Ian Ford
Ian has been guiding with Heatherlea since 1999, and describes his guiding career with the words 'it has been wonderful working at my hobby and playing a part in the company’s move from only Highland trips to taking over the world'.
Ian's interest in wildlife dates back to his early childhood, with lots of freedom to explore local ponds and woods, finding newts and learning bird song and wild flowers. A licensed ringer from his schooldays, Ian visited the Isle of May Bird Observatory and Bass Rock, and was delighted to find a singing Woodlark in a local forest in the 1990s, leading to Scotland’s only breeding record.
His favourite places include Spain, particularly the Ebro river and delta area, Yellowstone for its scenery, geysers, hot springs and other thermal features as well as the wildlife, and of course the Cairngorms and Scottish islands, describing the Hebrides as 'a secret jewel recently shared with many'.
In recent years Ian has worked to help develop wildflower meadows and woodland by the Tay estuary, and he holds a license to grow Greater Yellow Rattle, a flower which grows wild in only one location in Scotland. His oakwood and orchard project will keep him busy for many years to come!
Ever popular with guests and fellow guides alike, Ian will be leading groups for us across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in England, and around the world. Ian particularly enjoys visiting the Inner and Outer Hebrides throughout the summer, though of course his knowledge extends to many birding destinations around the globe.
Follow this Guide
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Coll and Tiree in Autumn for birders
- 13 Oct - 19 Oct 2019
£1645 pp, £225 single supplement. Deposit £200
A pioneering birding adventure on underwatched Hebridean islands.
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NEW! Lancashire
- 19 Nov - 22 Nov 2019
£895 pp, £120 single supplement. Deposit £200
Spectacular birding in late autumn/early winter
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Gambia
- 10 Jan - 17 Jan 2020
£2395 pp, £250 single supplement. Deposit £300
A great introduction to African birding
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Southern Scotland Coast to Coast
- 23 Jan - 30 Jan 2020
£1595 pp, £175 single supplement. Deposit £200
Winter birding in southern Scotland
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Birders Blast!
- 03 Feb - 07 Feb 2020
£745 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
Fast paced and fun winter birding short breaks in the Scottish Highlands
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Birders Blast!
- 07 Feb - 11 Feb 2020
£745 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
Fast paced and fun winter birding short breaks in the Scottish Highlands
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Highland Winter Birding
- 15 Feb - 22 Feb 2020Special Offer
£1295 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A week of Scottish birding across the Highlands featuring a two night stay on the remote North Coast!
- 15 Feb - 22 Feb 2020
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Camargue
- 07 Mar - 14 Mar 2020
£1895 pp, £130 single supplement. Deposit £300
Wonderful early spring birding in the south of France
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Spring into Scotland including Mull
- 28 Mar - 04 Apr 2020
£1395 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A week of Highland birding with TWO nights on the magical Isle of Mull
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Spain - Catalonia and south-east Aragon
- 22 Apr - 30 Apr 2020
£1995 pp, £270 single supplement. Deposit £300
Superb spring birding from the pre-Pyrenees to the Ebro Delta
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Birding the Highlands in May
- 02 May - 09 May 2020
£1395 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A fantastic week of birding across the Highlands, from the Cairngorm mountains to both coasts
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Mull, Iona and the Treshnish Isles
- 12 May - 16 May 2020
£1495 pp, £160 single supplement. Deposit £200
Eagles, Otters and much more as we explore Mull, Iona, Staffa and Lunga.
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NEW! Spain for birds and butterflies
- 23 May - 29 May 2020
£1695 pp, £125 single supplement. Deposit £300
Relaxed days in Catalonia and south-east Aragon enjoying birds and butterflies
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Highland Wildlife
- 27 Jun - 04 Jul 2020
£1295 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A celebration of the scarce botany, invertebrates, birds and mammals of the Highlands
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NEW! Hebridean Island Cruise
- 15 Jul - 22 Jul 2020
£2450 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £700
An exciting exploration of Mull, Colonsay, Staffa, Iona and more by sea
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Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons
- 25 Jul - 06 Aug 2020
£5695 pp, £895 single supplement. Deposit £1500
Birds and mammals in Yellowstone
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The 'Outer Limits' Adventure
- 12 Sep - 19 Sep 2020
£1395 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A real adventure! Birding the Highlands in peak migration time including a two night stay on the Outer Hebrides!
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The 'Outer Limits' Adventure
- 26 Sep - 03 Oct 2020
£1395 pp, No single supplement. Deposit £200
A real adventure! Birding the Highlands in peak migration time including a two night stay on the Outer Hebrides!
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Outer Hebrides in Autumn for birders
- 03 Oct - 09 Oct 2020
£1595 pp, £95 single supplement. Deposit £200
Rarity hunting in the Outer Hebrides, birding South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Berneray, Harris and Lewis!
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Southern Peru - Birding and Machu Picchu
- 17 Oct - 01 Nov 2020
£5295 pp, £545 single supplement. Deposit £1000
A relaxed pace birding tour of Peru - with a visit to spectacular Machu Picchu!
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Solway Firth
- 07 Nov - 12 Nov 2020
£1395 pp, £100 single supplement. Deposit £200
A winter wildfowl spectacular on the Solway Coast of Dumfries and Galloway!
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NEW! Lancashire
- 17 Nov - 20 Nov 2020
£925 pp, £120 single supplement. Deposit £200
Spectacular birding in late autumn/early winter
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NEW! Svalbard 2021- Kingdom of the Polar Bear!
- 08 Jun - 17 Jun 2021
Full details on this page, prices from £4495 pp, £3145 single supplement. Deposit £1000
A wildlife adventure featuring birds, mammals and wonderful scenery plus a short birding experience in Oslo