Roy Atkins
If it's enthusiasm you want then Roy's your man! Speyside Wildlife guests travel with him again and again and perhaps it's his sense of fun and very detailed knowledge of birds, plants, insects and mammals that has made him one of our most popular leaders. We've known him for over 20 years (gulp!), when he worked for the RSPB (for a time at Speyside's Insh Marshes). He's a great all-round naturalist, and years of experience in the world of teaching have made him a great people person.
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Simon Eaves
Living right next to RSPB Loch Garten, in the Cairngorms National Park, where he was wardening for a number of years, Simon is one of Speyside's keenest birdwatchers. He knows lots about the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands and has a real interest in scarce birds, mammals and identification challenges - with him as your guide you'll learn a huge amount about Speyside. An all-round nice guy, we've yet to meet anyone who smiles more or who's a more proud father!
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Stephen Willis
Steve came into guiding having worked as a Countryside Ranger for 7 years. His work has taken him all over Scotland from the high tops of the Cairngorms to the sea cliffs of the Berwickshire coast. A qualified mountain leader Steve loves getting out and exploring Scotland - always with his bins handy! Outside the guiding season Steve works on conservation projects such as Black Grouse for the RSPB and Red Squirrels for SNH. He is also a trainee ringer with Grampain Ringing Group in his home town of Aberdeen.
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Craig Round
With a great combination of field naturalist skills, outgoing personality and incredibly sharp eyes, Craig brings to each tour his enthusiasm and lively sense of humour (if you want tall-tales, he's got them!) as well as an astonishingly wide knowledge of birds, mammals and insects. He loves Speyside and the Scottish Islands, and has led tours here for over 12 years. He's also something of an eagle expert and his enthusiasm for nests, feathers, droppings and pellets is legendary!
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Julian Sykes
Julian is a native Yorkshireman now living near Valencia in Spain after several years in Scotland. He has had a life-long interest in wildlife, with a particular focus on birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies and now runs his own small wildlife tour business with his partner Jane. He has a very friendly out-going nature that guests appreciate, making him a very popular guide and an ideal member of the team.
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Mark Denman
Mark and his family live in Kingussie, having moved from London five years ago. A passionate birder since childhood, his travels as a violinist have enabled him to watch birds all over the world. He has worked for the RSPB at Loch Garten on CaperWatch and taken part in survey work for Butterfly Scotland. When not watching birds, Mark can often be spotted on Speyside’s various golf courses!
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Darren Rees
Known among Speyside Wildlife regulars for his boundless enthusiasm and ability to get across identification features clearly and simply, Darren is a great birder, and quite simply fun to be with on a Speyside Wildlife tour. Based in Stirling, he's co-led countless groups for us in Speyside, the Scottish islands and all around the world. 'Bird Impressions' is his acclaimed collection of bird paintings, he worked on 'Birds of the Western Palearctic' and writes for 'Birds Illustrated' - what a versatile man!
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Christina Nicholson
Chrissie, a native ‘Geordie’, is full of enthusiasm and has an unequalled sense of humour and fun. She has gained her experience working as Information Warden for the RSPB on Shetland, Orkney then Lochwinnoch. Coupled with working with BTO Scotland and RPS Ecolological Consultants as a Field Ornithologist, she is your perfect guide to lead you through the ‘Speyside Experience’. Widely travelled she has visited places in Europe, New Zealand, Ontartio and Vancouver Island.
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John Grierson
A native of Perthshire, John has lived in Aviemore for the past 22 years. Prior to becoming a Speyside Wildlife guide John was involved in wildlife crime investigation throughout the Highlands and was able to use his extensive knowledge of birds and animals to great advantage. An enthusiastic wildlife watcher he lists all creatures as his favourite.
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Malcolm O'Reilly
Malcolm lives in Dulnain Bridge, near some key wildlife areas of the Cairngorms National Park and has the wildlife skills and friendly personality you would expect from a Speyside guide. After completing a degree in Animal Biology he spent five years as an outdoor pursuits instructor and environmental education teacher throughout the Highlands and the Isle of Arran. He also worked on the RSPB’s ‘CaperWatch’ and was a countryside ranger for ‘Explore Abernethy’. A qualified mountain leader, he enjoys producing wildlife art and exploring remote places.
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Duncan Macdonald
With 15 years’ experience of leading wildlife watching groups in the Highlands, Duncan now spends most of his time working as a countryside ranger for the Highland Council, however he still finds time to lead tours for Speyside Wildlife. Originally from the Scottish Borders (though he claims kinship with the MacDonalds of the west Highlands!) he now lives in Kincraig. He has a background in environmental education and conservation, and as well as being an expert and friendly guide, his skills include playing bodhran and the guitar - but not both at the same time!
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Sharon Cairns
One half of Speyside Wildlife's talented duo of chefs, not only has Sharon's food won her great plaudits but she also manages many of the day-to-day workings of our Steading at Ballintean in the Cairngorms National Park. She has produced many of the wonderfully irresistible culinary creations that have expanded so many waistlines over the years! Guests always want to pop into the kitchen and, with husband Alan who helps to keep the show on the road, she lives on Rothiemurchus.
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Brian Webb
Brian moved to Grantown on Spey seven years ago, after a long association with Speyside. Being the “new boy”, he’s settling into Steading life after working at a very busy local restaurant. Alongside colleague Sharon, Brian enjoys the challenges of using locally sourced produce and, using his knowledge and enthusiasm, aims to give guests a memorable stay. Away from the Steading he enjoys walking, sampling the local beer and training his two dogs.
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Alan Cairns
Sharon's husband Alan can usually be found around the Steading, looking after the vehicles that keep us all in comfort on the road. By night, he steps just outside his front door to take on the role of guide at our Wildlife Watching Hide on Rothiemurchus. Alan helps out with such a multitude of things at Speyside Wildlife, that the call most frequently heard is “Has anyone seen Alan?”
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Suzanne Dowden
Sally owns Speyside Wildlife and although no longer the voice you'll hear on the phone, is still very much hands on in the organisation. Responsible for the smooth running and complex logistics of the business, she has a real commitment to developing sustainable eco-tourism within the Cairngorms National Park. When not working, she is to be found enjoying the "to die for" views from her new home on the moor, outside Grantown on Spey.
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Lisa Gunn
Lisa has been with us for five years now and, as well as managing the day to day accounts, she shares the responsibility of organising all our foreign holidays with Tania. She likes to be kept busy, and her attention to detail ensures that our overseas trips run like clockwork. Having moved from South East England to sleepy Applecross on the west coast of Scotland eight years ago, Lisa now lives in the slightly less isolated village of Carrbridge with her husband, teenage daughter and various pets!
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Susanne McCafferty
Susanne joined Speyside Wildlife after a career break to raise her three young children. Born and bred in Speyside, she previously worked for the British Association of Snowsport Instructors, helping to organise their numerous training courses, and is now dealing with all aspects of our Scottish holidays. She enjoys walking through her local woods and spending time with her children.
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Donna MacPherson
Donna is the voice you’ll most often hear when you call Speyside Wildlife HQ and, as well as dealing with our hide and day guiding bookings, she also helps out
with our sales and marketing. She is the life and soul of the office and keeps us all laughing, so it’s no surprise that she enjoys socialising with her friends in her spare time. Another local, born and bred in Boat of Garten, she has recently bought her first home, in Aviemore.
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Tania Pedersen
Tania is another of the voices you’ll hear when you call our office and she deals with all aspects of administration to ensure you have all the information you need for your holiday. Along with Lisa, she also shares the responsibility of organising all our foreign holidays. Tania first came to the area in the winter of 2001 to work for the ski season and has been here ever since! She is from Mallaig, on the west coast of Scotland, but now lives in Boat of Garten with her boyfriend.
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Emma Blyth
Emma has worked with Speyside Wildlife for over 8 years and, despite recently relocating with her boyfriend to Aberdeen, she continues to works for us part-time. Emma is responsible for our marketing and advertising, including brochure and website development, newsletters etc. When she manages to find some spare time, she enjoys nothing more than getting up into the mountains on her snowboard or enjoying good seafood and whisky whilst camping on the West Coast.
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