Fur, Fowl and Firkins

Maximum adventurers 12 (with 6 guests per guide)
Departure point: Inverness
Drop off point: ATWS, Aviemore

Experience the wonders of the Cairngorms National Park in all its autumn splendour, from its rare and elusive wildlife, native “uisge beatha” or “water of life”, to the elegance of the bygone age of steam trains.

You’ll begin with looking for one of its rarest mammals, take strength from a Speyside Malt and learn how to make it yourself! Experience the spine-tingling sounds of the autumnal Red Deer Rut as the Stags seek to protect their harem; look for the birdlife on

Fur-fowl-&-firkins---Cairngorms-old-fir-tree---Neil-McIntyre

Fir Tree in Cairngorms, courtesy Neil McIntyre

Western Europe’s largest stretch of natural wetland, by boat and on foot; relive the hardship of the aftermath of Culloden and the Jacobite rebellion and finish with the tranquility of one of the greatest stretches of ancient Caledonian Pine Forest, with the sights and sounds of its resident wildlife.

End your experience with the elegance of a bygone age as you enjoy a traditional Sunday lunch on the Strathspey Steam Railway as it travels along the River Spey to arrive in Aviemore in style!

For your days out you will need warm waterproof clothing, we suggest several layers rather than one thick overcoat and walking boots will be required.

Day 1 – Thursday, 30th September: You will be collected from Inverness airport or railway station by one of Speyside Wildlife’s guides and taken to the Grant Arms Hotel in the Victorian planned town of Grantown on Spey, which will be your base for the next 3 nights. An early dinner will be followed by a visit to Speyside Wildlife’s state-of-the-art wildlife watching hide in the forests of the Rothiemurchus Estate, looking for pine martens and badgers. Return to the Grant Arms for the night.

Day 2 – Friday, 1st October: An early morning walk takes you down to the banks of the River Spey and into the woods around Grantown. W then drive further down the Spey to the Cardhu Distillery at Knockando, where a tour will introduce you to the art of whisky distilling, with the option to taste the final product. Lunch will be taken in Tomintoul, the highest village in Scotland, before we embark on a land rover safari into the hills of the Glenlivet Estate to experience the thrill of the Red Deer Rut, in the company of Glenlivet Wildlife and Estate staff. We’ll return to the Grant Arms for dinner with accompaniment from local youngsters who will entertain us with traditional music.

Red Deer, courtesy Simon Eaves

Day 3 – Saturday, 2nd October: Today sees us travel to the other end of River Spey and the Monadliath Mountains, where a walk along the headwaters of the Spey takes in the Corrieyairick Pass, built in the 18th Century by General Wade to link the Great Glen with Strathspey.

Lunch at Loch Insh is followed by a walk along the loch through broadleaved woodland and a trip out by boat amongst the creeks and reeds of Western Europe’s largest stretch of natural wetland.

We end the day at Ruthven Barracks, built during the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden to tighten the government’s grip on the surrounding area. Dinner will be at the Grant Arms Hotel.

Day 4 – Sunday, 3rd October: Your last morning will be spent in the peace and tranquility of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest of Abernethy on the northern flanks of the Cairngorms, amongst the sights and sounds of the special birds that inhabit the area.

We’ll then transport you to Broomhill Station, where you’ll board a steam train run by the Strathspey Steam Railway and meander slowly down the Spey whilst dining on a traditional Sunday lunch, before arriving in Aviemore where you’ll be escorted to the conference venue.

Trip Design, Logistics & Guiding: The tour will be operated by Speyside Wildlife and you will be guided throughout the trip by their guides. Transport will be by comfortable minibus and you will stay in single ensuite rooms at the Grant Arms Hotel.

Speyside Wildlife has been running wildlife holidays for over 20 years and is one of the leading wildlife holiday companies in the UK. From their base near Aviemore in Cairngorms National Park, Speyside Wildlife run holidays throughout Scotland and across the world. The company is also a founding member of Wild Scotland, the Scottish wildlife tourism association.

Glenlivet Estate
Glenlivet Wildlife
Loch Insh

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