Skip to content
WildmoorHighland Tours

Cairngorms · Day tour from Inverness

Cairngorms Wildlife Day

A naturalist-led day in Britain's largest national park. We scan the Findhorn Valley for golden eagles, walk through old Caledonian pinewood at Loch an Eilein and Glenmore looking for red squirrels and crested tits, and finish with red deer on the hill.

Duration
Full day, about 9 hours
Group size
Max 8 guests
Departs
Inverness, 08:30
Pace
Moderate
Check dates from £95

Tour highlights

  • Golden eagle and red deer watching in the Findhorn Valley
  • Red squirrel walk at Loch an Eilein
  • Caledonian pinewood in Glenmore Forest
  • Binoculars and spotting scope for every guest

The route

Where we go

Starting and finishing in Inverness, this tour visits Findhorn Valley, Aviemore, Loch an Eilein, Glenmore Forest.

Route map for the Cairngorms Wildlife Day tourStylised map of the Scottish Highlands, not to scale, showing a route from Inverness via Inverness, Findhorn Valley, Aviemore, Loch an Eilein, Glenmore Forest.Loch NessCAIRNGORMSSKYESUTHERLANDInvernessFindhorn ValleyAviemoreLoch an EileinGlenmore ForestN

Stylised map, not to scale

  1. 1InvernessCapital of the Highlands and our departure point
  2. 2Findhorn ValleyQuiet glen famous for golden eagles
  3. 3AviemoreGateway village to the Cairngorms
  4. 4Loch an EileinPine-ringed loch with an island castle
  5. 5Glenmore ForestOld Caledonian pinewood beneath Cairn Gorm

Hour by hour

Cairngorms Wildlife Day itinerary

  1. 08:30

    Depart Inverness

    Pick-up from Basecamp and city-centre hotels. Your naturalist guide talks you through what we might see and how to spot it.

    • Inverness

  2. 09:15

    Findhorn Valley

    A quiet single-track glen where golden eagles, buzzards and red deer are regularly seen. We stop, scan the ridges with a scope and wait. Patience is part of it.

    • Findhorn Valley

  3. 12:00

    Aviemore and Loch an Eilein

    Lunch in Aviemore, then a flat 5 km loop around Loch an Eilein and its island castle, watching for red squirrels and crested tits in the pines.

    • Aviemore
    • Loch an Eilein

  4. 14:30

    Glenmore Forest

    Old Caledonian pinewood beneath the northern corries of Cairn Gorm. In spring and summer ospreys fish the lochs; in autumn the stags are roaring.

    • Glenmore Forest

  5. 17:30

    Back in Inverness

    Return by the A9 with a full species list from the day emailed to you that evening.

    • Inverness

What's included

Included

  • Naturalist guide and driver
  • Small group, max 8 guests
  • Binoculars and spotting scope to use
  • Hot drinks and homemade shortbread
  • Hotel pick-up within Inverness city centre

Not included

  • Lunch
  • Guaranteed sightings: these are wild animals

What to bring

  • Walking boots
  • Warm, quiet-coloured layers
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Hat and gloves outside summer

What to wear in the Highlands and other FAQs

Departure point & pick-up

This tour departs from Wildmoor Basecamp, 7 Heatherbank Lane, Inverness, IV2 3WM at 08:30 and returns at 17:30. Free pick-up is included from hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs in Inverness city centre, usually 10 to 20 minutes before departure.

01632 960482Directions to Basecamp

More tours from Inverness

  • Half dayfrom £45

    Inverness & history

    Culloden & Clava Cairns

    The battlefield of 1746 and the 4,000-year-old cairns of Balnuaran of Clava, all within 20 minutes of Inverness.

    Half day, 4 hours Max 16
  • Full dayfrom £79

    Loch Ness & Glencoe

    Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands

    The classic Highland day: Urquhart Castle, the Caledonian Canal, Ben Nevis views and the drama of Glencoe.

    Full day, about 11 hours Max 16
  • Multi-dayfrom £449

    Isle of Skye & West

    Isle of Skye 3-Day Adventure

    Eilean Donan, the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools, with two nights in Portree.

    3 days, 2 nights Max 14

Compare all Highland tours from Inverness