Wild North Discovery

Nature and craft based activities in the North Pennine Dales and North West Highlands of Scotland
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Discovering the wildside of the North West Highlands 

Experience Wild Scotland

We’ll explore the wildlife and the wild nature of the North West Highlands of Scotland. Each day follows a theme to give you a flavour of different aspects of this stunning area; we’ll spend a day exploring a quiet glen for deer, osprey and eagle and a host of other species; we’ll go out to sea from Ullapool for sea birds and seals and the chance of porpoise and other cetaceans (there’s an option to visit the bottle-nosed dolphins of the Moray Firth); we’ll explore a fantastic ancient woodland in the Dornoch Firth National Scenic Area; we’ll spend a day living close to nature, make a shelter, light a fire without matches and cook venison and salmon washed down with a fine malt whiskey or birch wine. There are also options to chose from that include guided nature expeditions or take some free time to explore on your own.
 
Monday
 
A day in the glen
 
We’ll spend the day exploring the wildlife of a typical Scottish glen. Amongst the species we’re likely to see are red deer, sika deer, osprey, golden eagle, common buzzard, golden plover, curlew and snipe plus a whole load of other species too numerous to mention including typical upland birds such as wheatear, stonechat and meadow pipit. We’ll also look for tracks, trails and signs of more secretive animals such as otter and fox.
 
We have a number of pairs of binoculars available if you don’t have your own. Depending on time of year we’ll also set up a telescope for viewing an osprey nest.
 
Tuesday
 
Sea life
 
We’ll go out from Ullapool in a boat to take a look at some of the sea birds and other marine life to be found off the west coast. Amongst the species we’re likely to see are guillemot, razorbill, gannet, kittiwake, cormorant, grey seal and common porpoise plus several other species. There are also occasional sightings of dolphin and whale but please note nothing is guaranteed where wildlife is concerned!  
 
Wednesday
 
You choose
 
This is a day full of options! Take your pick from a range of activities. You can choose to go off and explore on your own perhaps taking a drive up to the north coast and visit iconic sites like Smoo Cave or explore the spectacular geology of Assynt at Knockan Crag. Depending on tides and time there may be the option to visit the famous bottle-nosed dolphins of the Moray Firth viewing from land or taking a boat out if preferred. Alternatively we can head off on a number of different walks looking at general nature and wildlife and taking in the spectacular scenery. 
 
Thursday
 
A day in the ancient forest
 
We’ll explore Ledmore and Migdale Woods in the Dornoch Firth National Scenic Area. These woods contain the largest remnant of ancient oak wood in Sutherland, the most northerly extensive oak wood in eastern Britain and one of the most northerly pine woods in the UK. Fantastic scenery with the possibility of osprey, peregrines, hen harriers, black grouse, wood warblers, redstarts and crossbills.
 
Friday
 
A feast of wild Scotland
 
Today we’ll really get back to nature and taste wild Scotland with a feast of wild fare. We’ll start by building a shelter from the natural materials around us. You’ll learn how to light a fire and set it up for cooking and then we’ll cook. We’ll smoke salmon and we’ll bake salmon, we’ll make venison stew and we’ll bake bread and potatoes in the embers. We’ll wash it down with a Scottish birch wine or a fine malt whiskey. Sitting round the fire you can try your hand at making string from local plants, make a basket from wild harvested natural materials or just chill out by the fire.
 
Duration: 5 days: varying with activity (7 hours or more per day)

Cost: £640 for two people (£320 each), £160 per additional group member. Please note the price does not include the cost of boat trips. Individual one-to-one booking available at £640. Accommodation not included; see booking information.

Further information: Minimum group size two; maximum 10. Participants should be 16 or over. We’ll lift share to get from one place to another. You may need to use your own transport. Bring a packed lunch each day.

You can book your accommodation for 7 days or more if you’d like to spend a bit more time exploring on your own.
 
Activity leaders are CRB checked.
 
Location: North West Highlands