Date
Cost
Availability
Deposit
Single Supp
| 12 Oct - 19 Oct 2025 £3695.00 6 Spaces £735.00 £300.00
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Leader | Sally Nowell and an Alladale Ranger |
Day 1 | Meet at our hotel in time for dinner - 1 night North Kessock Hotel, outskirts of Inverness. |
Day 2 | Visit local Inverness Reserve and on to the Black Isle, before heading to Alladale - 5 nights Alladale Lodge, Sutherland. |
Day 3 | Spend time exploring Alladale Reserve by Land Rover. |
Days 4-6 | Explore the Sutherland and north west coast wildlife watching. |
Day 7 | Leave Alladale travelling to Invernes, via Glenmorangie Distillery - 1 night North Kessock Hotel, outskirts of Inverness. |
Day 8 | We say our farewells. |
Weather | During a typical week in autumn we would expect to experience mixed sun and showers, with temperatures
in the range 5-25ºC. It can be wet and windy or we can be lucky and have lovely warm weather, warm layers including an effective waterproof jacket and trousers are advised. Hats and gloves are also recommended. |
Walking | We shall take regular but short walks, generally on easy tracks over even ground, but occasionally on rougher
paths of between 1-5 miles. Walking boots are strongly recommended. Bring walking poles if you think these
would be helpful. |
Meals | All included from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8. |
Insects | Unlikely to be a problem at this time of year. |
Accom | Double, twin and single rooms all ensuite. |
Group | 9 |
This is a privileged experience you will never forget. An autumn spectacular in the remote Northern Highlands, to immerse ourselves in the some of the best wildlife Scotland has to offer.48uep6bbph|00000E4E|Spey_BESQL3|HolidayTypes|Subheading 48uep6bbphidval|ALLADALE
| * Stay in the midst of the Red Deer rut
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| * Based in Alladale Wilderness Reserve
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| * Luxurious accommodation at remote Alladale Lodge
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| * Visit the Moray, Cromarty and Dornoch Firths
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| * Great opportunities for Golden and White-tailed Eagles
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| * Experience true wilderness, with no sound or light pollution
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| * Visit the fascinating Scottish Wildcat Project
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Day 1 | After your journey to Inverness we shall meet at our hotel to talk about the week ahead and enjoy our first meal together.
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Day 2 | After breakfast we make our way to a local Reserve along the banks of the Moray Firth, looking for Kingfisher, Water Rail, resident waders and seaduck. We shall also be looking out for Otter and Bottlenose Dolphin. Depending on the tide times we shall move on to Chanonry Point, surely one of the best places in the UK to see dolphins feeding. Here we have the largest Bottlenose Dolphins in the world; they frequently come in close to shore as the tide rises, to catch salmon as they move up the Firth.
We shall have lunch enroute and then in late afternoon will start to make our way to the fabulous Alladale Lodge, where we shall be spending our next five nights.
We arrive at Alladale in time to acquaint ourselves with our accommodation and settle in, before
enjoying a meal in our splendid dining room. Depending on the weather, we shall sit outside
one night around the open fire, listening to the bellow of the Red Deer stags and enjoying the
otherwise silent night. On clear nights we should have spectacular skies with no light pollution for
miles.
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Day 3 | This is a real escape into the depths of the remoter part of the Scottish Highlands and the hills in autumn can look quite magical.
On our first morning after breakfast, we shall be taken by the Alladale team out by Land Rover onto the Reserve. We shall hear about the innovative approach to land management and restoration taking place on this spectacular piece of land. Once a hunting Estate, now this 100 square kilometre Wilderness Reserve is ours to explore.
Along with hundreds of deer, also resident in beautiful Glen Mor are Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagles are regular visitors.
We shall lunch out on the Estate and have
a chance to hear about the Scottish Wildcat Project, run by the Royal Zoological Society but
supported by Alladale. This captive breeding programme to establish a viable population of
Scottish Wildlcat, includes two male and two female cats and with luck, some kittens may be
around at this time of year as well.
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Days 4-6 | Over the next days we shall be visiting some of the best local birding hotspots. In October we stand good chances of some excellent seawatching, with possible Manx and Sooty Shearwater, Pomarine Skua, Red and Black-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe. In the shelter of the firths wintering ducks may have arrived, such as Long-tailed Duck and Common Scoter.
Geese will also be arriving from further north, so we’ll hope for large numbers of Pink-footed and Greylag Geese and with luck even rarities such as Snow Goose can turn up. Whooper Swans will be arriving, as well as other winter visitors such as Brambling, Redwing and Fieldfare.
We shall visit Udale Bay and Loch Fleet, where large numbers of Eider gather; also Tarbet Ness and some of the small coastal towns along the wild Sutherland coasts. Often at this time of year Snow Bunting can be found along the shores and we may stand chances of early Glaucous and Iceland Gull amongst the mixed gull flocks.
Over on the west coast a spectacular drive will take us into Otter and White-tailed Eagle territory. Eyes will be on the skies and water’s edge as we head towards Ullapool and Gruinard Bay. Great Northern Divers and Black Guillemot in their beautiful winter plumage can be present here.
We shall also spend more time on the Reserve,
this time on foot, again looking and listening for Red Deer in combat on the high-sided valleys, where we might see Black Grouse. Red Deer can be remarkably trusting at Alladale and they too come around the building. Red Squirrels frequent the feeders outside the Lodge, giving some great
photo opportunities. If time allows we may visit the delightful town of Dornoch and its ancient
Cathedral.
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Day 7 | Sadly we’ll be leaving Alladale this morning, after breakfast. We’ll visit the famous Glenmorangie Distillery and then continue our birding, with some fabulous stops. We’ll be looking for our winter wildfowl and visiting waders, hoping for large numbers of Wigeon and Pintail, along with Whooper Swans and Golden Plover. We shall be reluctant to leave ‘the field’ today but we’ll finally return to our hotel in North Kessock, in time for dinner.
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Day 8 | After breakfast we shall say our goodbyes and depart.
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Just some of what we hope to see..
White-tailed Eagle | Scaup | Iceland Gull |
Golden Eagle | Widgeon | Snow Bunting |
Hen Harrier | Eider Duck | Harbour Porpoise |
Peregrine | Razorbill | Bottle-nosed Dolphin |
Black-throated Diver | Black Guillemot | Common Seal |
Red-throated Diver | Gannet | Grey Seal |
Great Northern Diver | Raven | Otter |
Slavonian Grebe | Great Skua | Red Deer |
Whooper Swan | Pomarine Skua | Red Squirrel |
Long-tailed Duck | Arctic Skua | Sika Deer |
Common Scoter | | |
"Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a beautiful and inspiring place. Its people, those working
outdoors on the Reserve and those looking after accommodation and food, are all very
professional and care about the details (like turning walking boots towards the
radiator in the drying room so that the insides are toasty in the morning). The group of 11,
including the guides, gelled very well indeed. The presence of two confident and eloquent
younger participants (aged 11 and 18) brought a different perspective to the conservation
issues and to the fun" David & Gill Parmee
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"I felt very privileged to visit and stay on the Alladale Wilderness Reserve. All the staff went
out of their way to look after us and answer all the questions we had about the estate.
I have followed it since the plans to reintroduce wolves first made the news quite a few years
ago. Seeing Scottish Wildcats up close was a particular highlight" Lynda Niccolls
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"For me everything was a new experience ie: really seeing birds and knowing what they were for the first time. I particularly fell in love with the cheeky little Dipper and loved watching the Oystercatchers and Curlews. We were very fortunate to see a mother Otter with her two young ones - this was quite mesmerising. Seeing the deer and the Red Squirrels on the estate was fabulous. I love the sea - and we went to the coast on three of the days - I particularly loved the beach at Durness" Joy Abbott
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"Alladale! The lodge, reserve and staff are superb. Watching 3 Otters interacting naturally at cloase quarters, the sheer number of birds at Nigg RSPB" Pat and Bob Martin
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"Red Squirrels at Alladale. Finding mermaids' purses at Balnakiel Bay. Variety of locations and species. Good company (just about the right number). Extremely competent and enthusiastic guide" Mike and Margaret Betts
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"Rutting Red Deer audible from the Lodge and a close view of a Sika stag. The tour of the aquaponics facility and sampling the produce from it" John Duerden
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"Arriving at the lodge for a welcome cup of tea, to then see two wild red stags peering in the windows. An Otter swimming to a rock and pausing briefly to eat his catch. Wonderful scenery and sunsets. Seeing Wildcats being bred for release. Being in the heart of a rewilding area and learning all about the 200 year strategy. Having the lodge to ourselves - no need for locks, being trusted to turn the lights off and shut the front door before retiring. Being able to come down in the night to get a coffee or tea. Just a perfect setting" Jane Nickerson
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"The Wild Cats are phenomenal, its a shame that this species is no longer "wild". Our day out with Ryan (Alladale guide) was interesting, informative and amusing. The West Coast is one of our favourite places to visit as the spectacular scenery and fabulous beaches are a big attraction for us. Although we had an enforced isolation for 2 days of the holiday (Covid-19), Sally kept us 'in the loop' changing the planned schedule to keep us up-to-date and the Alladale staff (in particular Annie), went beyond the call of duty, to keep us well fed and watered and comfortable. Alladale is an amazing place to visit and stay, one that you could easily return to" Franky and David Perry
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"Too many to mention! Alladale itself as a destination. Sitting by the firepit under the stars with a dram in hand soaking up the atmosphere. Seeing the vision of Paul Lister being realised and the enthusiasm of his staff. Having Sally impart her knowledge and enthusiasm whilst showing us numerous bird species. Seeing literally thousands of birds feeding on the shore at Tain Scalps - breathtaking!" Evelyn and Ronnie Turnbull
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Alladale Lodge, is located just an hour’s drive north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Alladale’s dramatic glens, colourful hills, glistening rivers, many hill lochs, and native wildlife will capture your heart. Set against rugged hills and the country’s most northerly ancient Caledonian pine forest, the Alladale Lodge is the ultimate private getaway. This beautiful Victorian manor, refurbished by Laura Ashley and available on exclusive use basis only, is comfortable and spacious with all ensuite bedrooms. Its traditional design makes it a true Scottish home away from home. The property boasts a set of lovely extras, such as an in-house sauna, gym and snooker room.
Their talented chef will prepare amazing meals every day, all you have to do is sit back and enjoy an evening by the fire after a day of exploring.
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A small, welcoming hotel located in North Kessock on the outskirts of Inverness. With views of Inverness and the Beauly Firth, this is the perfect location to start and end our holiday. All rooms are ensuite, facilities include hardryer, tea/coffee making facilites and a TV.
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