Wildlife
Sycamore Cottage is in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, and there are outstanding opportunities to see wildlife of all kinds. Around the cottage you will see many garden and farmland birds, and we have swallows and house martins nesting around the house. In the lochan just below the cottage there are regularly ducks (teal, goldeneye and mallard) and herons. Strolling through the fields down towards the River Spey you will find buzzards, curlews, snipe and many other birds, as well as brown hares and roe deer. On the river itself there are breeding goldeneye and goosanders, and if you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of an osprey.
Ospreys – A short drive (or longer walk) away is Loch Garten with the RSPB Osprey Centre from which the Ospreys which nest there every year can be viewed from remote cameras which overlook the nest and also allow the Ospreys to be seen as they hunt and fish locally.
Badgers – Martin is a local badger watch guide, and by arrangement he can take you to a local hide for a view of local badgers and other local wildlife. Please give us plenty of notice if you wish to visit the badger hide as it tends to get booked up many weeks in advance.
Caledonian Forest – we are surrounded by ancient pine forests, including Abernethy and Rothiemurchus, and these are home to many iconic species, including Capercaillie, Crested Tit and Crossbills. These are all regularly seen while walking in the woods within a few miles of the cottage.