Tour Diary - Scotland’s Hidden North Coast, Discovering Caithness and Sutherland
14th - 20th June 2025
25th June - 1st July 2023
Scotland’s north coast has become famous as a 500-mile driving route but our week shadowing this path showed that the region is truly superb for wildlife and scenery. From Bottlenose Dolphins feeding just meters away to stomach-churning gorges lined with verdant ferns, dramatic cliffs and stacks to White-tailed Eagles hanging over our heads, this tour really delivered the best of Scotland’s Hidden North.
Over seven days we explored the wild landscapes of Assynt where Black and Red-throated Divers showed superbly and an evening Otter delighted. A pair of Golden Eagles quartered a low ridge line and Great Skuas and Black Guillemots fed along the coast. Rachael delved in to the marine world and strand line on Clachtoll Beach and plants fascinated with some diminutively beautiful, yet carnivorous Pale Butterworts and their commoner counterparts.
The very north-west of Scotland produced stunning sandy bays, piebald Great Northern Divers, breeding waders and delicious hot chocolate as well as the dramatic Smoo Cave with its river in full flow cascading through the cavern. Once again the flora abounded both here and at Strathy sand dunes with a plethora of orchids including Frog and Fragrant, and the range restricted Scottish Primula blushed on Strathy Point.
A meeting with Rosemary and Julian Smith at their private reserve, St John’s Pool, was an undoubted highlight with eye-level views of breeding terns and a plethora of waterbird activity over and around this magic little haven. Seabirds abounded along the coast here and Dunnet and Duncansby delivered superb views of Puffins as well as Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Kittiwakes.
A visit to RSPB Forsinard Flows showed the Flow Country in all its glory with Hen Harrier, Large Heath butterfly, a Cuckoo chick being fed by a Meadow Pipit, and Great Sundews. The final morning produced a great array of Caledonian plants including the rare Twinflower as well as a plethora of woodland and coastal birds, both seals and fascinating mix of marine creatures off the Little Ferry jetty. All in all, a magical and wildlife packed week around Northern Scotland.
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