Scotland’s landscapes are home to an incredible array of wildlife that can be found in all nooks, crannies and corners of the country.
As autumn approaches, there is no better time to start planning a feel-good break in the great outdoors. For those looking for a holiday where it is possible to bask in glorious autumnal colours, go animal-spotting, and experience all that nature has to offer, Scotland is the perfect place.
Wildlife Spotting
Red Squirrels
When: Best spotted in the winter months of December – January when their vibrant reddish coats will stand out against the snow.
Much smaller than their grey cousins, the fluffy red squirrel is an elusive addition to Scotland’s forests and woodlands. The UK has around 160,000 red squirrels, and approximately 75% of them live in Scotland’s woodlands, parks and gardens.
To find these beautiful little mammals, visitors can keep an eye out for their red coat during a walk in Britain’s largest forest park, Galloway Forest Park. Sightings are also common when following the Devilla Forest Red Squirrel Trail, as the Scots Pine trees are a perfect habitat for red squirrels.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is working with NatureScot, Scottish Forestry, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates and the Red Squirrel Survival Trust to protect these adorable creatures by asking people to report sightings.
(credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins)
Red Deer
When: Red deer are best spotted during the autumn months of September – November
One of the most iconic animals associated with Scotland, the red deer is the UK’s largest land mammal and can be spotted in almost every region in the country. These stunning animals can be seen in locations including the Isle of Arran, Isle of Jura, Lochaber, Torridon, Cairngorms National Park, and Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.
Visitors can stop by Aberfeldy, Perthshire and visit the Red Deer Centre to get up close and personal with these large mammals and learn about their unique traits.
Insider tip: The Cairngorms National Park is home to Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer; Find out more about how to visit this beautiful reindeer herd here.
(credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins)
Seals
When: Seals are best spotted during the autumn months of September – November but can also be spotted during the summer.
Seals are very common inhabitants off the coastlines of Scotland. Visitors might be lucky enough in the autumn months to spot fluffy grey seal pups too.
These adorable creatures can be spotted all across Scotland, but in particular in the Moray Firth, Firth of Tay, Ythan Estuary, and on the Isle of May.
Basking Shark Scotland runs Seal and Lagoon tours throughout the year from Oban, Tobermory, or Isle of Mull, where visitors can swim in crystal clear water alongside seals. Basking Shark Scotland also runs various other tours to allow visitors the chance to enjoy the special wildlife in Scotland, including basking shark tours (of course!), snorkelling experiences, scuba diving trips, and more.
(credit: VisitScotland / Kenny Lam)
Autumn Experiences Not to be Missed
Northern Lights and stargazing
Scotland has some of the largest expanses of dark sky in Europe and while the country is famous for its beauty during day, the twilight hours create a new air of mystery. The autumn and winter months in Scotland offer the perfect conditions to watch the night sky so there is no better time to enjoy a stargazing holiday. Visitors might be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis (or ‘Mirrie Dancers’ as they are known as here). Some options for a break include:
Pennan, Aberdeenshire
(image courtesty of Monika Focht)
Pennan is a tiny seaside village located by a stunning backdrop of Aberdeenshire cliffs (famous for being where a lot of the 1983 film Local Hero was made). When the days get shorter, and the nights get darker – that’s when the magic happens. Millions of lights seem to dance across the sky and the stars illuminate the night in an array of colour. During a stay at the Pennan Inn, guests can opt to purchase an alarm from the owners to be kept informed as to when the Northern Lights are visible (this could be the middle of the night!)
September – April. Price: From £216 for two for two nights; it costs an additional £39 per stay for a Northern Lights Tour with Pager Alarm (select optional extras when booking a stay). Go to: www.thepennaninn.co.uk/
Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
Not only Britain’s forest largest park, Galloway Forest Park was also the UK’s first Dark Sky Park. Stretching across the southwest of Scotland, it is home to glens, lochs, hills and only a few buildings which means it has very little light pollution. On clear nights it is possible to observe thousands of stars, making it one of the best places to stargaze in Europe. In nearby Kirkcudbright (which is also home to the Dark Sky Planetarium), the Selkirk Arms Hotel offers stargazing packages which include bed, breakfast, evening meals and talks with stargazing experts as well as a chance to head into Galloway Forest Park to see the skies.
17 and 18 November 2023 & 2 and 3 February 2024; Price: £299pp for a two-night package. Price inclusive of dinner, bed, breakfast, transport to and from the Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park, entrance to the Dark Sky Planetarium and all talks and lectures from expert Steve Owens. See: www.selkirkarmshotel.co.uk/
North Uist, Outer Hebrides
With little light pollution, the Outer Hebrides is one of the best places to catch the Northern Lights. With the right weather conditions, each island can provide a mesmerising dancing display of the Aurora Borealis at the right time. Many astronomical sights can be seen through the naked eye including the Orion Nebula, the Milky Way and the Great Andromeda galaxy. During the winter it gets dark late afternoon, giving visitors a great opportunity to not only watch out for the Northern Lights but just look up and stargaze. Each year in February, there is a Dark Skies Festival which features theatre, live music, film, visual art, food, astronomy talks, and stargazing. Accommodation options include the Temple View Hotel on North Uist, which is perfectly located for stunning scenery and possibly a view of those famous lights.
Price: Temple View Hotel, priced at £160 for a double or twin room. Go to: www.templeviewhotel.co.uk
Orkney & Shetland
Looking for a real adventure? A stay in the northernmost regions of the British Isles to possibly witness the Aurora Borealis will feel like a world away. Stay at the Keeper’s Cottage at Sumburgh Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is the oldest in Shetland, and perhaps the most well-known. Rising above the precipitous Sumburgh Head cliffs at the southernmost point of mainland Shetland, the Lighthouse is visible from land and sea for miles around.
There’s no doubt that Orkney is one of the best places in the UK to try and catch a glimpse of them, with low levels of light pollution and unobstructed views. Stay at one of Anderson’s Harbour Cottages, located right by the sea in a quiet part of Stromness.
Accommodation at the Keeper’s Cottage, Sumburgh Lighthouse costs £140 per night and sleeps 5. Go to https://shetlandlighthouse.
Anderson’s Harbour Cottages, prices from £395 for one week. www.andersoncottages.co.uk/
‘Leaf-peeping’
Scotland is quite a special place to visit in the autumn as the beautiful reds and oranges of the season appear. ‘Leaf-peeping’ has become a trend of the last few years, with people travelling to destinations only to see the fall foliage. Scotland should be at the top of the list for leaf-peepers. Places to see include:
- The Hermitage, Dunkeld
- Roslin Glen, Midlothian
- Lochgilphead, Argyll & Bute
- Glenmore Forest, Cairngorms
- Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire
- Binning Wood, East Lothian
- Falls of Clyde Wildlife Reserve, Lanarkshire
(Roslin Glen, Midlothian – credit: VisitScotland / Kenny Lam)
(Binning Wood, East Lothian – credit: East Lothian Council)
Events
Samhuinn
Marking a time for ancient Celts at the end of summer and the end of the harvest, Samhuinn (pronounced Sa-wen) is also believed to be the time when the veil between the living and the dead was especially thin and has the roots to the more modern celebrations of Halloween. Opportunities to experience traditional Samhuinn in Scotland include:
Samhuinn Fire Parade 2023, Edinburgh, 31 October 2023
Samhuinn Fire Parade is Edinburgh’s annual Halloween celebration. Bringing the Celtic New Year to a modern audience, the unique celebration, hosted by the Beltane Fire Society, is one of the city’s biggest winter festivals. The totally immersive festival allows visitors to see ‘otherworldly creatures’ and witness a spectacular, fiery display of storytelling. Full details tbc, see https://beltane.org/about-
Samhain Firewalk 2023, Tir na nOg Holistic Centre, Tir na nOg near Glasgow, 4 November 2023
The Firewalk ceremony is a symbolic rite of passage into a new way of being. The firewalk allows people to ‘release energetic and emotional burdens to the fire and make way for new beginnings. See here for more details and to book.
Insider tip; Scotland has many tales of witches and witchcraft in its long history. Check out Scotland’s Witch Trail Map for more details and locations to explore.
The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry, Perthshire
(credit: VisitScotland / Kenny Lam)
The Enchanted Forest is back for 2023. Over the last two decades more than 650,000 visitors have flocked to Scotland’s favourite sound and light show making The Enchanted Forest a must-see event for all ages. A truly special event with dazzling visuals and innovative design, all choreographed against an original music score, whilst exploring the stunning autumn woodland setting of Forestry & Land Scotland’s Faskally Wood near Pitlochry.
5 October – 5 November 2023. Prices: Adult: £26; Child 3 – 15: £14.50; Family Ticket: £72.50; Child Under 3: FREE. See www.enchantedforest.org.uk for more information and to book.
