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A very popular Short Break which we have been running at the Grant Arms since 2016 ! Join us at Highland's "Wildlife Hotel", The Grant Arms for a spectacular winter birding four night break, included in the package is the Grant Arms' traditional Burns Supper celebrating with piper and Haggis, the life of Scotland's most famous poet Robbie Burns. You also have exclusive use of all the facilities provided by the Birdwatching & Wildlife Club (BWWC) during your stay including their Clubroom and extensive library.With days shorter at this time of year we maximise our time out in field, perhaps visiting a Hen Harrier or Goose roost at dusk, as well as local Black Grouse leks at dawn. The BWWC offers a Wildlife Film each evening or you may prefer to relax in the bar and chat with other birders staying at the hotel, there is always plenty to see and do when not out birding.
The break is a great chance to get your year list off to a flying start with some of the Scottish specials and see the Highlands at one of it's most magical times. We do the driving, you relax and enjoy the scenery and the Wildlife. All this with a local guide based in the Highlands!
Day 1 : Arrival. We meet up for an evening introduction at the hotel before dinner.
Day 2 : We start the day at a local Black Grouse Lek where the birds may already be displaying then move on to explore the local forests and reserves for Crested Tits, Crossbills as well as Red Squirrel and a host of other winter residents. Later we venture across the moors and into the famous Findhorn Valley in search of Golden and White-tailed Eagles as well as other raptors, Red Grouse, Red Deer and Mountain Hares in their beautiful winter coats.
Day 3 : Weather permitting we'll head up to the Cairngorm Ski slopes to scan for Ptarmigan and Snow Buntings followed by an excursion to the Inverness area and Black Isle. Here we'll catch up with wintering wildfowl, waders and sea-duck of the Moray and Cromarty Firths, also home to hundreds of wintering Scaup as well as Slavonian Grebes, Goosanders, Red-brested Mergansers and Divers. We will also search the farmland for wintering finch and geese flocks as they forage the fields for spilt grain and left over crops. We'll also be on the lookout for the famous Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Otter are seen regularly along some of the shores.
Day 4 : We head to the stunning Moray Firth coast with its wonderful winter sea-scapes and light - one of Scotland's secret gems. Thousands of sea-duck traditionally winter here including Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, Red, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes and hundreds of Eiders. It's one of the best places to pick up Glaucous and Iceland Gulls and we may even be lucky enough to chance upon a rarity such as King Eider or Surf Scoter which are often seen along these coasts. Followed by the Grant Arms Traditional Burns Supper evening and entertainment.
Day 5 : Departure.
Please note the exact itinerary is for guidance only and may change order depending on weather or road conditions on the days.
What's included in your package?
* 4 nights Dinner bed & Breakfast at the three star Grant Arms Hotel, packed lunch and hot drinks during the day.
* Transport throughout the holiday.
*The services of local guide John Poyner throughout the break. John lives locally and has been working as a Bird & Wildlife Guide throughout the Highlands and Islands for over 20 years, previously working for RSPB Scotland as an assistant warden and as a guide for two of Scotland's leading Wildlife Tour Companies. He now runs Highland Nature, and is Wildlife Guide for the BWWC at the Grant Arms Hotel. In any spare time John also works as a freelance environmental consultant surveying upland birds for renewable energy developments.
What's Not Included in your Package?
All alcoholic drinks, tips, any incidental expenses of a personal nature.
Number in group is limited to a maximum of 7 people.
For further details contact us on 01479 821357 / (07875) 094666 (mob) Email [email protected] or fill out the form below and we will make a preliminary booking for you.
To secure this we can take a deposit by Cheque or Bank Transfer, details will be sent.
Once we have received your balance we will confirm the booking in writing. Please read our Terms & Conditions prior to booking.
And finally..........HOW DO I GET HERE?
By Car: Main roads are kept well cleared in Scotland in winter, local councils are well equipped and used to snow! Grantown is accessed via the main A9 north from Glasgow, a major trunk road.
By Train: Services daily to Aviemore from Kings Cross. We offer a free pick up and drop of service to the station by arrangement.
By Air: Inverness airport is just over an hours drive away. Full details of flights available here.
The break is a great chance to get your year list off to a flying start with some of the Scottish specials and see the Highlands at one of it's most magical times. We do the driving, you relax and enjoy the scenery and the Wildlife. All this with a local guide based in the Highlands!
Day 1 : Arrival. We meet up for an evening introduction at the hotel before dinner.
Day 2 : We start the day at a local Black Grouse Lek where the birds may already be displaying then move on to explore the local forests and reserves for Crested Tits, Crossbills as well as Red Squirrel and a host of other winter residents. Later we venture across the moors and into the famous Findhorn Valley in search of Golden and White-tailed Eagles as well as other raptors, Red Grouse, Red Deer and Mountain Hares in their beautiful winter coats.
Day 3 : Weather permitting we'll head up to the Cairngorm Ski slopes to scan for Ptarmigan and Snow Buntings followed by an excursion to the Inverness area and Black Isle. Here we'll catch up with wintering wildfowl, waders and sea-duck of the Moray and Cromarty Firths, also home to hundreds of wintering Scaup as well as Slavonian Grebes, Goosanders, Red-brested Mergansers and Divers. We will also search the farmland for wintering finch and geese flocks as they forage the fields for spilt grain and left over crops. We'll also be on the lookout for the famous Bottle-nosed Dolphins and Otter are seen regularly along some of the shores.
Day 4 : We head to the stunning Moray Firth coast with its wonderful winter sea-scapes and light - one of Scotland's secret gems. Thousands of sea-duck traditionally winter here including Common and Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Ducks, Red, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, Slavonian Grebes and hundreds of Eiders. It's one of the best places to pick up Glaucous and Iceland Gulls and we may even be lucky enough to chance upon a rarity such as King Eider or Surf Scoter which are often seen along these coasts. Followed by the Grant Arms Traditional Burns Supper evening and entertainment.
Day 5 : Departure.
Please note the exact itinerary is for guidance only and may change order depending on weather or road conditions on the days.
What's included in your package?
* 4 nights Dinner bed & Breakfast at the three star Grant Arms Hotel, packed lunch and hot drinks during the day.
* Transport throughout the holiday.
*The services of local guide John Poyner throughout the break. John lives locally and has been working as a Bird & Wildlife Guide throughout the Highlands and Islands for over 20 years, previously working for RSPB Scotland as an assistant warden and as a guide for two of Scotland's leading Wildlife Tour Companies. He now runs Highland Nature, and is Wildlife Guide for the BWWC at the Grant Arms Hotel. In any spare time John also works as a freelance environmental consultant surveying upland birds for renewable energy developments.
What's Not Included in your Package?
All alcoholic drinks, tips, any incidental expenses of a personal nature.
Number in group is limited to a maximum of 7 people.
For further details contact us on 01479 821357 / (07875) 094666 (mob) Email [email protected] or fill out the form below and we will make a preliminary booking for you.
To secure this we can take a deposit by Cheque or Bank Transfer, details will be sent.
Once we have received your balance we will confirm the booking in writing. Please read our Terms & Conditions prior to booking.
And finally..........HOW DO I GET HERE?
By Car: Main roads are kept well cleared in Scotland in winter, local councils are well equipped and used to snow! Grantown is accessed via the main A9 north from Glasgow, a major trunk road.
By Train: Services daily to Aviemore from Kings Cross. We offer a free pick up and drop of service to the station by arrangement.
By Air: Inverness airport is just over an hours drive away. Full details of flights available here.
Testimonials
Autumn Short Break, October 2014 :
"Anne and I would just like to thank you for all your good work, you really couldn’t have done
more to both make us feel at home and to show us as much as possible. We
really appreciated your detailed knowledge of the area – without guidance
we would have wasted a lot of time and seen a lot less of both the birds
and the landscape. Your knowledge of the local tide times, something we
seem to get wrong too often, meant that when we were on the coast we were
always at the best place at the right time and when the weather was not all
it might have been you still came up with good locations that afforded some
protection from the weather and good opportunities for seeing birds.
We have been busy recommending you and the Grant Arms to all our birding
friends at home and we are looking forward to returning next year."
Bill & Anne Neil, Oct. 2013
Complete the form below for further details or Email Us
Autumn Short Break, October 2014 :
"Anne and I would just like to thank you for all your good work, you really couldn’t have done
more to both make us feel at home and to show us as much as possible. We
really appreciated your detailed knowledge of the area – without guidance
we would have wasted a lot of time and seen a lot less of both the birds
and the landscape. Your knowledge of the local tide times, something we
seem to get wrong too often, meant that when we were on the coast we were
always at the best place at the right time and when the weather was not all
it might have been you still came up with good locations that afforded some
protection from the weather and good opportunities for seeing birds.
We have been busy recommending you and the Grant Arms to all our birding
friends at home and we are looking forward to returning next year."
Bill & Anne Neil, Oct. 2013
Complete the form below for further details or Email Us
