Ardnamurchan - Wild Scotland in Spring

Dates & Prix

2021
Wed 2nd Jun - Wed 9th Jun - 1537 €
Thu 10th Jun - Thu 17th Jun - 1537 €
Fri 18th Jun - Fri 25th Jun - 1537 €
Sat 26th Jun - Sat 3rd Jul - 1537 €

2022
Mon 9th May - Mon 16th May - 1465 €
Tue 17th May - Tue 24th May - 1465 €
Wed 25th May - Wed 1st Jun - 1465 €
Thu 2nd Jun - Thu 9th Jun - 1465 €
Fri 10th Jun - Fri 17th Jun - 1465 €
Sat 18th Jun - Sat 25th Jun - 1465 €

What's Included?

-Accommodation: Comfortable and all en-suite at the Glenborrodale Centre throughout
-Food: All included in the price

* These tours are operated by Naturetrek (ABTA Y6206) for which Nature et Terroir acts as agent.
“Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. But ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed in this brochure. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but all the parts of your trip are not listed on it, those parts will not be ATOL protected. Please see our booking conditions for information, or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLcertificate”

-“It is a condition of joining one of our holidays that you must be insured against medical and personal liability risks, including our 24-hour medical emergency assistance cover. We strongly recommend that you ensure the cancellation cover under your policy insures the full value of your holiday.”

-Le prix de ces séjours est sous l'influence directe du taux de change de l'US Dollar et de la Livre Sterling... NATURE & TERROIR se réserve le droit, selon ses conditions générales de vente, de revoir son prix en cas de fluctuation importante des devises ou des tarifs de transport.
-Le prix affiché est majoré de 10 euros pour frais bancaires.
-En cas d’inscription à moins de 70 jours de la date de départ, la totalité du montant du bon de commande est dû dès inscription. A plus de 70 jours, un acompte de 30% est dû, le solde étant à verser dans les 70 jours précédents le départ.

Marcus John or Neil Mc Mahon

Marcus John

Marcus developed a passion for wildlife during his childhood spent in rural Somerset. Ever since, his fascination with birds and mammals has taken him to diverse destinations - from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to the Rio Grande in Texas. Closer to home, he has travelled extensively across Europe and has developed a special connection with the Scottish highlands and islands, which he visits regularly to study and photograph wildlife. Although primarily a birder, Marcus has also developed considerable expertise in the mammals, butterflies and dragonflies of the British Isles. Marcus has led several tours in the UK and his approachability, friendly advice and guidance are always appreciated by our clients.

Neil Mc Mahon

Neil McMahon grew up in Northamptonshire and, from a very young age, developed an interest in the natural world. His first love is the study and identification of wild birds and he enjoys the challenge of trying to identify birds by the way they move and act as well as by their calls and songs. His passion for bird and wildlife-watching has taken him all around the world and he's visited more than 50 countries. Neil is a retired Police Officer and, when not leading Naturetrek tours, spends much of his time completing various conservation and wildlife management surveys as well as volunteering for his local Wildlife Trust. He is also a licensed Bird Ringer and Trainer. During the winter months he maintains numerous wild bird feeding stations in central Northamptonshire and is a serving committee member of the Northants Bird Club.

Journalier

Day 1

Today we will meet at Glasgow Central Railway Station, followed by a pick-up from Glasgow International Airport. (at 1400 and 1430 respectively). We will then drive for about 4 hours to our accommodation at the Glenborrodale centre. Our route follows the length of Loch Lomond then crosses Rannoch Moor to Glen Coe. After a short stop to enjoy the spectacular views at this famous location, we will continue on to the Corran Ferry, where a five-minute crossing will take us to the north shore of Loch Linnhe. We then drive west through the village of Strontian and onto the village of Salen, where we will turn onto the single-track road that runs along Loch Sunart to the Glenborrodale Centre. There should be time to look for otters in Glenborrodale Bay before dinner.
Our accommodation has recently been refurbished and offers comfortable private rooms with en-suite shower rooms. We will have sole occupancy of the centre and in the evenings, being be able to relax and appreciate the serenity of the forest.
With luck Pine Marten will visit the table on the patio which we will stock with peanuts (a Pine Marten favourite). The animals are not put off by the outside light so great views can be obtained with luck and patience. All this can be enjoyed from the comfort of the living room with a hot drink or maybe a glass of wine.

Day 2/7

As the Glenborrodale Centre is so close to Loch Sunart there will be an optional dawn walk to watch for Otters and other wildlife before returning for a hearty breakfast.
Over the next six full days we will explore different areas around the peninsula seeking out a range of species as we travel along the single-track roads through our beautiful surroundings . There are several bays from Glenborrodale to Ardnamurchan Point which can harbour Otters and Common Seals and we shall take gentle walks to appreciate anything we may find.
The coast road terminates at Ardnamurchan Point, which is dominated by the historic lighthouse. This is the most westerly point on the British mainland and provides a dramatic view across the Sea of the Hebrides. We will spend time looking out to sea, where we should be able to add skuas and terns to our bird list. A flock of Twite can often be found flying around the rocks close to the lighthouse. With luck and calm conditions, it is even possible to see dolphins and Minke Whale from here.
In the small village Kilchoan Otters can sometimes be found feeding in the shallow bay while seabirds and waders can also be observed and the shop and community centre offers useful facilities.
Although birds of prey can be seen virtually anywhere on the peninsula, the best place to look for them is the viewpoint at Camas nan Geall, which provides panoramic views of the highest peak on Ardnamurchan, Ben Hiant. We will stop and scan the mountainsides for raptors, with the possibility of both Golden and White-tailed eagles.
Sanna Bay is another very interesting area to visit. Fifty-five million years ago, a volcanic caldera was formed when magma exploded up to the earth’s surface, leaving behind concentric rings of volcanic rock. This period of intense geological activity contributed to the formation of the Atlantic Ocean. Our route to Sanna will take us through the concentric rings of rocky ridges, which create an atmospheric landscape. Birds here can include Hen Harrier and Merlin. The more wooded areas at this time of year can hold Redstart and Wood Warblers while Willow Warblers a common here and Cuckoo should be found. Sanna Bay itself is a wild place with a stunning white sandy beach surrounded by rocky outcrops. Here we can look for resident Rock Pipits, Red-throated Divers and a number of other species. During the week we shall also hope to find the very range restricted Chequered Skipper butterfly and the floral displays at this time of year can be wonderful.
We will choose one day this week to charter a boat and head out to sea, travelling south to the Treshnish Islands off the coast of Mull. We shall be keeping sharp eyed on our way for cetaceans and seabirds of course and once around the islands we will enjoy the Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags, Fulmars and Puffins which will have arrived to breed once again form the open ocean. We will tow a small tender out with us which will allow us to make a landing on the island of Lunga to get that bit closer to the action. This will be a full day out and whilst we shall certainly hope that the conditions will allow the journey to these wonderful islands if the seas are very rough a visit to the Island of Mull will be a fitting alternative.
In the evenings there will be the option to relax at the centre and watch for Pine Martens or to venture out for a night drive on at least 1 occasion. It is a rare privilege to witness the nocturnal activities of deer, foxes, owls and with luck, Pine Marten or even Wildcat may be seen.
The peninsula has a great many fascinating sites and is a wonderful place to explore and enjoy. We shall undertake walks where possible but there is nothing strenuous and any walks will be at a relaxed pace.

Day 8

Today we will have to leave our base following breakfast for the journey back to Glasgow. A journey of around 4 hours with stops on the way.

Liste des Observations

Photos

Infos pratiques