NEW!  NATURAL HISTORY of WESTERN SCOTLAND FANTASTIC WEST COAST SHORT BREAKS!

Sat Apr 30 – Wed May 4       SPRING
Sat June 25 –Wed June 29  SUMMER
Sat July 2 – Wed July 6       SUMMER
Sat Sept 3 – Wed Sept 7      AUTUMN
Sat Oct 1 – Wed Oct 5         AUTUMN

Price £795 pp   Single supplement  £60. Leader from our resident team  Max 7 guests

For many years Heatherlea weeks have featured overnight visits to the west coast, with hundreds of you enjoying eagles, otters, days on Mull, boat trips off the mainland to Eigg and Muck, and the skills and stories of Matt Wilson, our resident guide on the west.

Feedback has been so favourable that we are now delighted to announce a new series of GO FURTHER! short breaks combining all these delights at different seasons, so you can enjoy the ‘Best of the West’ at a leisurely and relaxed pace. Aimed at the natural history all-rounder, each holiday will be an enjoyable exploration of wildlife covering the birds, mammals, insects and plants of this fantastic area.  Stretching from Corncrakes on Iona to shearwaters off Muck, we cover all the wildlife of the west of Scotland. All holidays are based at our comfortable family-run Hotel in Strontian, already familiar to many of you, and where our groups really feel at home.

All holidays are for five days and four nights, with three full days on the west coast plus two transfer days across the Highlands from Nethy Bridge and back again, via Fort William, Loch Ness and some quiet, secret places en-route.

Whilst on the west, our three full days will feature one day exploring the mainland of Morvern and Ardnamurchan, often in the company of Matt Wilson, one full day on magical Mull, and one day featuring a spectacular boat trip off the west coast to the isles of Eigg and Muck.

Key targets for each holiday will be Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Otter, with a multitude of seabirds and cetaceans changing with the seasons. Flora and insects will be best in summer, with Red Deer, both seals, and the distinct possibility of Pine Marten on all dates. 

Outline Itinerary (detail changes considerably with the seasons).

Day 1   Saturday  WESTWARD HO! The holiday begins on Saturday morning, when we leave for Fort William at around 8am. Your journey west will take you through spectacular scenery, with the possibility of Black Grouse (spring), Black Guillemot (spring and summer), Hooded Crow, both seals and a variety of seabirds (all dates). Migrating seabirds could include skuas in autumn. We cross the Corran Ferry and settle into our comfortable en-suite accommodation. Later, there should be time for a brief orientation drive before dinner.

Day 2   Sunday THE WEST COAST After an investigation into our Hotel moth trap, our first day will be spent locally with Heatherlea guide Matt Wilson, as we enjoy an introduction to the habitats of this special area. Moorland, wild, rugged coastline and lochside, craggy mountain tops, birch woodlands and sphagnum bog, this is a beautiful, underappreciated part of our small island. Targets will include both eagles, Raven, Red Deer (which will be rutting in autumn), Otter, and perhaps Pine Marten. In summer flora will include several orchids in flower, plus sundews and Butterwort. In September we may just catch Irish Ladies Tresses Orchid. Dragons may include Northern Emerald, Keeled Skimmer, Golden-ringed, Highland and Black Darters and Beautiful Demoiselle, either today or later on Mull. In summer Dark Green and Small-pearl Bordered Fritillary and Large Heath butterflies can be expected.  If possible, we will visit Rahoy SSSI and learn about our native Temperate Atlantic Rainforest.

Day 3   Monday  OFF THE WEST COAST We drive to Arisaig, then take the ferry across the waters to the isles of Eigg and Muck. This spectacular day will feature seals and seabirds in spring, Minke Whale, Basking Shark, dolphins, shearwaters, auks and maybe Storm Petrel in summer, and migrants including skuas, shearwaters and petrels in autumn. On all dates, the experience of heading due west towards these beautiful islands, walking on either Eigg or Muck depending on weather and season, then heading back towards mainland Scotland in time for a delicious dinner is very special indeed. This day has delighted hundreds of Heatherlea guests over the years, and now you can enjoy this day with overnight stops on the west both before and after – most relaxing!

Day  4   Tuesday  MAGICAL MULL A full day as we travel on the early ferry to Mull, perhaps the most rewarding of Scotland’s key wildlife islands. We target both eagles and otters on all holidays, and our record of outstanding views is very good. In spring the eagles are patrolling on territory, in summer they are bringing food to hungry chicks, and in autumn numbers are highest as juvenile birds take to the air. Other birdlife is always of interest, with breeding Hen Harrier and Redpoll (all dates), Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe and ducks in breeding plumage (spring), Gannets and auks (summer) and many other birds of interest including several species of wader in spring, and Eider, Merganser and other ducks on all dates. There will be many plants and flowers of interest in summer, and watch out also for the rare scotia version of Dark Green Fritillary butterfly in summer too.

Day 5   Wednesday  LOCH NESS and the HIGHLANDS Our final breakfast, then we head off eastwards towards Strathspey, diverting to look at lochs and moorland of interest. Birds on this day will perhaps include Red- and Black-throated Diver (spring and summer), Slavonian Grebe (summer), Hen Harrier (all dates), migrants (autumn), and much more including dragons on summer dates. The holiday ends in Aviemore late afternoon.

A relaxing holiday with all the wildlife of the western highlands and Mull to entertain and enthrall us. Transfers from and back to Nethy Bridge are included, so combine this relaxing short break on the west with a Heatherlea week – a perfect holiday!

What's included in your Islay holiday price
* Four nights comfortable en-suite accommodation at The Ben View Hotel, Strontian. Guests are never expected to share. Full details with your joining pack. Rooms are en-suite.
* Full Scottish breakfast and dinner from Saturday evening till Wednesday morning, packed lunch Saturday - Wednesday.
* All transfers by comfortable minibus and Calmac ferries. Drivers can leave vehicles safely parked at The Mountview Hotel.
* Guidance from a professional Group Leader.

What's not included in your Islay holiday price
* Insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature.
* Extra night in Nethybridge area on Frid/Wed. B&B can be arranged for you if requested at time of holiday booking at a price of £45 per person.