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Writer's pictureRiccardo Pes

Close Encounters with Wildlife in the Scottish Highlands

It all started with a boat trip in Lochinver, where we hoped to spot dolphins or whales, but they must have been nesting elsewhere that day. Instead, we were treated to close encounters with seals and otters—six of them cruising in the bay, though it’s usually a group of thousands. We also saw plenty of seabirds, including black-throated divers, terns, gulls, ducks, and gannets. We scanned the skies for white-tailed eagles, whose massive 2.5-metre wingspan makes them an impressive sight.




Later, while navigating the winding single-track roads on my way back to Stoer, I had one of the most memorable encounters of the trip. Stags and sheep wandered freely, casually blocking the road, completely unbothered by my presence. They stood tall and calm, as if the road belonged to them—which, in a way, it does! I waited in the car for a while, watching as these animals moved at their own pace, clearly in no rush to let me pass through.


During my staying in Tarbet, a tiny little village on the coast tucked away from the main road to Durness, added another layer to these wild encounters. Each night, as darkness fell, the powerful roars of a stag echoed through the hills, sending chills down my spine. It was haunting and thrilling at the same time, a reminder of the untamed beauty of the Highlands. One night, the stag ventured closer than ever before, and I managed to record his calls. The sound of him bellowing into the night felt like a direct connection to the wild—an unforgettable moment I’ll cherish forever. A local ranger that works for the Geopark also told me that for him this is the sound of Scotland, I felt lucky to have witnessed such a moment.


The accessibility of nature in the Highlands is truly unique. With so much untouched land and minimal human interference, the animals here have grown confident and relaxed around people. Their behavior reflects the harmony that exists between nature and visitors in this remarkable place. It’s a reminder of how closely we can live alongside wildlife when we respect their environment.



🙏 This was only made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Agostino Bran, Nicla Bravin, Silvana Vassili, Massimo De Mattia, luigina Perosa, Izabela Puszczykowska, Brenda Neece, CelloMuseum.org

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