Scotland’s unspoilt countryside is a haven for an array of wildlife so those looking to spot some of our more unusual species for themselves can easily combine the experience with their well deserved holiday. Here we look at four of our favourites that can be seen from either the comfort of our cottages or very nearby.

1. Scottish Wildcats

The elusive wildcat looks remarkably similar to a domestic tabby cat but they are stockier and can be up to 50% bigger than an average house cat. They are very hardy animals with thick coats that protect them from the elements in the colder months and have extraordinary night vision and an incredible sense of smell that make them fantastic hunters. They mainly eat mice and other rodents, rabbits, rats and hares and sometimes munch on blades of grass to aid their digestion in the same way that domestic moggies do.

Wildcats usually produce one litter of kittens a year consisting of around two to five incredibly cute kittens. Sadly a critically endangered species, many of the existing wildcats are in captivity as part of breeding programmes that aim to be able to release the kittens into the wild. Some can still be seen around Scotland for the lucky few that manage to catch a glimpse of them.

East Campsie Cottage is set within the Airlie Estate that extends to over 30,000 acres and is home to wildcats and a range of other wildlife. Sleeping up to 6 people and welcoming 2 pets it is the perfect rural retreat that is great for munro baggers with 10 of them to take on in easy driving distance.

2. Puffins

Puffins, or sea parrots as they are often known, are known for their iconic colourful beaks which are actually only a feature in the breeding season from April to August. The coloured sections are shed in the winter when they are out at sea, which makes them much harder to recognise. Weighing about the same as a loaf of bread at just over one pound, they can carry up to 15 to 20 fish in their mouths at one time with their snack of choice being herrings.

In order to create their nests puffins burrow into the cliffs, laying only one egg per year from which hatches an adorable wee ball of fluff known as a puffling! They live up to around 18 years and are amazing swimmers with bright orange, webbed feet that help speed them through the water and dive down as far as 60 metres whilst hunting.

Puffins are among the mainly varieties of seabirds that call the RSPB Troup Head Reserve on the Aberdeenshire coast home and Saoirse is only a 10 minute drive away so is ideally placed for a visit. With extensive, stylish accommodation and amazing sea views to take in throughout it is a wonderful seaside hideaway.

3. Pine Martens

Pine martens are mustelids (part of the weasel family) and their name comes from the fact that they spend the majority of their time in pine trees. Their cream-coloured bibs stand out from their dark brown fur and they are roughly the same size as a house cat.

These fascinating creatures can be shy but can most often be spotted in the evenings when they can be enticed by some of their favourite treats that are, surprisingly, peanut butter or jam sandwiches. As well as their sarnies they eat birds and small rodents as well as berries and insects. They have been a legally protected species since the 1980s, which means that their woodland habitats are safeguarded.

The beautiful Ardnamurchan peninsula is one of the few places they can be seen and Torr Soluis is in the ideal, remote location to look out for them as well as potentially catching sight of the amazing Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.

4. Red Squirrels

Whilst their grey counterparts are not an unusual sight, red squirrels are not so common now, although Scotland is one of the best places to see them. Their colour can vary and they can also be identified by their impressive ear tufts as they scamper amongst the trees. The ideal times to look out for them are in the mornings or late afternoons when they can be tempted down from the trees with nuts, some of which are cheekily swiped from bird feeders.

Surprisingly they don’t hibernate in the colder months, instead quite literally squirrelling away food to last them through the winter. They live in dreys about the size of footballs up in trees, producing two or three young (kittens) per litter and often having more than one litter a year.

For a real close-up look at these fascinating creatures, The Mission Hall near Bonar Bridge up in Sutherland is the perfect choice. As it occupies an idyllic setting right in amongst the woods its red squirrel neighbours can easily be watched from the windows which is a delightful sight.