We can’t believe it, but next year will be Heatherlea’s 20^th season of guided wildlife holidays. Based at Heatherlea Guest House in Boat of Garten, our first birding holidays began in 1991, and we soon filled this small, homely place to capacity. All the guiding was done by Kevin, whilst Caryl looked after Heatherlea and produced wonderful food. There was definitely a feeling of new frontiers being broached in those early days, and our first minibus was a green former prison van which really appreciated being liberated to the Scottish countryside!

 

In 1998 we finally responded to demand and moved four miles to Mountview Hotel here in beautiful Nethy Bridge. Demand immediately trebled as the British birding public declared their support – creature comforts and wildlife watching have been inseparable on Heatherlea holidays ever since! We renovated The Mountview the following winter, and by 1999 were running two minibuses from Nethy Bridge most weeks. Our GO FURTHER! extensions began in 2000, and some of our most innovative holidays are based on the Scottish islands – Britain’s ‘Outer Limits’! With the whole of northern Scotland as our ‘patch’, the opportunities for exciting wildlife destinations are endless, and our itinerary still changes every year as new places catch our imagination and old favourites are revisited.

 

 

 

 

We think we have been popular here at Mountview Hotel because we have always sought to achieve the highest independent standards. Heatherlea customers are very discerning, and we simply aim for the best available. Hotel accommodation, food, minibus transport, driving skills, days in the Heatherlea minibus and hospitality are all assessed by professionals, and we know our customers value this. We also constantly search for new attractions to increase the value we offer to you, and recent innovations include Swarovski optics free for you to borrow, and Heatherlea whiskies (which are not quite so free!). Next year will be our twelfth full season based at our lovely small Hotel. Our home and location are perfect for wildlife holidays, and we have welcomed many thousands of you over our threshold in that time. How lucky we have been!

 

Heatherlea Overseas Adventures began in 2003, and expanded in recent years as we carefully added new holidays to our range. We first visited Mallorca and Lesvos, still favourite destinations, and gradually branched out across Europe and ultimately across the globe. Each new holiday is painstakingly researched, because, like the trips themselves, we don’t rush things. Our intention is to get the detail right and deliver a memorable wildlife experience without being too ‘intensive’ or ‘birdy’. We frequently employ local guides, stay in eco-lodges where possible, and support communities and projects which make a difference.

 

We are very happy to have grown steadily over twenty years, top priority always being our love of wildlife and sharing it with you, our valued customer. What will the future hold? Who knows – the only thing we can say for sure is that we have been very fortunate so far, and hope to continue watching wildlife in the pleasure of your company for as long as possible.

 

 

Kevin and Caryl