Auchendean Lodge
Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering in the Cairngorms National Park
- it's like staying with Friends
A Red Squirrel taking a peanut from the bird table at Auchendean
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- Auchendean in New Zealand
Auchendean is in Strathspey - an area of the Cairngorms National Park
which offers almost limitless Activities
Special animals found in this area
See more Activities - :: Arts :: Birding :: Butterflies :: Castles :: Cycling :: Distilleries :: Fauna :: Fishing :: Flora :: Fungi :: Gardens :: Geology :: Gliding :: Golf :: Highland Games :: History :: Horses :: Motor Mania :: Quad Bikes :: Scots Nights :: Shopping :: Country Shows :: Snowsports :: Steam Railways :: Thunder in the Glens :: Touring :: Walking :: Watersports :: Whisky :: Map of Activities ::
There are several key species to look out for in this area of The Highlands
of Scotland, but as well as those listed below, you might be lucky
enough to spot a Roe Deer or even Red Deer on the hills. Reindeer
live on the open slopes of Cairngorm and there are several places
where it's possible to see Pine Marten and Badgers. Most of these species
can be seen in the Highland
Wildlife Park in nearby Kingcraig, where they are now introducing exotic
animals as well as the local rare ones.
Scottish Wildcat
The Scottish Wildcat used to roam most of Britain but is now down to about 400 pure breed animals in the Highlands. Sadly there is a great deal of inter-breeding with domestic cats. After 24 years of looking, we finally we saw a wildcat next to Auchendean. It was a huge cat walking up towards Curr Wood and was probably a slight hybrid, but it was a huge beast! Our own cat was terrified and ran into the house! To 'sex-up' the image and plight of Wildcats they are now being called Highland Tigers!
Red Squirrel
Red Squirrels are still in decline although we see them almost daily on our bird table. The Highlands of Scotland seem to be one of the last strongholds for them.
Pine Marten
Pine Marten are secretive and mainly nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them around at dusk. Happily, pine marten numbers are on the increase, as are otters which we spot around from time to time.
Otters
We had a night time viewing of 7 otters in the River Dulnain 'playing' together by the bridge once. They are usually spotted along the River Spey below us, often near Broomhill Bridge
Dolphins
The Moray Firth, just 30 miles from Auchendean is home to pods of Bottlenose Dolphins - and it is quite feasable to see them on an incoming tide any day.
