For the eager naturalist the Scottish Highlands represent an important and varied habitat, for many bird and mammal species.  Home Farm benefits from being extremely close to the Moray Firth estuary and seaboard, whilst also being a stones throw to the hills, lochs and mountains of our interior and west coast.  This diversity of habitat gives us upland landscapes, deciduous woodlands, tidal estuaries and coastline, all within easy distances.  All good news for the guests wanting to see a wide variety of our nature, flora and fauna.

Birds

The glens and hills surrounding Home Farm are a holding ground for some of Scotland's most iconic bird species.  Nearby Glen Affric, Strathconon and Glen Strathfarrar hold numerous pairs of breeding Golden Eagles, Buzzards and Red Kites.  With a keen eye and binoculars (which we can lend you) and some local knowledge, we can help you decide where to go.  Ospreys can often be seen during the summer feeding on the rivers or on the nearby Beauly Firth.

Home Farm has many deciduous woodlands in the local area that play host to a wide variety of song birds throughout the year.  Whilst the coastline of the Black Isle and Moray Firth hold many species of ducks, waders and other ocean going birds.  The RSPB reserve at Loch Ruthven is an excellent location to spot Slavonian Grebes,  Red and Blackthroated Divers, Ospreys and more.

Mammals

On arriving at Home Farm, many guests say “we haven't seen any Red Deer yet” Well rest assured that can easily be corrected, with a little luck and knowing where to look and when to go.  Our local hills contain huge numbers of Red Deer and whilst we can't categorically guarantee that you are going to see them, we can give you an excellent chance of getting in a few good shots, cameras only of course!!

Just 25 minutes from Home Farm is Chanonry Point, once described by Simon King as “the best place in the British Isles to see Dolphins from”  The Moray Firth holds the most northerly pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in the world.  Approximately 120 individual Dolphins frequent these waters throughout the year.  During the summer months when Dolphin food, i.e. Salmon, moves inshore to spawn in our Rivers, the Dolphins move close to the shore to intercept their dinner, which provides us with some great oportunities for close up views.

Boat trips from Avoch and Cromarty also provide visitors further opportunity to spot the Dolphins along with Harbor Porpoise, Common and Grey Seals and the occasional Minke Whale.  More serious Whale watching can be done by heading out to Gairloch on the nearby west coast, where Minke, Humpback and Killer Whales can be seen, along with Basking Sharks, Otters and Seals.  We are more than happy to help in booking any trip you may wish to go on.