Covid restrictions may still be easing, but it’s probably going to be a while before we can easily hop on a plane to safari in the Serengeti or dive the Great Barrier Reef.
Luckily, Scotland has plenty of natural wonders of its own, perfect for a staycation treat during the remainder of 2021.
From majestic rutting stags, to ancient forests that have remained unchanged for thousands of years, these are experiences the whole family will enjoy and remember for many years to come.
Here are 10 of Scotland’s most spectacular wildlife experiences you can see this year.
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From majestic rutting stags, to ancient forests that have remained unchanged for thousands of years, these are experiences the whole family will enjoy and remember for many years to come.
5. See - and hear- a red deer rut
Forget the boxing ring, October in Scotland sees one of the most fascinating fighting spectacles as mature stags compete to for the right to mate with the most fertile females. It starts with aggressive vocal displays before escalating to the huge animals locking antlers. A guided tour into the Braes of Glenlivet, in the Cairngorms National Park, in the hours after dawn and before dusk perhaps offers the more memorable rutting encounters, while the deer-rich Island of Arran is the most accessible option.
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6. See one of the UK's rarest butterflies
Officially extinct in England since 1976, Scotland is the only place in the UK where you can see the Chequered Skipper butterfly. One of the best locations to see the pretty insects is the Allt Mhuic butterfly reserve, 20 miles north of Fort William, which features the grassland habitat favoured by the species.
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7. Walk through an ancient caledonian forest
The Caledonian Forest used to cover the majority of Scotland but there are still sections to enjoy today - with majestic Scots Pines descended from trees that grew in around 7000BC. There are 35 remnants of the ancient forest you can visit today, with the most beautiful contained within the Cairngorms National Park. Visit Abernethy for the largest section, with the chance to see a wealth of birdlife including capercaillie, Scottish crossbills, crested tits, ospreys and goldeneyes.
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8. Experience an epic murmuration
One of the most spectacular wildlife spectacles in the UK, murmurations are formed when thousands of starlings flock for a communal night-time roost, forming remarkable hypnotic clouds of swooping, swirling birds. While they can be seen as early as September, November is the best time to see this phenomenon, and one of the most popular places to view murmurations is in the town of Gretna Green on the Scottish border with England.
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