Welcome to HOLIDAY West Highland - Discover the West Highlands

Wildlife - in Focus

Author Holiday West Highland

THE West Highlands of Scotland is home to a multitude of spectacular wildlife from the majestic splendour of the golden eagle to the smaller, but equally interesting, red squirrel.

Wildlife abounds, offering the holidaymaker with a eye for nature, hours of relaxing, free entertainment. And, of course, the opportunity to perhaps spot something just that little bit different. There has to be some irony in that, what we oft en refer to as wilderness, wasteland or remoteness are the very environments that we seek when getting away from the rat-race of life.

Spring is the best time to see the many species of wild flowers which bloom in the glens and leafy avenues while among the feathered residents you may find song thrushes, tits, dippers, buzzards, herons and, with luck, one of the rising number of Peregrine falcons.

The opportunities to see natures mammals are too many to list - but watch out for the noble Red Deer in the high hills and glens, or their smaller ‘Bambi’ cousins, the Roe Deer, in lowland sheltered woodland.

But be careful at dusk or dawn for 30,000 to 50,000 accidents happen in the UK each year relating to deer. Early evening and early mornings are also the best times to see families of shy badgers or wily country foxes - not to be confused with the cheeky town upstart, the urban fox. Badgers may be familiar to many of us, but very few will actually have seen this communal character in his (or her) natural setting. On the river bank, loch side or seashore keep a keen eye for Otters. Although largely nocturnal, otters do hunt during the day especially along remote coastal areas. They are highly adapted for swimming and love to frolic among the seaweed.

If you are very lucky you may catch a glimpse of a Pine Martin. This cat-size member of the stoat family is often mistaken for a polecat but is larger with bushy tail and a splash of creamy fur on its chest. Their diet is very varied and they live on voles, birds, insects, berries plus almost anything they can get their paws on. Although once persecuted almost to extinction pine martins have made a dramatic comeback in the West Highlands - but a sighting is very special treat.

Another seldom seen furry friend is the Red Squirrel. If you are in conifer woodland watch out for Scotland’s most charismatic woodland species with its bushy tail and little ear tufts. The wildlife thrills need not be confined to land. The seas around the coast off er sightings of both Common and Grey Seals as they bask on the rocks or bob in the surf while, when the waters around out coast warm later in the summer, you may be lucky enough to catch sight of a huge Basking Shark as they hunt for tiny plankton that makes-up their staple diet. The second largest fish in the world, reaching 11 metres long and weighing at up to seven tonnes, Basking Sharks are harmless giants and are a protected species.

Remember, when watching West Highland wildlife, please leave nothing behind but footprints!