Red Deer
Keeping to the high hills in summer, in winter they come down to the glens and sheltered lower ground. Stags and hinds stay apart for most of the year but for the rut which starts in mid September for approximately six weeks. The hinds calf in June. Fencing programmes have recently been undertaken to protect and enhance the regeneration of native woodland species to bring the glens and lower hill ground back to their former character.

Roe Deer
The only other species of deer commonly found in Scotland are about half the height of the Red. They usually habit woodland and only graze open ground from late evening to sunrise although can occasionally be seen throughout the day. The buck (male) and doe live together in family groups with the fawns born in late May. Sika and Fallow deer, both introduced species, are in evidence.

The Golden Eagle

Nearly one metre long with a two metre wingspan the golden eagle is easily identified in flight using its huge feathered wingtips to soar effortlessly over a hunting ground territory of between 10- 20,000 acres.

It stoops at 90mph using its incredible sight to hunt for its prey of blue hare, rabbit, grouse, ptarmigan and numerous small animals including fox cubs and carrion.

Eagles pair for life with eyries set up to 700m on craggy ground although they are known to use pine trees. Several eyries are used in yearly rotation. Man is their only enemy.

Pine Marten
This shy woodland animal is rich, dark brown in colour and a member of the stoat family although larger with a weight of approximately 1Kg. and a tail of 30cm. It makes its home in tree roots, boulders and rock but also uses the nesting sites of large birds and the dreys of squirrels, the latter being one of its main prey. An expert at catching birds it is predominately nocturnal but like the fox with whom it shares many characteristics, can often be seen at dusk and early morning. Hares, hedgehogs, water rats and other small animals make up its diet although fruit and berries are also eaten. Three or four young are born in April. Helpless and blind at first they grow rapidly and are able to leave their mother at about two months old.

Common Otter
Widespread throughout Europe but very evident in the waters and Lochs of the West Coast of Scotland the otter burrows its home (holt) out of the bank of river or waterside where it lives. The entrance is underwater and undetectable from above. Two to five cubs are born in May and grow slowly staying in the family group for a year. In this time their coat becomes waterproof and they are taught to hunt and chase fish into shallow waters where it becomes easy prey. Expert divers, they hunt at any time of day or night living on a variety of fish, frogs, insects, crayfish and eels.

Red Grouse
Frequenting lower ground than its higher cousin the red grouse is widespread on the moorlands where heather shoots and the seeds, leaves and shoots of berry bearing plants form its diet. Red grouse numbers fluctuate largely due to climatic conditions. The female lays between 5-11 eggs in April and May and like the Ptarmigan are vulnerable to foxes, various birds of prey and indeed the inclement weather conditions that controls their habitat.

Ptarmigan
Living mostly above 600 metres on the high tops of the Northern Highlands and the Cairngorms this hardy member of the grouse family feeds on a mixture of berries and leaves of various arctic alpine plants. When blizzard conditions force it to lower ground it survives on heather shoots. The Ptarmigan is unique among Highland birds, changing colour in summer from pale brown to autumn grey and winter white to camouflage from its many predators.

Black and Red Throated Divers
The black throated diver is the slightly larger of these expert swimmers and although they share the same nesting habits the black throated prefers larger lochs to provide food for the young without leaving the vicinity. The red, using smaller water lochans flies to the sea or larger waters to catch food to rear the young. Two olive brown eggs are the common number laid in June, the nest being a simple flattened depression among the sedge or heather and close to the waters edge. The great northern diver is the third and largest member of the family and can occasionally be seen around the coasts in the summer months.

Highland Cattle
Our Highland cattle graze peacefully amid the grounds of the hotel. The largest, Douglas the bull(y) is definitely in charge and is the first in line when food is in sight. Come November and depending on the weather their diet is supplemented by feeding hay, which they all enjoy. The calves are born in the spring and reared into the summer months. When the grass is plentiful and the days long they appear particularly content and are a firm favourite among the guests.