the top thirty

The best of Highland wildlife in summer!

19 July - 26 July, 26 July - 2 August, 2 August - 9 August* 2008
(* easy walking option available)

PRICE £875pp, no single supplement.
Been before? Returning guests can deduct £25pp. ‘Worldbird’ guests can save another £100pp – see 'Special Offers' for details.
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18 July - 25 July, 25 July - 1 August, 1 August - 8 August 2009

EARLY BIRDER PRICE £905pp, no single supplement.
The Early Birder catches the lowest price at Heatherlea. Our prices may increase as time goes by, but if you book and pay your deposit now, you get this Early Birder price. If you have ‘Been Before’, you can take a further £25 from the price shown here. There is no single supplement, and singles are never expected to share at The Mountview Hotel.

‘Worldbird’ guests can save a full £100pp – see 'Special Offers' for details.

Previously known as ‘The Top Twenty’, this extraordinary holiday is so packed with wildlife we upgraded it to THE TOP THIRTY! Based in two centres, to show you the key birds and mammals of Scotland, we use our specialist knowledge, local access to private estates, and a sea trip off the west coast to find the most elusive and sought after of Scotland’s wonderful wildlife. This is only possible with experienced guides, and Heatherlea know the wildlife of this holiday extremely well.

KEY MOMENTS at our Friday round-up - which will be yours?

• Pine Marten coming to bait
• Golden Eagle family flying together
• Minke Whale ‘investigating’ our boat
• Otter playing on the rocks on the shore of Loch Sunart

THE TOP THIRTY - TOP 15 BIRDS & TOP 15 MAMMALS

ALSO POSSIBLE Black Grouse, Wildcat, Long-eared Bat, Ring Ouzel, Brown Hare, Peregrine Sika Deer ...over 100 bird species! ...up to 18 mammals!

DAY 1 (Saturday)
Arrival, welcome, dinner and briefing. Don’t forget our courtesy collection service from Aviemore.

DAY 2 (Sunday) Nethybridge
Strathspey is a wonderful place for many target species, and we search here for Crested Tit, Scottish Crossbill, Red Squirrel, Slavonian Grebe, Roe Deer, Black-throated Diver and Osprey. An early morning start gives us our first chance of Capercaillie, and the supporting cast may also include Black Grouse. In the evening we take a stroll to look for both Daubenton’s and Pipistrelle Bat.

DAY 3,4,5 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

WEST COAST WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE One of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. North of Mull, west of Fort William, often overlooked and blessed with wonderful wildlife. Rugged coastline and mountains, vast moorland and lovely sea lochs. Heatherlea have access to remote wilderness sites here, and our stalker/naturalist prepares for our visit by setting baits to tempt Pine Marten in close. Sometimes the animals eat as well as we do, with venison and chicken to add to the usual jam and raw eggs! We also seek excellent views of Golden Eagle and Whitetailed Eagle. This is an exceptional experience, and our stalker friend is also employed by wildlife filming companies - sallies often produce first rate views. Otter are another key target, and we may also see Red Deer, both seals, Raven, Hen Harrier... quiet parts of western Scotland hold very special wildlife! This part of the holiday includes transfers from and back to Nethybridge by comfortable minibus and ferry. WEST COAST BIRDING AND WHALE DAY Minke Whale is the main target on our unforgettable boat trip. Watching a thirty-foot whale swimming alongside and even underneath our boat is one of the truly wonderful wildlife experiences of Scotland. Grey and Common Seal, Manx Shearwater, Black Guillemot, Raven, and maybe Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise, Skuas, Puffin and a tiny darting Storm Petrel ensure a wildlife day to remember! We may also see ‘Real’ Rock Dove, Hooded Crow, Raven, Red-throated Diver, and perhaps eagles and skuas, plus thousands of Guillemot, Razorbill, a few Puffin, lots of Gannet, Kittiwake.... birds all the way! On Wednesday we return to Nethybridge and Mountview Hotel for dinner.

DAY 6 (Thursday)

Nethybridge The Roof of Scotland! Ptarmigan and Dotterel are key targets during our Cairngorm exploration, with Mountain Hare, Reindeer, Snow Bunting in the hills and Redthroated Diver on the way home. In the evening, Badger at a secure, warm hide.

DAY 7 (Friday)

Nethybridge Round-up day. We will watch the weather and take stock of progress during the week before settling on the day’s activity. We may go to the glens, to private woodland for Capercaillie, or the coast for cetaceans and waders. In the evening, Badger for those who had an early night on Thursday!

DAY 8 (Saturday)
Breakfast and departure.

Field Notes

Expect a wide variation in weather conditions, blazing sunshine and rain are equally likely. Bring waterproofs, walking boots or shoes and warm clothing. Walking will be moderate, although mountain walking for Ptarmigan and Dotterel will be strenuous. Most other species can be seen with little walking, and many mammals are best watched from our minibus. Telescopes will be useful, and you should bring binoculars. A camera would be useful too! Expect some early starts and late finishes. You don't need flasks for hot drinks, or wellies. Biting insects may be encountered in the evenings or around standing water, especially on the west.

What's included in your holiday price

• Five nights comfortable accommodation at The Mountview Hotel, VisitScotland rated 3 Star. All rooms are en-suite, with colour TV and hospitality tray. There is no single supplement, and guests are never expected to share. Single guests may be upgraded to double room accommodation at no extra charge.
• Two nights hotel accommodation in Sunart featuring comfortable, en-suite accommodation and good home-prepared food. Our groups have great fun here.
• Full Scottish breakfast, a substantial packed lunch, and a delicious dinner.
• Six full days wildlife watching. Fees on ferry between Arisaig and Eigg.
• Guidance from a professional Group Leader, and any extra guiding services on the west coast.
• All transport by comfortable PCV minibus.
• All transfers between Nethybridge and the west coast by comfortable minibus and authorised ferry operator.
• Courtesy bus service to transport in Aviemore.

What's not included in your holiday price

• Transport to The Mountview Hotel.
• Insurance, drinks and other items of a personal nature.

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