Wildlife in the Cairngorms

A favourite Cairngorms local wild resident to spot is the red squirrel, another is the pine marten. Bird lovers flock here because so many unusual birds do, too, such as the ptarmigan, the osprey and the golden eagle, to name just a few. Browse these pages for articles about wildlife and where to spot them! Or, if you want to up your chances, browse our listings of wildlife guides.

Of course, one guaranteed way would be to take a visit to the Highland Wildlife Park, or the butterfly farm at Landmark Forest Adventure Park, or the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre on Cairngorm Mountain. Another way to increase your chances is to hire an experienced guide who will have the inside knowledge of the best places to try.

There are many National Nature Reserves dotted throughout the entire Park and these protected spaces are a great place to spot wildlife. If you want to spot rare beasts like ptarmigan, snow buntings and mountains hares, however, you need to get up to higher ground. You’ll also find ‘hides’ – shelters positioned in places where wildlife congregate – dotted throughout the park.