as the wildlife.
Our tour begins in Inverness, from where we will drive to the small town of Grantown-on-Spey, our base for the next six nights, being the perfect location from which to explore the area. In May, Speyside’s Scots Pine and deciduous woodlands are filled with birdsong, which will help us to locate such species as Crested Tit, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Wood Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, plus, if fortunate, three species of crossbill (Common, Scottish and Parrot). We will also hope to catch a glimpse of the shy Pine Marten and should see a Red Squirrel or two.
Speyside’s numerous lochs provide the perfect fishing grounds for the region's Ospreys and also attract such rare breeding birds as Red-throated Diver and the beautiful Slavonian Grebe. However, we need to look on such fast-flowing waterways as the Spey and its tributaries for breeding Dippers, Common Sandpipers and Goosander. Those willing to get up early should be rewarded with the memorable sight of lekking Black Grouse, whilst other upland species to look for include Ring Ouzel, Ptarmigan, Mountain Hare and the majestic Golden Eagle. We will also head north to the Moray Firth where thousands of Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Puffins crowd the coastal cliffs. Bottlenose Dolphins may be seen offshore, and the river estuaries, inlets and bays shelter waders, tern colonies and a few lingering seaducks and divers. Peregrines and Red Kites hunt overheard, while Corn Buntings and Tree Sparrows may still be found in the adjacent farmland. At the end of our wildlife-rich week in the Scottish Highlands we will return to Inverness, from we must make our individual journeys home.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Accommodation:
We will be using a comfortable hotel for this tour, with en-suite facilities.
- Food:
Breakfasts and dinners are included in the cost of the tour, however lunches are not.
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.
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!
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