Sutherland and Speyside | Bird Watching in the Cairngorms

To Handa Island and back - Speyside’s speciality birds and mammals, plus spectacular seabird colonies in the north-west, all in Scotland’s most incredible land and seascapes.

• Fabulous long summer days when the sun barely sets

• Our favourite Speyside days, including the Scottish specialities

• Four days of stunning Sutherland birds and landscapes

• A full day on spectacular Handa Island in north-west Sutherland

• Durness and Balnakeil Bay on the northern edge of Scotland

• White-tailed Eagle, Greenshank and Rock Dove

• Early morning Black Grouse and cackling Red Grouse over the moors

This two centre holiday starts at a delightful hotel in Speyside, before heading to the top of Scotland and a small hotel in Sutherland. We look for some of the Cairngorms National Park’s best birds, including Crested Tit, crossbill, Ptarmigan and Slavonian Grebe, before heading north for eagles, auks and skuas on Handa Island and divers galore. Walking generally easy, with minibus transport throughout and short ferry crossing to Handa.

"Watching two W.T.Eagles over hills behind Gruinard Bay; Seeing a pair of Black-throated Divers with chick on a lochan in the middle of Sutherland moorland; Glimpsing a Golden Eagle between trees whilst being driven over the Farr Road; Eventually locating a Crested Tit in woods near Loch Garten (thanks to Kate's expertise!); Enjoying the amazing spectacle of an Otter feasting on his salmon supper by the side of the river outside our bedroom window (for over 15 mins!)....fantastic!" Eileen Knight, 2021