Inverness!!

hammock monkey · #1 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 09:06 PM

Hi,
can anyone recommend me anywhere specific to stay in or very near Inverness. We've been given a flight to get there, and want to stay somewhere comfy and relaxing with good wildlife prospects. My long term goal is to catch sight of a wildcat, and there are some good reported sightings around there...although when I say long term I really do mean in the next 40yrs or so!

I've heard there are Bottlenose dolphin to be seen there, seeing White Tailed Eagles, Pine Martin would be excellent - to be honest catching a glimpse of a real life Haggis on the hills woud be equally fantastic!

Richard G. · #2 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 09:21 PM

Haggis situation is bleak I'm afraid...

camo · #3 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 09:24 PM

Hi HM

Inverness is a brilliant base for lots of things.

The Dolphin you will get at Channory point, go over the firth bridge and take the first right onto Black isle and follow the road towards Cromarty there is a brown sign pointing to a Dolphin watch point at fortrose. You can sometimes also watch Dolphin from a distance under the main bridge.

For Otters check out the Beauly Firth early in the morning and look along the shoreline.

WildCat is very difficult but favourite is probably to go out with a guide on either Glenlivet or Glenfiddoch. No promises but you need to either trust a good local guide or get lucky.

Pine Martin is a bit easier book in to Speyside hide at Rothiemurcus in Aviemore. You could also stay at Aigas and probably see everything except WCat.

Also around Inverness you can see Roe Deer , Red Deer in Caringorms and that is only the Mammals.

Roy

KeenTeen17 · #4 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammock monkey

Hi,
can anyone recommend me anywhere specific to stay in or very near Inverness. We've been given a flight to get there, and want to stay somewhere comfy and relaxing with good wildlife prospects. My long term goal is to catch sight of a wildcat, and there are some good reported sightings around there...although when I say long term I really do mean in the next 40yrs or so!

I've heard there are Bottlenose dolphin to be seen there, seeing White Tailed Eagles, Pine Martin would be excellent - to be honest catching a glimpse of a real life Haggis on the hills woud be equally fantastic!

Invermoriston is a small village on the other side of Loch Ness to Inverness. We stayed in a holiday cottage which we resided in for a week. There was plenty to. Beauly Firth is where I saw a sea eagle, golden eagles are all over the place in Invermoriston / Loch Ness areas. Aonach Mor is good for the upland birds. If you want any more details just PM me.

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 09:27 PM

You should ask Big Bill or Seamusgleane as they stay nearby, and could possibly could recommend a decent hotel.

earthdragon64 · #6 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 10:29 PM

Can't help with hotels as I've never stayed in any in Inverness, too near home.

It depends a bit on the time of year you'll be here and whether you are going to be hiring a car or relying on public transport. I'd advise hiring a car, which you should be able to do from Inverness Airport, public transport is not that brilliant for moving between some of the best wildlife areas.

Loch Ruthven RSPB reserve south of Inverness is great for Slavonian Grebe, Red Throated Divers and fishing Ospreys in the spring and summer.

Loch Garten RSPB reserve for Crested Tit and Red Squirrels, as well as Osprey, Goldeneye and Capercaillie. There are also some ponds in the wider forest area which are great for dragonflies and damselflies, including the more unusual White-Faced Darter and Northern Damselfly.

The Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore is good for a variety of birds, mammals, flowers and insects. There is an outside chance of seeing a Wildcat as well.

You might want to have a look at the following link to a thread which has some good suggestions for the Cairngorms and surrounding areas.

Wildlife watching in Cairngorm

hammock monkey · #7 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 10:43 PM

thanks everyone!
I should say that we wil be using public transport once we're there, North to the Murray Firth or South to Loch Ness looks like it could well take up the week end very easily...

'can hardly wait to get there just to re-sample the air. I travelled through Scotland several times on tours with bands and fell in love with the place. Seeing a sparrow will be enough to be honest...as long as its dangling out of a Wildcats gob!

......you can take the boy out of Somerset...

earthdragon64 · #8 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 10:57 PM

As you're going to be using public transport, you might find this link for the bus company useful. My hubby drives for them, but from the Aviemore garage.

Highlands - Timetables

camo · #9 (**permalink**) 20-02-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthdragon64

As you're going to be using public transport, you might find this link for the bus company useful. My hubby drives for them, but from the Aviemore garage.

Highlands - Timetables

Hi looking at the timetable if you catch a 26 and get off at Rosemarkie you can walk along the beach to Channory point, get off the bus and head towards lighthouse!. The Dolphins come in very close but tend to show up when the tide is coming in. It might be a bit early in year for lots of Dolphins but it is still a beautiful area.

Roy