Planning to take a trip to Scotland in the winter? It is still a great time to travel, not only for the peace and quiet but also because of the Scottish wildlife you can spot.
Red deer
The red deer is one of the biggest species of deer and is widely populated in Scotland. From rusty red in the summer, they turn brown in the winter. When in woodlands and forests, they are typically spotted alone or a mother with calves, in more open areas, they are spotted in groups. Winter is a good time to go deer watching as they move down from the snowy mountains. There are numerous tours that offer deer watching across Scotland, just make sure you bring a good camera and enjoy the Scottish wildlife in the most sustainable way.
Mountain hare
Mountain hares are smaller than their brown cousins, but they have highly adapted to the cold winter weather in the Scottish mountains. It would be difficult to spot them on your own as their usual habitat is high up in the mountains, however, you might be able to see tracks from them in the snow if you are staying somewhere high enough.
Ptarmigan
With a Scots Gaelic name meaning ‘murmerer’, these birds are easily spotted by hikers and mountaineers. During the winter they are fully white, the perfect winter camouflage. Their feathers can protect them from really cold temperatures and strong wind. Some of them can be seen in Cairngorms National Park which would be the easiest place to spot them. If you decide to go bird-watching and try to find them, make sure you do not disturb their natural habitat.
These are a few of the wildlife animals that can be spotted in the winter in Scotland. You can check our other blog posts on winter breaks in Scotland.
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