Aberfeldy Nature & Wildlife

Loch Tay Safaris

From ancient and mysterious standing stones to a dramatic ruined castle, mystical and spellbinding stories and breath-taking landscapes, visit Loch Tay Safaris and embark on an inspiring journey.
Our live commentary will take you on a journey through the local history, nature and folklore of Loch Tay. Our passionate and knowledgeable crew will be on hand to answer any questions you have. There is no doubt that this experience will leave you enchanted by the Loch's mystical charm!

At 17 miles long, 1/2 mile wide and more than 450 feet deep, Loch Tay is Perthshire’s largest Loch. Our unique tour of this beautiful loch is exhilarating and suitable for ages 5 - 85.
Our modern cabin RIB `Iolaire` is safe, comfortable, fast, dry and guaranteed to raise a smile. Seating up to 12 people, our boat is also available for private charter.

Drummond Hill

Drummond Hill - Forest of the Black Laird! The ruthless laird, Sir Duncan Campbell – Black Duncan of the Cowal - ordered Drummond Hill planted with oak, birch and pine in the 16th century, thus creating Scotland's first managed forest. Drummond Hill is now managed by the Forestry Commission and is part of the Tay Forest Park & Big Tree Country.

The best views are from the Black Rock viewpoint, dramatically seated on a rocky outcrop with amazing views over Kenmore Village, Loch Tay including the Iron Age Crannog and Priory Island, Taymouth Castle (built by the Earl of Breadalbane in 1801) and down the Strathtay Valley.

Amongst the many possibly sightings for birds and wildlife, Drummond Hill offers a chance to catch a glimpse of red squirrels, roe deer, pine marten and make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the distinctive capercaillie, reintroduced to Scotland here in 1837 after being hunted to extinction.

Click here for information about walking and cycling paths on Drummond Hill. There are two access points for Drummond Hill, the main car park and a secondary entrance at Peeler's Gate for cyclists.

Aberfeldy Viewpoint

Enjoy stunning views of the fairtrade market town of Aberfeldy, down the Strathtay Valley, over to Weem Hill and Schiehallion. This viewpoint is situated approximately 2.5 miles outside Aberfeldy on the A826, part of General Wades Military Road, the car park offers ample parking and picnic benches. Nearby Griffin Forest offers a lovely circular walk along a fire road past Loch Kennard and Loch Scoly.

Further up the A826 sits Loch na Craige, a small inland body of standing water.

Red Deer & Roe Deer

Red Deer

Red deer are Britain's largest native land mammal resident since the last ice age about 10,000 years ago. Herds of red deer are frequently seen in the upland areas of Highland Perthshire, although originally this creature was a woodland dweller living in the vast Caledonian forests that once covered much of Scotland. Red deer no longer have any natural predators due to the extinction of the wolf and lynx, therefore numbers are higher than ever before, approximately over 400,000 red deer are roaming wild in Scotland. Heather, grass, mosses, lichens and berries are the mainstay of their diet but they are also partial to tree seedlings and the bark of trees, thus creating a challenge for foresters!

Antlers from the stags fall off each year in spring but a new pair grow in quickly, which have a furry coating called 'velvet' that peels off when the antlers stop growing. During the summer months deer live in the high open mountain areas to escape the worst of the biting insects, favouring areas that are cut by deep peat hags, in which to roll around to give relief from insect irritation. June is the calving time and the hinds tend to choose lonely corries for the birth.

Calves can stand within ½ hour of being born but for the first few days are left hidden in the grass, camouflaged by their spotted coats. Autumn brings the wonderous sound of roaring stags to many Highland Perthshire hills and glens as the rut gets into full swing. Testosterone fuelled stags are at their heaviest at this time of year and the roaring helps to establish seniority within the herd. When two stags are evenly matched a fight ensues, the winner securing the largest harem of hinds. As winter sets in and the weather worsens herds move down to lower ground in search of food.

When watching these marvelous mammals we would suggest using binoculars as deer are naturally shy and blend in well with the colours of the landscape. During the summer when weather is good you can see them on the open hills, during the day they feed and rest on higher sunny slopes, then at night the herd will move to lower, more sheltered ground.

Red deer can be seen throughout Highland Perthshire - Ben Lawers Natural Reserve, Glen Lyon, Balnaguard Glen Nature Reserve, Tay Forest Park, Birnam Glen, Black Wood of Rannoch, Blair Castle Deer Park and Highland Safaris.

Roe Deer

Roe deer are the most widely spread native deer species in Higland Perthshire, they are much smaller than red deer and favour woodlands where they survive on herbs, buds, leaves and twigs. Pitlochry and Dunkeld have excellent way-marked walks networks where roe deer can often be seen darting through the woods or nibbling in the clearings. Woodland edges throughout Highland Perthshire are favourite haunts for this striking wild animal. Roe deer are less socialable than red deer, mostly sighted alone or in small group of 2 or 3.

The roe deer's rutting season takes place during July and August. Their mating ritual involves the bucks (male) chasing the doe (female) around trees, known as roe deer rings. The buck's antlers normally have 6 very sharp points and they too cast their antlers each year and grow new ones.

Winter can often be a good time of year for seeing roe deer, favouring low level woodland, they tend to be more active at first light and as darkness starts to fall. Roe deer enjoy the warmth and can often be seen sunbathing in the sunlit woodland clearings. In late summer male bucks can be heard barking, this is part of a ritual to claim their territory.

Roe Deer can be seen throughout woodlands and path in Highland Perthshire - Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Tay Forest Park, Birnam Glen and Atholl Estates

Red Deer Stalking Session:

Stag - 1st July to 20th October
Hind - 21st October to 15th February

Roe Deer Stalking Session:

Buck - 1st April to 20th October
Doe - 21st October to 31st March

Be Safe!

Deer are often seen alongside the A9 trunk road (especially just North of the Jubilee Bridge at Dunkeld & around the Blair Atholl area) during the winter months at dawn and dusk, please be alert and watch for deer on the road as they can cause serious damage to you and your vehicle.

Please stay well away from any deer calves you encounter whilst out walking, the mother is never too far away!

The Mighty Atlantic Salmon!

Salmon (Salmo salar – Roman for Salmon the leaper)

Watching a salmon leaping up a waterfall on its way home to spawn is one of nature's sights to behold. Records show salmon leaping at least 12 feet in determination to ascend a waterfall. In Highland Perthshire you can often see Salmon leaping at The Hermitage, Pitlochry Dam & Salmon Ladder, Soldiers Leap at Killiecrankie and the Linn of Tummel.

Rivers and burns throughout Highland Perthshire are home to many thousands of migratory salmon, some of which swim many miles into the mountains to reach their home pools to spawn and start another cycle of their amazing life story. The young salmon grow in our clean waters for a few years before starting their epic journeys to the salt water feeding grounds via the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Some of them reach the Davis Straight on the west coast of Greenland before heading home again, a distance of 6000 miles as the crow flies! On their return they battle their way past nets, killer whales, dolphins and the thousands of seals that prey upon them around the coasts. The survivors, a small percentage of those that hatched in our rivers return home safely to re-produce and provide thrilling sport for the angler fortunate enough to encounter them.

Salmon fishing is available throughout Highland Perthshire from 15th January until 15th October although some beats of the River Tay remaining open until 31st October. Click here to peruse our Angling pages.

Salmon may arrive in the River Tay on any day of the year but of course there are peak times. Spring salmon are the earliest running multi sea winter fish. In most rivers the main runs start to arrive in March, but on the River Tay they can arrive much earlier but generally the numbers are fairly low until then. April and May are the hot times for spring salmon, these fish can be large, and in years gone by specimens around the 30lb mark have been encountered.

Salmon require a good freshwater habitat for successful breeding; pollution free water, accessible stable redds, and good water levels.

Catch & Release has been introduced on our rivers to aid the survival of the mighty Salmon, one of our treasured natural resources. Over the last 3 decades the number of salmon returning to our rivers from the sea has fallen by more than half.

For more information on river habitats visit Scottish Natural Heritage, the mighty salmon visit Salmon & Trout Association, fly fishing visit Lets Fly Fish with Ally Gowans