Skye & Northwest Scotland

Overview

The island of Skye has come to epitomise the “Highlands”; a wild open landscape, dramatic peaks, thundering seas, eagles, lively music and hearty Scottish charm. And indeed it is or has all of those as well as a plethora of exciting wildlife. This week-long tour combines the very best of Skye and its wildlife with Wester Ross, a gnarled coastline punctuated by deep sea lochs and flanked by equally impressive peaks. Both areas abound in wildlife and we will enjoy exploring a multitude of habitats.

In the rich seas, specifically the Minch and Hebridean Sea, we will take boat trips and look for a variety of cetaceans from Harbour Porpoises to Humpback Whales. The same waters are also home to all four British Auks including Puffins and Black Guillemots many of which breed on the nearby Shiant Islands. We will spend time searching the coast for Otters which are widespread in this area and the same rocky shores also offer an incredible array of marine life from colourful Nudibranchs to Stalked Jellyfish!

The sandy bays are often fringed by beautiful machair, a flower-rich habitat only found in northern and western Britain. Here Skylarks should fill the air with song and many waders breed in this habitat. Along the more dramatic coasts sea cliffs are home to both Golden and White-tailed Eagles and with luck these could be daily encounters. Hen Harriers are scarce summer visitors to the heather uplands and on the lochans we may find Red- and Black-throated Divers as well as Whooper Swans. Remnants of Caledonian forest still persist in a couple of places and we will enjoy these ancient forests and the many species which occur in them from Northern Emerald Dragonflies to Spotted Flycatchers. All in all this two-centre tour promises to offer some of the best of the Highlands and Islands.

With both Rachael & Dan as leaders you get the best leader to guest ratio around and double the knowledge.