What’s the attraction?
Finally, it seems we’ve shaken off the malaise of winter. The blossom is coming out, the temperature is rising. And there’s perhaps nowhere better to watch as nature clothes herself in robes of new growth than in Scotland, home to some of the most wild and remote landscapes in Britain.
A countrywide celebration – Year of Natural Scotland 2013 (visitscotland.com/natural) – pays homage by placing a spotlight on wildlife and the country’s diverse landscapes.
Websites that offer guidance include: snh.gov.uk, wild-scotland.org.uk, wildlife.visitscotland.com and scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk.
Insider information
“Skye is becoming a good place to look for dolphins and whales – sperm whales have been spotted in Raasay Sound. If you don’t want to do a boat tour, just drive slowly up from Portree to Dun Tulm and take in the seascapes.” – Jon Haber, owner of Walkabout Scotland (walkaboutscotland.com)
Join the pack
Scotland’s topography is tailor-made for thrill-seekers. Wilderness Scotland’s (wildernessscotland.com) new “Big 5” group tour ranges across the nation’s rugged midriff.
Whether it’s spotting red deer in the Cairngorms or sea-kayaking with seals on the west coast, you’ll have someone to share the elation with. The next available trip departs on June 8.
Or explore on two legs with Walking and Wildlife Adventures (walkandwild.com), observing ospreys, sea eagles and migrating whales. Next adventures on May 2 and June 22.
Untamed melody
If you prefer your wildlife bite-sized, dip into a festival. Dumfries and Galloway’s annual Wild Spring Festival (wildseasons.co.uk) runs until May 31 with more than 100 activities, including watching red kites (pictured right) at feeding time. Many of the activities are free.
The Orkney Nature Festival (orkneycommunities.co.uk) makes its debut on May 11 with excursions to uninhabited islands, puffin encounters and snorkelling safaris. You may even spy an orca. Prices vary, but some of the activities are free.
The Scottish Bird Fair (scottishbirdfair.org.uk) will be taking over the 17th-century Hopetoun House near Edinburgh from May 11 to 12 with talks, walks and workshops: £20 (R280).
Pitch up
Cosy up to nature with only canvas between you and the great outdoors. Scotland’s access laws mean that wild camping is allowed on most unenclosed land.
However, there are guidelines (outdooraccess-scotland.com). The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (mcofs.org.uk) also has a good guide. WOW Scotland (wowscotlandtours.com) can organise bespoke camping trips. As a guide, the cost is £240 for two people a day, including transport, equipment and food.
If you’re not quite that hardy, Harvest Moon Holidays (harvestmoonholidays.com) offers luxury tents on the East Lothian dunes. Each of the tents sleeps up to eight.
Leg it
Nothing says spring quite like a stroll through a forest floor thick with bluebells, best seen in late April and early May. A searchable database of Scotland’s bluebell woods can be found at visitwoods.org.uk. One of its top picks is Glen Finglas, a Woodland Trust property between Ben Ledi and Loch Venachar in the Trossachs, with a popular 25km circular walk (woodlandtrust.org.uk).
Or enjoy a guided walk to the Dubh Loch beaver site in Argyll’s Knapdale Forest to see how the creatures are faring since being reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 (they were hunted to extinction). There are regular dates in May and June. Booking is essential (scottishbeavers.org.uk).
Water world
There are plenty of ways to see Scotland’s marine life. Day trips are offered by Sea Life Surveys (sealifesurveys.com), Sealife Adventures (01631 571010; sealife-adventures.com) and Hebridean Whale Cruises (hebridean-whale-cruises.co.uk) .
Or take the Heritage and Wildlife of South Argyll cruise with The Majestic Line (themajesticline.co.uk). Six nights from May 18 cost £1 830 each, including meals and excursions.
Alternatively, check in to one of Natural Retreats’ (naturalretreats.co.uk) self-catering properties at John o’Groats – a gateway to seals, dolphins and whales.
Scotch taste
The Year of Natural Scotland celebration also highlights the country’s rich gastronomy. From oyster bars with killer views and seafood shacks to hotels, join the Seafood Trail (theseafoodtrail.com), a self-guided tour of 11 west-coast gourmet highlights, from Kintyre to Argyll.
To enjoy Scottish fare as nature intended, join a foraging trip. Wild food enthusiast Robin Harford and chef Paul Wedgwood will guide guests around the Bennachie hills of Aberdeenshire on May 4, when they will impart their considerable knowledge of the edible plant world before heading to Gadie’s Restaurant (gadiesrestaurant.com) and a sumptuous three-course wild food lunch. Costs £85 each. – The Independent