Where to go in the Highlands this winter ?

davidbridges

davidbridges

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David Bridges
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Hi all,

I am going to Scotland this year for the first time with a camera so its going to be great. I will be staying around Aviemore but our family travel all the time on holiday so no place is really off limits. I'm wanting to know where to take pictures and for me its going to be everywhere but are there any places that shouldn't go unoticed ? Im hopefully going to get some pictures of birds of prey this time as we saw loads on our last trip so if there are any hotspots or reserves tell me ! Erm anything else i should really know? (i'm hopefully going to get another GB card and a battery grip for my 350d *oh im trying to see if kerso will do one but i cant find his ebay* )

Thanks alot

Dave
 
You'll find Kerso under Flash Camera on ebay, or type Canon Scotland in the search field that'll take up his products.

As for where to go, anywhere up there really. There's plenty of forests, walks and mountains to go for wildlife. Dunno how easy it'll be to get birds of prey tho, the Ospreys'll have gone. What type you after?
 
There seem to have been more than usual numbers of birds of prey perched by the roadsides this year so you could well be lucky. A few miles (5 or 6) south of Aviemore there's a wild animal park which may be just what you want. Check out Ruthven Barracks at Kingussie also.
 
Bird wise i'm not fussed. Preferably buzzards, kestrels and last time we went we saw some red kites so any. Also wouldn't mind seeing some golden eagles....
 
davidbridges said:
Bird wise i'm not fussed. Preferably buzzards, kestrels and last time we went we saw some red kites so any. Also wouldn't mind seeing some golden eagles....
Click to expand...

Buzzards and Kestrals shouldn't be a problem seeing, there's loads of them about. Buzzards are a pain in the arse. I have dozens of them around where I live but for a big bird they are bloody hard to get close to. If you get a Kestral hovering you can sometimes sneak close enough while it's concentrating and get a good shot.

Kites have been reintroduced so there is a chance you'll see some. As for the majestic Golden eagle, good luck. There are reportedly some nesting within 20 to 60 miles of where I live but the sites are kept secret (for obvious reasons). I've never seen one in the wild.
 
oooh! I forgot, by Nethybridge there's an RSPB sanctuary thingy, There should be a pair of ospreys living nearby if they haven't migrated yet.
 
the ospreys have long gone by now. red kites on the Black Isle (just over Kessock bridge at Inverness). also dolphins at Chanonry Point (again on the Black Isle). ptarmigan and winter hare on Cairngorm
 
Mod edit: no selling out with classifieds please

davidbridges said:
Hi all,

I am going to Scotland this year for the first time with a camera so its going to be great. I will be staying around Aviemore but our family travel all the time on holiday so no place is really off limits. I'm wanting to know where to take pictures and for me its going to be everywhere but are there any places that shouldn't go unoticed ? Im hopefully going to get some pictures of birds of prey this time as we saw loads on our last trip so if there are any hotspots or reserves tell me ! Erm anything else i should really know? (i'm hopefully going to get another GB card and a battery grip for my 350d *oh im trying to see if kerso will do one but i cant find his ebay* )

Thanks alot

Dave
Click to expand...
 
if you want eagles try Findhorn Valley, almost guaranteed here. about 15 miles N of aviemore (turn left at Tomatin on A9) also plenty of red deer here.

there's also a herd of reindeer usually found roaming around the cairngorm ski area
 
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