March 13 - 19 Sat - Fri
Group Size: 9
Starting Point: Glasgow
Based: Kintyre 1 night, Jura 2 nights, Islay 3 nights
Walking: Easy
Description :
The sight and sound of flighting geese, mainly Barnacles and White-fronts, is the principle feature of this tour. Most southerly of the Inner Hebridean islands, Islay is also the most fertile. Heathery uplands in the north and east plane down to extensive farmlands well patterned with small broad-leaved and coniferous woodlands, which in turn give way to saltmarsh, tidal mudflats and sandy beaches.
Raptors abound throughout, over-wintering wildfowl number tens of thousands, while Choughs have their main stronghold in the country. Particularly good sightings of Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier and Merlin are the norm. These features identify Islay as the premier bird-watching island off West Scotland.
The tour includes a visit to Jura which, with its expanses of wild moorland, contrasts starkly with its sister island. Jura accommodates the densest Red Deer population in Scotland and is also one of the best islands for finding Otters.
The charming and sparsely populated Kintyre Peninsula is also visited, where large gatherings of divers, Slavonian Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Velvet Scoters are seen.
Ferry crossings regularly serve up notable highlights. It is not unusual to see up to 50 Great Northern Divers, Bottlenose Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises.
In Knapdale Forest we explore locations where European Beavers have recently been reintroduced.
Itinerary
Day 1 Saturday: Morning rendezvous Glasgow Central Station (rail), or Glasgow Airport 30 mins. later. Travel to Kintyre via Loch Lomond, Loch Fyne and Knapdale Forest.
Days 2 & 3 Sunday & Monday: Early afternoon ferry (1 hr. 45 mins ferry) to Islay followed by transfer to Jura (5 minute ferry crossing), where a full day of Otter watching is prioritised.
Day 4 - 6 Tuesday - Thursday: Transfer to Islay from Jura for three full days exploration of the island.
Day 7 Friday: Return to Kintyre on the morning ferry, followed by travel to Glasgow arriving mid/late afternoon, where the tour terminates at the airport, or rail station 30 minutes later.
Cost: £865...Includes: Accommodation, all meals plus packed lunches, all travel.
Deposit: £100
Single Room Supplement: £120
