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Wester Ross Activities guide book

Wildlife in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands

The Scots Pine
The Scots Pine can be found in various locations throughout the world. Loch Maree is one of the few areas in Scotland where small pockets of the pure genetic strain can be found. This particular variety is believed to date back 8000 years to the end of the last Ice Age.

The White -Tailed Eagle
The White-Tailed Eagle or Sea Eagle has recently been re-introduced into the area from northern Norway after an absence of many years.

Marine Life
The Minch (between the Outer Isles & Mainland) has the most diverse and numerous range of cetaceans to be found anywhere around mainland Britain. The North Atlantic Drift (a continuation of the Gulf Stream) warms the sea and provides good breeding conditions for marine life.

photo
A Harbour Porpoise at Gairloch
Photo courtesy of Gairloch Marine Life Centre
Birds to look out for
  • Ring Ousel
  • Red-throated Diver
  • Black-throated Diver
  • Great Northern Diver
  • Guillemot
  • Black Guillemot
  • Razorbill
  • Puffin
  • Merganser
  • Goosander
  • Ptarmigan
  • Red Grouse
  • Black Grouse
  • Crossbill
  • Hoody Crow
  • Raven
  • Golden Eagle
  • White-Tailed Eagle
  • Buzzard
  • Merlin
  • Kestrel
  • Peregrine Falcon
  • Sparrowhawk
  • Green Woodpecker
  • Spotted Woodpecker
Mammals to look out for
  • Minke Whale
  • Killer Whale (Orca)
  • Harbour Porpoise
  • Common Dolphin
  • Common Seal
  • Grey Seal
  • Otter
  • Mountain Hare
  • Wild Cat
  • Pine Marten
  • Red Deer
  • Roe Deer

Plants to look out for

  • Heather (Ling)
  • Cross-leaved Heath
  • Bell Heather
  • Spotted Orchid
  • Sundew
  • Butterwort
  • Blaeberry
  • Bearberry
  • Cowberry
  • Crowberry
  • Cloudberry
  • Bog Myrtle
  • Bog Asphodel
  • Alpine Ladies Mantle

Boat trips

Hebridean Whale Cruises
Contact: Nick Davies
The Gairloch Chandlery & Wildlife Centre
Pier Road
Gairloch
Tel: 01445 712458 / 0800 008 6833
Email: hebridean_pelagic_cruises@yahoo.co.uk
Web site
Hebridean Whale Cruises

Hebridean Whale Cruises sail from Gairloch Harbour on a daily basis. We offer cruises to suit families and the enthusiast alike. Our vessels are fully insured and coded by the M.C.A. Orca 1 is our 11 metre custom built offshore R.H.I.B. (pictured here). We also have the M.V. Kerry our 10 metre traditional Mitchell class cruiser. We are Gairloch's No1 for Whale, Dolphin and rare bird sightings. The only mainland provider of cruises to the magical Shiant Islands and specialist pelagic bird chumming cruises. Please click through to our website for full details.

Hebridean Whale Cruises

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Kerry Sea Angling
Gairloch Chandlery & Wildlife Centre
Pier Road
Gairloch IV21 2BQ
Tel: 01445 712458 / 0800 008 6833
Email: hebridean_pelagic_cruises@yahoo.co.uk
Web site

Kerry Sea Angling

Kerry Sea Angling offer sea fishing trips from Gairloch Harbour on a daily basis. Trips to suit all ages and experience from 2hr family, 4-8hr offshore and full day Giant Skate fishing. No experience is necessary as the crew will advise and assist. We are the longest established sea angling operator in Wester Ross established in 1987. It's the most reliable way to get FRESH fish in the area. For full details please click through to our website.

fishing trips - MV Kerry

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Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises
Pier Road
Gairloch
Ross-shire IV21 2BQ
Tel: 01445 712636
Email: mail@porpoise-gairloch.co.uk
Web site
Photo

Visit the Gairloch Marine Life Centre and discover what is in the ocean around us. We have photographic displays, video clips, whale and dolphin sound as well as charts and records from our surveys since 1988.

We can show places to sit on a local shoreline to watch porpoises at almost anytime, with occasional visiting whales and dolphins. We also have cruises in sheltered waters with an expert guide. On these we visit seal and seabird colonies as well as giving you a new view point to this designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

Wester Ross Activities guide book

The Wester Ross Countryside Ranger runs many events and guided walks throughout the year -
click here for details. Tel: 01854 613904.

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CONTACTS:

Please note that we cannot make bookings for you with individual establishments - you need to contact the owners direct via the contact details given on the relevant entry.

For general questions about the area or comments about the web site: contact@celticfringe.org.uk

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Web site © Celtic Fringe Tourism Association 1999-2008
www.celticfringe.org.uk
Photos © Gairloch Marine Life Centre
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Last update: April 2008