In a world where being constantly connected feels inescapable, it’s easy to crave a break from it all. Work follows you everywhere. Meals are on-demand. Endless entertainment is just a click away. That’s when you need a real escape, and Carn Dearg Bothy delivers just that. Nestled high in the stunning Perthshire hills, this truly off-grid, eco-friendly retreat for two is the antidote to modern life.
Tucked away on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, Carn Dearg Bothy sits in the heart of Ashintully Estate’s unspoiled wilderness. The estate is just three miles from the main road. The last 1.5 miles are navigable only by foot, bike, or in one of the estate’s off-road vehicles. This bumpy yet exhilarating journey through heather-clad moors feels like leaving civilisation behind with every step or turn.
2. Eco-Friendly Living
Once a humble shepherd’s shelter, Carn Dearg has been reimagined into a snug, off-grid haven for two people (and up to two dogs). Sustainable features include:
A wood-burning stove for cooking and heating.
Solar-heated water, perfect for the outdoor shower.
Battery-powered lighting and twinkling solar fairy lights.
There’s no TV, WiFi, or broadband — just the occasional flicker of a mobile signal. And the only running water? Pure spring water from the hillside.
3. Absolute Privacy
You’ll find no human neighbours for 40 miles to the north. Instead, you’ll share this slice of paradise with deer, hares, grouse, and golden eagles. Feel free to swing open the door of the composting loo to enjoy the view—or indulge in a wood-fired hot tub soak, perched on the hillside behind the bothy. Forget borrowing milk from next door; solitude is the ultimate luxury here.
4. Stunning Surroundings
This stone-built bothy is a photographer’s dream. From its stag-antler chandelier to a doorway framing breathtaking views, every corner of Carn Dearg invites admiration. Add in the chance to spot the Northern Lights, rare wildlife, and sweeping vistas, and you’ve got a landscape that’s as Insta-worthy as it is inspiring.
5. Cosy Comforts
Despite its rugged location, Carn Dearg Bothy is wonderfully cosy. The woodburning stove creates warmth in minutes, and the thick stone walls retain it beautifully. Inside, you’ll find:
Tweed-clad armchairs perfect for fireside lounging.
A mezzanine-level double bed for peaceful slumbers.
A small but well-equipped kitchen and chunky dining table for homely meals.
Every detail has been designed with comfort in mind, offering a snug retreat after a day exploring the hills.
View from door
6. Unrivalled Stargazing
With no light pollution, the night sky here is a celestial spectacle. Gather around the fire bowl to cook, watch for shooting stars, and listen for owls hunting in the darkness. It’s a magical experience that reminds you of the beauty of simplicity.
Wood-fired hot tub
7. Adventure at Your Doorstep
There’s no shortage of things to do:
Tackle the Cateran Mini Trail, a 20-mile loop steeped in history.
Swim or fish in nearby lochs and river pools.
Climb one of Glenshee’s Munros or test your skills on mountain bike trails.
From roaring stags to leaping salmon, the wildlife alone is worth the trip.
8. Short but Sweet
Stays at Carn Dearg are limited from two to seven nights due to the solar battery capacity. But by the time you leave, you’ll feel recharged and rejuvenated—ready to face the world with a fresh perspective.
What guests are saying
03-Oct-2024
“Amazing, magic place. Recommended for anyone who love peace and quiet. Host very friendly and helpful. Dreaming to back there :)”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
21-Sep-2024
“We had a super stay at the bothy. Great walking, and a super secluded location. The bothy was very comfy and cosy. We had pretty much everything we needed. The outdoor shower was fantastic. We slept extremely well!”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
15-Aug-2024
“The Bothy is in an amazing secluded location on the moor which we walked up to (we had been offered a lift up, but wanted to walk!). I couldn’t recommend spending time in this fantastic property away from the rush of normal life enough!.”
Off-grid properties like Carn Dearg Bothy don’t require a short-term let licence. If you’re considering converting a property into an eco-friendly retreat, contact Unique Cottages for expert advice.
With flowers bursting into bloom all around, lambs skipping in the fields and the clocks about to go forward, it is time to experience the joys of Spring. The sun is starting to put its hat on so why not make 2023 the year for a Scottish adventure? Here are just 10 of the reasons why that should be right at the top of the ‘to do’ list.
St Abbs, Berwickshire
Reason 1. To see the stars of the silver screen
Film location scouts have been recognising the beauty and versatility of Scotland’s striking scenery more and more over recent years, with some impressive film franchises choosing to film here.
For the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny film to be released in June 2023, locations in both Glasgow and the Scottish Borders were made use of. The quaint little village of St Abbs on the Berwickshire coastline was transformed into New Asgard for ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and even boasts a sign now that says ‘St Abbs – Twinned with New Asgard’ which is an ideal photo opportunity for fans.
The railway line that crosses the huge Glenfinnan Viaduct at the top of Loch Shiel was famously used by the Hogwarts Express in not one, but three of the Harry Potter Films. In fact, it has become so widely recognised now that it is often referred to as the ‘Harry Potter railway’.
As the weather improves beach trips are an absolute must and, with 48 beaches across Scotland awarded Blue Flag Awards in 2023 for their cleanliness, facilities and water quality, there are lots to choose from.
At Elie in the East Neuk of Fife the small but perfectly formed beach is very picturesque with its gorgeous golden sands. It is great for watersports with everything from windsurfing and canoeing to stand up paddle boarding and banana boat rides. Just along from the beach is Lady’s Tower which was built in the 1700s as a viewing point for Lady Jane Anstruther to appreciate the sea vista from after her daily skinny dip! In order to spare her blushes a servant would be sent into the town to ring a bell letting the locals know to stay away.
Fisher’s Brae Cottage, Coldingham
Another Blue Flag awarded beach can be found at Coldingham Bay in the Scottish Borders with a stretch of sand over half a mile long and colourful beach huts, some of which are around 100 years old!Fisher’s Brae Cottagesits in the heart of the village just 15 minutes’ walk from the beach and could not be better placed for a romantic seaside break set up perfectly just for two.
Scotland offers the chance to not just smell the roses, but with a range of gorgeous Botanic Gardens dotted across the country, a whole host of other amazing plants and flowers too.
Logan Botanic Gardens, near Stranraer
Tucked away in the heart of the beautiful capital, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a stunning oasis that just begs to be discovered. With more than 70 acres to explore and something different to see around every corner, it is easy to while away a blissful day wandering around taking it all in.
The exotic Logan Botanic Gardens near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway are home to a fascinating mix of plants and trees from Australia, South America and even southern Africa. It is quite an experience to wander amongst the palm trees and eucalyptus, with vibrant rhododendrons and azaleas adding a riot of colour. The walled garden is a particular highlight and the blue Himalayan poppies really have to be seen to be believed.
Scotland is very much walking country with waymarked walking paths carved out all across the country offering the chance to head out amongst nature and get a little muddy.
Those looking for a real challenge might consider taking on one of the best known – The West Highlands Way. This long-distance route is 96 miles long and, although physically demanding, is said to be well worth the effort! At the end in Fort William many a weary walker can be seen doing the ‘West Highland Way shuffle’ after it has taken quite the toll on their poor feet.
The John Muir Way starts at Helensburgh and stretches across central Scotland ending at the well known conservationist and inventor’s birthplace of Dunbar. It is a journey of 134 miles in total with some fabulous scenery to take in along the way.
View from Carrick View, Helensburgh
Set only 15 minutes’ drive from Helensburgh is charming Carrick View, a spacious and contemporary retreat sleeping 6 that enjoys spectacular views out over the sparkling waters of Loch Long.
It is surprising how many people’s heritage can be traced back to Scotland and putting together a family tree is an enthralling process to undertake.
The ScotlandsPeople Centre in Edinburgh houses a wealth of information that can help track down family members including births, deaths and marriage registers and census records. Another good resource is the Geneology Centre in Blairgowrie Library which is open to the public (at set times) and has knowledgeable volunteers who help visitors track down family ties around the area.
Those looking to find their clan tartan will enjoy a visit to the Lochcarron Weaver’s Shop on the western shore of Loch Carron that has over 700 tartans to choose from. They are still woven to this day in their mill in Selkirk in the Scottish Borders and the visitor centre there runs interesting tours that explain all about the weaving process.
Reason 6. Tobag yourself some Munros
With the days drawing out, the increased daylight hours mean that some of Scotland’s many Munros can be climbed. These peaks, classified as Munros at over 3,000 feet high, were named in honour of the famous mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro.
Aonach Eagach ridge, Glen Coe
There are more than 280 to choose from and once those are ticked off the list (which would be no mean feat) there are also more than 200 corbetts (peaks between 2,500 and 3,00 feet high) to tackle.
Anamchara, Pap of Glencoe, Argyll
With over 40 different munros in easy reach of it, Anamchara in Argyll couldn’t be more perfectly placed. Its stunning mountain views are truly unrivalled and the path up to the Aonach Eagach ridge, which has two munros within it, runs literally right by the driveway. It sleeps up to 5 people in comfort and great style and is the ideal base for getting out into the mountains.
While Scotland is often known for its traditional dishes such as haggis, cullen skink, stovies and cranachan, there is also fine dining on offer where a twist is added to some of the classics. In fact, there are now 11 restaurants in Scotland that have received a prestigious Michelin star for their amazing fare that makes use of wonderful local produce.
Loch Fyne Oyster Bar on the banks of, unsurprisingly, Loch Fyne draws in diners from near and far to try their wonderfully fresh seafood. Oysters are of course first on the list of things to sample, they are an aphrodisiac after all, and the seafood platter is particularly impressive.
For a more informal option, the traditional Italian dishes from Tagliotello really are hard to beat. This mobile restaurant sets up stall at various locations around Inverness and is certainly worth tracking down for incredible homemade pasta and the best tiramisu outside of Italy. Another favourite is the popular Cheesy Toast Shack in St Andrews for one of their famous Mac n Cheese toasties that are not only delicious but have quite the impressive cheese pull.
Reason 8. To tick the Northern Lights off the bucket list
Rua Reidh lighthouse, near Gairloch
The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) are a spectacular natural phenomenon that light up the sky in an array of blue, green and purple hues.
The Outer Hebridean islands are one of the best places to spot them as they are so far to the north west. They can also be seen a lot further south that might be expected and this year in particular have put on a stunning show that has been witnessed right across the country.
Principal Keeper’s House, Rua Reidh lighthouse
Amazing displays of the lights have been seen from The Rua Reidh Lighthouse on the coast near Gairloch in Wester Ross. Principal Keeper’s House is set within the compound of the lighthouse and sleeps up to 4 people (and 2 dogs) in a location that showcases views that will not be easily forgotten.
With relatively little traffic, Scotland’s quiet country roads are a terrific way of exploring on two wheels. Those needing a bit of a hand on the hills can even hire an electric bike, as many bike hire shops now offer this handy option.
A brand new, coast to coast cycle route is set to open in summer 2023, named the Kirkpatrick C2C after Kirkpatrick Macmillan who invented the rear-wheel driven bicycle. It is 250 miles in total stretching from Stranraer in the west to Eyemouth on the eastern coast and is sure to be a hit with cyclists looking for their next challenge.
Mountain bikers will also be in their element as there are a good range of excellent mountain biking centres to choose from that have challenging graded trails to suit most ages and abilities. The 7stanes mountain biking centres strung out across the South of Scotland are deservedly renowned, from Glentrool in the Galloway Forest Park all the way over to Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders.
History buffs will be spoilt for choice in Scotland with so much rich history to explore from castles and stately homes to mighty standing stones, ancient abbeys and six World Heritage Sites.
The Battle of Culloden which took place near Inverness in 1746 was the last ever pitched battle to be fought in the UK. Today, it is possible to walk along the battle lines of the field and see the graves of the soldiers. A museum within the visitor centre showcases interesting artefacts including some of the weapons that were used on the day and there is also an immersive, 360 degree theatre experience that captures the reality of the epic battle.
Prince Albert’s Cairn, Balmoral Estate
One lesser known but definitely captivating sights is Prince Albert’s Cairn, which is rather unexpected to find in a forest on the Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire. The 35 foot cairn was erected by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved late husband with a magnificent view out over the Cairngorms National Park. There are 11 different cairns within the estate and a circular walk leads around them, taking a couple of hours to see them all.
With those being only 10 of the many, many reasons to plan your spring (or any time) adventure in Scotland, one visit will certainly not be enough to fit everything in! #aweekisnotenough
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, Angus Glens
East Campsie Cottageis 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.
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.
Saoirse, Gardenstown
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.
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.
Torr Soluis, Kilmory
The beautiful Ardnamurchan peninsula is one of the few places they can be seen and Torr Soluisis in the ideal, remote location to look out for them as well as potentially catching sight of the amazing Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
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.
The Mission Hall, Sutherland
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.
It is easy to write about the cute, cuddly, cretins and beautiful, bodacious, birds that make up Scotland’s abundant wildlife. However this week I feel I should give mention to a rather unusual fish that has been in the news this week. The Sparling, a fish indigenous to Scotland, was once very common in Scottish rivers but now its numbers have seriously declined and it has to be said not many people even know about its existence, let alone the challanges it faces.
If you put the word ‘Sparling’ in Google, you will find that the top listings have absolutely nothing to do with this small silver fish – but perhaps that is because they are better known as European Smelt (Sparling being the Scottish name for this uncommon aquatic vertebrate). They spend their most of their lives in the coastal waters around Western Europe, but in March (infact right about now) they take advantage of the high spring tides and these courageous little fish make their way upstream to spawn.
The River Cree
Despite their ability to withstand the changes from salt water to fresh water, Sparling are actually pretty poor swimmers (not something I ever thought I’d find myself saying about a type of fish) and this has played a part in its elusiveness in British rivers. As the water quality in our inland waters has decreased, so the number of rivers in which Sparling can be found has reduced vastly, and now they are only found in three rivers in Scotland – the Forth, the Tay and the Cree.
Newton Stewart
It was the fight to save the future of these fish in the river Cree that caught my attention this week as volunteers braved the river during the night to carry out important conservation work – I have to say, rather them than me! The river Cree, in the west of the country, flows from Loch Moan in the heights of the Glentrool Forest to exit into the North Channel not far from the bustling market town of Newton Stewart. It is the only river on the West Coast that still attracts Sparling to its waters, although the conservation work that is being undertaken includes an attempt to establish the nearby river Fleet as another place that they will spawn. This is great news, as Sparling were, for so long, an important part of the eco-system for many Scottish rivers and their visits support the survival of many other animals such as seals, goosanders and otters in the waters that they manage to continue to journey through.
It seems odd, even to me, that the plight of this wee fish has caught my imagination, especially as I was not aware of it until this week – but I will definitely hold out hope for the survival of Sparling in the Cree and the success of its re-introduction to other rivers in Scotland!
A trip out of the office this week taught me that you don’t need to go to Africa to embark on an expedition which surrounds you with fascinatingly diverse habitats and puts you in to close proximity with an assortment of rare and fascinating wildlife!
Just as the game reserves of Kenya and the Serengeti aim to protect and conserve the area’s indigenous species in their natural habitats, increasingly Scottish farmers are endeavouring to ensure that the land they tend promotes the prosperity of our native ecosystems. One particular estate in the heart of the Scottish Borders has demonstrated its commitment to the conservation of local wildlife by ensuring all its land is used with the benefit of nature as a primary concern.
Whitmuir Estate, not far from the town of Selkirk, illustrates definitively that modern farming methods need not infringe on the resident plants and animals with which it shares it soil. In fact, over 170 different species of animal have been found on Whitmuir Estate in the last 10 years! Large areas of the lands are now scattered with wild flowers where numerous varieties of butterflies, moths and ladybirds are clearly in seventh heaven!
Among the exceptional provisions which have been made are special ‘beetle banks’ created in the estate’s arable fields, ensuring that when the ground is ploughed insects have a safe and undisturbed sanctuary close by in to which they can scuttle. There are quite a few ponds, wooded areas, hedges and fields which have been specifically set aside for native fauna and flora to thrive. And although the word ‘safari’ is actually Swahili, it literally means ‘journey’ –
Whitmuir Estate offers you the opportunity for a journey which takes you through a hidden wonderland of Scottish natural treasures, one that even most locals are unaware exists! Because of the need to preserve the delicate plant life that makes up the rare habitats as well as protect its inhabitants from too much human interference, Whitmuir Estate is not open to the public, but Unique Cottages clients who choose to book one of the 3 properties on the estate will find themselves right in the middle of this wildlife haven.
When I was at school (not so long ago – honest!) there was a period of time when sightings of unidentified big cats in places such as Cornwall and Dartmoor were common place in the tabloid newspapers. As a teenager I found these stories rather intriguing. Perhaps it was the allure of the unknown that fed my imagination, or the idea that these predators were surviving against all odds out with their preferred environment and eluding humans in the process.
Rarer animals that avoid human contact and lurk far from civilisation often do have that bit more appeal than the common, every-day species of animals that share our lives and lands. I think it’s the air of mystery which they create, through the privacy they crave and their almost secretive nature, which sparks our imagination. One such example, which has quickly become a favourite of mine, is the Scottish Wildcat.
Wildcat at the Highland Wildlife Park, Inverness-shire
I share my home with two gorgeous (although I recognise that I am slightly biased) Siamese cats and I am incredibly fond of them. They’re cuddly, affectionate, comical, cute and amazingly human-like, but the thought of them surviving without the comforts with which I provide them is almost not worth considering. Their breeding and the way I have raised them has resulted on them being almost entirely dependent on me. A good example of this was provided during the period of heavy snow at the end of last year. As I trudged in and out of the house collecting wood from the shed for the fire I left the back door of the cottage open. Isis, the more inquisitive of my two cats, decided to venture out on to the door step, putting her front paws into the snow that had gathered. Next thing I heard was an almighty cry (more like that of a baby than a cat) and a flash of black fur as she shot past me back into the warmth of the house – she hasn’t attempted to venture out since!
Pampered Pets!
As much as I love my cats (I even got rid of my husband because my cats were allergic), I found myself even more greatly charmed by their native cousins when I visited the Highland Wildlife Park this weekend. Just as beautiful as my domestic felines, these cats are truly enthralling creatures – in their natural environment they are extraordinarily illusive and extremely wary of humans, keeping well away from populated areas. It is thought that there are as few as 400 of them left in the wild, hiding out in the remotest, most isolated parts of the Scottish Highlands – so seeing them in their natural habitat is a very special treat for those lucky enough to do so.
Seeing these untamed, independent and self-sufficient wild animals, with their perfectly honed instincts, determined nature and resilient attitude it was difficult to believe that the delicate, indulged, wimpy wee ‘scaredy’ cats that I live with are related to them at all! In my eyes Scottish Wildcats resemble larger cats such as tigers, lions and pumas, more than they do our domesticated pet moggys and I think it is the inherent unpredictability and enigmatic attitude that they share with larger predators which makes them so enchanting and fascinating. If you have the opportunity to visit one of the centres which is supporting the survival of this scarce, and often underappreciated, native prowler I wholeheartedly recommend you do so.
If you want to get £2 off per person, per ticket, to visit the Highland Wildlife Park , Scottish Holiday company ‘Unique Cottages’are running a discount promotion, just sign up to their free E-magazine or join them on Facebook to gain access to the offer.
The news at the beginning of this week reporting the introduction of new laws to protect Scottish seals brought to mind an old Scottish legend told me as a child by my dear old, if not a little superstitious, grandmother.
The story went like this:
A seal hunter is woken one night by a stranger who states that his master requests the presence of the seal hunter and asks the hunter to go with him to his master’s abode. The seal hunter agrees and is taken, on the back a large black horse, many miles through the Scottish countryside to the edge of a cliff. On arrival at the cliff’s edge the seal hunter questions his escort as to where his master’s home is, at which point the stranger grabs the hunter and they both plummet downwards into the sea. The hunter wakes in a beautiful underwater kingdom, surrounded by the same animals that he has dedicated his life to killing and is approached by a large boar seal.
The boar seal leads him through the kingdom to a room where another seal lies dying with a huge knife wound to its belly. It turns out that this injured seal is the father of the large boar seal who invited the hunter to his realm, and the hunter recalls how earlier in the day, while hunting, he had stabbed a seal but not having killed it, only wounded it, the seal had managed to swim away with his knife blade still buried within it.
The hunter is told by the boar seal that he, as the one who inflicted the wound, is the only one who can save his father and requests that the hunter does so. The hunter removes the knife blade and magically the wound heals. The boar then tells the hunter that they will allow him to leave the underwater kingdom and return home only if he promises to surrender his job and vow never to harm a seal again. The hunter, feeling rather overwhelmed and more than a little homesick, agrees – worrying all the way home (on the back of that black horse again) how he will make ends meet now he cannot do what he has always done to make a living for himself. But when he returns home, before the stranger bids him farewell, he is handed a purse full of gold coins, enough to ensure that he will be comfortable for the rest of his life.
I’m sure the moral to this story is meant to be something along the lines of – if you do the right thing, and don’t harm others, you will be richly rewarded, but as a child the message I took from it was don’t hurt a seal or you might end up being taken to the bottom of the sea!
It would seem that seals now have more than just bedtime stories to discourage people from killing or harming them without good reason, as the new law makes it an offence to kill or injure a seal except under licence, with a potential penalty of a hefty fine or even 6 months in prison. Although seals can and do cause problems for the fishing industry, they are long standing residents of our seas and shores and I personally believe that more regulation of the way in which they are culled has to be a good thing – so the new law gets my seal of approval (excuse the pun, I couldn’t help myself!)
Seals in the Sound of Jura
Fortunately it still remains legal to shoot seals as much as your heart desires – as long as it’s with a camera! So, for those who fancy spending some time admiring these intriguing animals below is a list of my favourite places to spot them around Scotland:
The Moray Firth Coastline
The shores of Loch Linnhe
The Orkney Islands
The Sound of Jura
The shoreline at Fast Castle, near Coldingham
Fast Castle Seals
And just a wee bit of advice -please remember that even the cutest of seals with the biggest, most appealing eyes are still wild animals and if you do get too close and make them feel threatened they may bite in defence. Keeping a safe distance ensures seal watching is an enjoyable experience for both you and the seal!
This weekend I decided to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird watch. I have to say, purposeful bird watching is not something I’ve done before or really wanted to do before – don’t get me wrong, if I’m out and about and I happen to see some rare or unusual bird life I’m as delighted as the next person, but sitting still (and being quiet) for long periods of time has never been one of my talents!
However having watched something about the event on the telly last week I thought it would do no harm to lend a hand! The BBC programme had explained that this year’s ‘watch’ had even greater importance than normal because of the need to consider the impact of the extremely snowy and cold weather this winter on the garden bird population. Knowing the impact it had on me, I thought it might be interesting to see how our feathered friends had been affected without advantages such as an open fire and plenty of jumpers.
So, having downloaded the bird counting sheet from the website, I began my hour of bird watching poised in anticipation, pen ready in hand, at my sitting room window looking out at the bird table in my small front garden. But as the minutes ticked by, expectation gradually turned to disappointment and my initial eagerness slowly became despondency at the lack of winged characters willing to take advantage of the array of nuts my well stocked bird feeder had on offer! You’d not see me turn down free food!
In fact, in the whole hour I only saw 3 rather dishevelled female Pheasants sneaking along, carefully sticking close to the side of a dyke on the hill beyond my garden (probably wisely avoiding the danger of the open hillside on a shoot day).
And yeah, you guessed it- Pheasants weren’t even included on my bird watching sheet!!
Feeling rather defeated at the end of my vigilant watch, my thoughts turned to why I hadn’t seen any of the garden birds I had hoped to? Perhaps they knew what I was up to and were sat, just out of my range of sight, having a wee chuckle together about how frustrated I would be if they avoided my garden for this particular hour! Or more worryingly, could the harsh winter weather, and the resulting lack of available food, be the cause for their unfortunate absence? Or maybe my nearest neighbour, half a mile down the valley, had a better selection of bird goodies on offer and I was simply being snubbed!
The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, I think I got my answer.
As I stood at the kitchen window doing the washing up, a shadow fell over the back garden and a greyish blue-brown coloured feathered creature, with yellow legs and piercing eyes, promptly swooped down and elegantly landed on the fence. This rather magnificent bird is not a stranger to the area around my cottage; I have often seen this mighty bird of prey expertly riding the up-drafts when I’m out walking nearby – but never in the garden before! And then it dawned on me, this fine animal was probably the reason my well planned observation had been so unsuccessful and the key is in its name – Sparrowhawk! Known to prey on smaller birds, as well as small mammals and insects, adult Sparrowhawks are thought to, on average, consume about 2 small birds a day.
I know I should have felt privileged to have this beautiful bird grace me with its presence so close to my home, especially considering its secretive nature; but the timing of its visit, just after my first attempt at bird watching, did seem a little ironic! And as it sat proudly on the fence, no doubt pausing mid hunt, I could have sworn it was grinning at me!
