There are few places in the world that can rival the stunning landscapes of Scotland. These landscapes and surrounding seas are home to a vast array of wildlife from wild hare, to deer to dolphins. Here we will look at some of the best places in the North East to go to discover some incredible scenery and spot some of Scotland’s impressive wildlife.
Cullen Bay
In the historic county of Banffshire, which is on the border of the Moray Firth, is the beautiful village of Cullen. Cullen Bay is famed for its dolphin spotting. Visitors can go on walks which will take them to some of the areas prime for dolphin spotting. There is also the chance of spotting seals and osprey.
The Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park, one of the UK’s largest parks, is bursting at the seams with wildlife and is home to a staggering quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species. There a few daily guided tours of the park which will lead you to some of the best spots to see the local wildlife. The park not only has its own reindeer herd, but here you will also have the chance of a rare sighting of the impressive golden eagle and the rarer Scottish wildcat.
Explore Balmoral Castle and Estates
Near the town of Braemar is one of the Royal Family’s Scottish estates, Balmoral Castle. The estate was bought by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in the 19th century and has remained in possession of the family since. Every year, from the start of April to the end of July, Balmoral Castle grounds are opened to the public. If you are interested in either horse riding or fishing, where you can fish for salmon in the River Dee, then this is the place for you.
The Wildlife at Fowlsheugh Reserve
Near Crawton, on the southeast Aberdeenshire coast, is Fowlsheugh Reserve. The area offers stunning views and plenty of cliffs that thousands of seabirds have made their home. Every breeding season over 130,000 birds flock to the area, including razorbills, kittiwakes and even puffins. Not only will you get a chance to see a huge variety of birdlife, you might also be lucky enough to see grey seals and dolphins in the nearby waters.
Discovering the Loch of Strathbeg Nature Reserve
The Loch of Strathbeg, not far from Peterhead, is a special protection area for wildlife. There are 3 hideaway spots for visitors to go to and look out over the loch, which is maintained by the RSPB, in the hope of spotting some of the local wildlife. The loch is one of the UK’s largest dune lochs and is an important wintering spot for up to a fifth of the world’s pink-footed geese, as well as being home to migrating waders and wintering wildfowl.
The Wildlife of Montrose
A fan of birdwatching? Montrose is one of the best places in Aberdeenshire to birdwatch as it’s home to over 80,000 migratory birds. The Montrose area has telescopes and binoculars set up, ready to be used as well as regular wildlife events such as guided walks and tours.
