An Epic Rewilding Experience in Scotland with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture
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Are you a nature lover? Help restore Scotland’s natural landscapes with a rewilding experience!
Stay in nature-friendly retreats, see wildlife in their natural habitats, and get a glimpse of the Scottish Highlands as they should be. Here’s how with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture.
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Known for its wild and remote beauty, it might come as a surprise that many of Scotland’s landscapes are far from ecologically healthy. Rewilding aims to change that.
A term first coined in the 1980s, ‘rewilding’ is a process which involves restoring habitats to the way nature intended. It’s gained a new sense of urgency in the midst of the climate crisis where ecological degradation has a devastating impact on wildlife and food production.
Now Scotland has an ambitious plan to become the world’s first ‘rewilded nation.’ Its 30-year project starts with committing 30% of public land and sea to rewilding by 2030.
Nature-based tourism which educates the public on the benefits of rewilding Scotland is integral to its success. In other words, rewilding experiences.
Read on to learn more about rewilding in Scotland, what it means, and why you should do a rewilding experience for your next holiday.
Disclaimer: I was fortunate enough to be invited on a press trip courtesy of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. However, all opinions in this article are my own. I should add that my experience lasted a weekend but a standard Rewilding Journey is five days.
Why is rewilding important in Scotland?
Scotland is known for its wild and rugged landscapes. To the untrained eye, its remoteness is a thing of beauty. In reality, its natural state has been transformed over the centuries by deforestation, agriculture, and the disappearance of key species that balance the ecosystem.
One of the biggest examples is the once mighty Caledonian Forest which covered vast areas of Scotland. Today just 1% of it remains, scattered across 35 fragments in the highlands.
Most of the deforestation was due to human impact. Trees were felled for harvest and to make way for farming, deer and grouse shooting. What was left was an unbalanced ecosystem, causing biodiversity loss and environmental devastation.
Rewilding seeks to repair the damage and help the environment regenerate naturally by removing invasive species, reintroducing absent species, monitoring the land, and planting trees.
What is a rewilding experience?
A rewilding experience is a form of ecotourism which goes above and beyond a standard holiday in nature. You get to see first-hand the vital conservation work being done to restore it.
Rewilding holidays range from hands-on volunteering and immersive educational tours to staying in accommodations such as lodges or glamping sites that support the efforts to rewild.
In a nutshell, they can be as relaxed or as involved as you like.
Often, you have the chance to go wildlife watching, with key species including beavers, bison, lynx, and birds of prey to see in the UK.
My rewilding holiday was with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, which runs tours that showcase local rewilding projects in Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park.
What is SCOTLAND: The Big Picture?
SCOTLAND: The Big Picture is a charity which works to ‘drive nature recovery’ across Scotland through education, species reintroduction, land preservation, and supporting sustainable businesses.
Some of its major projects include reintroducing the lynx to Scotland and the production of a documentary called Riverwoods, narrated by Peter Capaldi, which highlights the plight of the Atlantic salmon in Scotland.
And of course, it also offers rewilding experiences in the form of small group tours, retreats, and wildlife photography!
A rewilding experience in the Scottish Highlands
SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’s Rewilding Journeys are an introduction to rewilding, why it’s important, and the work involved.
Based deep in the Cairngorms, you spend five days immersed in nature, going on (light) expeditions through the landscape and looking out for wildlife such as red squirrels, deer, and pine martens along the way.
Key projects I learned about during my rewilding experience
Rewilding begins at home
The very first lesson I learned on my rewilding holiday in Scotland is that nature recovery isn’t just about vast areas of the countryside. Rewilding begins at home too.
Before breakfast on the very first day of my tour, we bundled into our coats and went out to see the 120-acre rewilding reserve surrounding Ballintean Mountain Lodge, our accommodation for the weekend.
Here, the land has been left to regenerate naturally without human involvement. The only ‘gardeners’ so to speak are the small herd of Highland cattle that graze the area. As a result, the area allows biodiversity to thrive.
While most of us don’t have 120 acres spare, ‘wilding’ can be done anywhere – even at home in a small part of a back garden or plants on a balcony. There’s always a chance to improve biodiversity.
The Scottish Highlands as they should be
One of my favourite highlights of the tour was exploring Glenfeshie Estate. This 4,000-hectare estate is part of Wildland, a 200-year plan to rewild the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
What I loved about Glenfeshie is it showed you a glimpse of the Scottish Highlands as they should be. It’s also home to the largest area of Caledonian Forest in Scotland.
Here, ancient trees stand among the new. Stretches of grassland line the banks of the River Feshie which winds through the estate. It’s a wild landscape bursting with over 5,000 species including golden eagles and the elusive wildcat.
Our guide led the group on an easy walk through the estate, stopping to admire a woodland waterfall and to take closer looks at the creatures we encountered which turned out to be a surprising number of caterpillars!
The plight of the Atlantic salmon
Wildlife watching is a key highlight of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’s rewilding tour – and it didn’t disappoint. The itinerary included a visit to Truim Falls, a sheltered location with an arched stone bridge over the thundering rapids of the River Truim.
Here, we watched Atlantic salmon attempting to scale the steep rocks to swim upriver. It seems like a losing battle but instinct tells them it’s quite literally a do-or-die situation. They have no choice but to swim to where they spawned. It’s in their DNA.
We sat on riverbanks, keeping our eyes peeled for the occasional leaping fish and cheering encouragements when one flopped out of the water.
Seeing salmon leap up this Scottish river was particularly poignant after learning that salmon numbers are in decline in Scotland. This is worrying as they’re a keystone species and integral to the health of the ecosystem.
Nature-friendly farming
One of the biggest rewilding debates (other than species reintroduction) is the impact on food production.
There’s concern that if farmers are encouraged to rewild their land, less food will be produced. However, intensive farming degrades soil health over time which threatens our ability to grow food even more.
My rewilding tour took me to a farm which might at least have a solution for their local community.
Lynbreck Croft is a smallholder farm that’s set within pretty harsh conditions in the Cairngorms. Not much grows but the two women who run it have managed to make it happen through nature-friendly farming methods.
At Lynbreck we tucked into homemade honey cake with ingredients from the farm while we learned that rewilding is as much about people as it is about nature. A healthy ecosystem also has people working the land in a nature-friendly way.
Rewilding experience: practical information
Where is SCOTLAND: The Big Picture based?
The base for your Scottish rewilding experience is about a 20-minute drive from Kingussie station. To get there, you can either drive or take the ScotRail train which skirts around the Cairngorms National Park from Edinburgh to Inverness.
From Kingussie Station, you’ll need to arrange a taxi or pickup to take you to Ballintean Mountain Lodge.
Planning to visit Inverness too? Check out my guide to getting to Inverness which passes through Kingussie Station.
What’s the accommodation and food like?
Food and board are both included in SCOTLAND: The Big Picture’s Rewilding Journey.
I stayed in a beautiful converted farmstead set deep within the remote Scottish wilderness. My room was cosy and inviting with an ensuite bathroom and crafted wooden furnishings.
It’s a self-catered lodge but during your rewilding excursion, all meals are provided by talented cooks and made from fresh, local and seasonal ingredients. Some have even foraged!
All dietaries and allergen requirements are easily catered for if you let the team know in advance.
What’s on the itinerary?
During my weekend with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, I:
- Explored the nature reserve around Ballintean Mountain Lodge
- Toured Glenfeshie Estate with a guide
- Had a picnic by the River Feshie (it was delicious!)
- Saw incredible views of the Cairngorms from Uath Lochans
- Watched a documentary about the importance of rewilding
- Visited desolate grouse moorlands to see the stark comparison
- Had a picnic lunch at Loch Garten Nature Reserve
- Toured Lynbreck Croft
- Watched leaping Atlantic salmon at Truim Falls
Do rewilding holidays really make an impact?
The short answer? Yes!
Many rewilding NGOs need volunteers to carry out their work. Without them, some would struggle to operate.
Tourism also helps rewilding landowners maintain a livelihood through accommodation, safaris, and tours. Plus, it provides support for nature-friendly careers that impact the health of the environment.
What’s more, those who go on rewilding holidays connect with the natural environment on a deeper level because they see it through the eyes of ecologists and conservationists.
You learn about conservation, help spread the word, and give back to the local community in a meaningful way. What’s not to like?
Are there other rewilding holidays in Scotland?
Yes! Scotland wouldn’t have such an ambitious rewilding goal without these vital projects:
Trees for Life
Trees for Life is on a mission to restore Scotland’s Caledonian Forest. You can stay in and explore some of its key conservation areas such as Mar Lodge, Glenmore, Rothiemurchus, Glen Affric and Abernathy.
The charity is opening its new Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in spring 2023 where you can take part in nature-based events and learn about rewilding.
Alladale Wilderness Reserve
This 23,000-acre estate gives you a glimpse into what Scotland’s natural landscape should really look like.
Named by National Geographic as ‘one of the best places to rediscover nature’, the reserve has undergone extensive conservation work.
You can immerse yourself in the wilderness here with its collection of beautiful lodges and your stay directly contributes to rewilding the area.
Wild Scotland
Wild Scotland is a resource for finding sustainable, nature-based and outdoor activities, experiences, tours, and holidays in Scotland. You can find conservation holidays, rewilding retreats, wildlife and nature tours, and accommodation for every budget.
It’s a great way to see Scotland’s rewilding projects and connect with nature in a meaningful way.
What should you bring on a rewilding break?
Always check the suggested packing list of your chosen rewilding holiday depending on whether you’re volunteering or enjoying leisure time.
As a general rule, you’ll want to bring clothes you don’t mind getting a bit wet and muddy. Bring sturdy footwear for nature walks, a good camera for wildlife spotting and waterproofs for wet weather.
Also, try to reduce your own ecological footprint as much as possible by limiting single-use plastics and non-recyclable waste.
Final thoughts on rewilding holidays in Scotland
Rewilding experiences are an impactful and rewarding way to give back while travelling. You see nature through the eyes of experts – its beauty and its vulnerability.
These holidays give you a new appreciation for the environment and the people fighting to protect it. And you’ll see some amazing wildlife too.
As a nature lover, doing a rewilding holiday is a complete no-brainer for me. I love the Scottish landscape and SCOTLAND: The Big Picture taught me to see beyond the pretty mountains and glens to a world full of nuance, depth, and balance.
Looking for more nature-friendly experiences in Scotland?
- How to Spend 3 Days in Inverness: Your Full Itinerary
- 10 Best Fort William Day Trips: Hikes, Castles And Epic Train Journeys
- 14 Best Things to Do Near Aviemore, Scotland (2023 Guide)
- 15 Most Unique Eco-Friendly Getaways in Scotland
- 20 Best Things To Do On The Isle Of Mull
- Isle of Skye 2 Day Itinerary: Amazing Things To Do
- 12 BEST Day Hikes In Scotland You Need To Experience
