PRICE

£995

Rewilding Impact Donation

If your finances allow, please consider making a donation of £200 or £500 to our Rewilding Fund, which supports the creation of new native woodlands, restores degraded peatlands and revitalises rivers and wetlands. This first-of-its-kind impact fund is dedicated to the delivery of projects across Scotland that will lock away carbon, boost nature and support thriving communities. A Rewilding Impact Donation can be made on booking. 

DEPOSIT

£200

PRICE INCLUDES

PRICE EXCLUDES

ITINERARY

Please note the exact itinerary varies according to local factors, including the weather.

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Day 1: Following arrival and introductions, we head south along the world famous Loch Ness, stopping off for a gentle stroll through lush alder woodland bordering the River Enrick. The Enrick is a fine example of a naturally-flowing alluvial river, where the accumulation of trees in the river channel, provides a complex ecosystem benefitting many species, including the endangered Atlantic salmon.

We continue south towards Dundreggan, the flagship rewilding estate and our home for the next 3 nights. Before dinner, we set the scene for our adventure with an introductory presentation, before gathering at An Nead cafe to enjoy our first evening meal together. 

The days are long at this time of year and after dinner, we take a leisurely sunset stroll along the trails and interactive displays at the world’s first dedicated Rewilding Centre.

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, we continue our journey right outside the door, with our friends at Trees for Life, owners of the Dundreggan Estate. We learn about the inspiring work being done at their specialist tree nursery, where the team have pioneered the production of rare and difficult-to-grow species, such as aspen.

We then travel west to one of Scotland’s last remnants of the once-vast Caledonian Pine Forest. Glen Affric is a spectacular, rich mosaic of pine, birch, alder, oak and rowan with every inch of every tree bedecked with lush lichens. Much of the glen is now part of the vast Affric Highlands rewilding initiative, which stretches almost from east to west across this part of Scotland. We enjoy lunch here and spend time discussing the huge potential for this emerging landscape-scale nature recovery partnership, which is now being replicated across other parts of Scotland.

Supporting local communities is a key principle of our Rewilding Journeys, so we visit a local restaurant for an early dinner.

Our evening is spent at South Clunes Farm, a family-run regenerative livestock farm that is part of the Northwoods Rewilding Network. The farm is a mosaic of pasture, scrub, hedgerows and broadleaf woodlands, with majestic views of Ben Wyvis. While the farm remains the principal focus, South Clunes is diversifying and the owners are embracing rewilding, including providing a home to a family of beavers.

As the sun sets, we relax in their Beaver Batch viewing deck overlooking the loch, where we hope to catch a glimpse of these fascinating creatures, now expanding their range across much of the UK for the first time in centuries.

Day 3: Today, we head south to two more Northwoods land partners. Arkaig Community Forest is focused on restoring ecosystems alongside sustainable local communities. We meet their team for a walk through one of their woodland sites, learning about forest restoration. We visit their community deer larder before enjoying a locally-sourced lunch of venison stew (or vegetarian soup).

After lunch, we visit Glen Nevis Estate at the foot of Ben Nevis. This estate is restoring nature while running a thriving tourism business. We take a guided walk alongside the River Nevis learning about the expansion of natural habitats across the 1,000-acre estate, including the conservation grazing of the riverine pastures by a small herd of Highland cattle. After our hike, we enjoy dinner at the estate’s on-site restaurant.

In the evening we return to Dundreggan for a screening of our award-winning documentary, Riverwoods.

Day 4: Following a leisurely breakfast, we depart Dundreggan Estate. Tides permitting, we spend our final morning on the beach! Just north of Inverness, bottlenose dolphins often gather to ambush migrating salmon and with luck, we will witness these magnificent creatures hunting and interacting a matter of metres offshore.

We then head back to Inverness and say our final farewells.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

What meals are served?

A hearty breakfast is taken within the accommodation, while in the field, we take a packed lunch prepared by the Dundreggan catering team or another local provider. The emphasis is on local and sustainable produce. Dinner is either taken at the accommodation or a local restaurant. 

A range of dietary requirements can be catered for, taking into consideration allergies and health conditions, as well as ethics, faiths and cultures. Please indicate your requirements on the booking form and we will try our best to accommodate your needs.

How do I get there?

Public transport is generally reliable and we will be collecting guests from Inverness train station, bus station or airport. Transfers will be scheduled for approximately 2pm on the day of arrival and 1pm on the day of departure.

Train: Services to Inverness are regular and can be booked here. 

Air: The nearest airport is Inverness (43 miles)

Car: Free, safe parking is available at the accommodation. Dundreggan postcode is IV63 7YJ

How do we get around during our stay?

We use a modern, comfortable 9-seater minibus. 

Who are your guides?

We work with knowledgeable and friendly guides who are familiar with Scotland’s rewilding story.

Do I need to be fit?

Our walks are mostly on established paths and tracks but the terrain can be uneven and sometimes wet and/or slippery. Ideally, you will be able to walk at a leisurely pace for up to 5km. Waiting for wildlife can sometimes involve staying quiet and still for extended periods.

If you have mobility issues or need to take things slow, please let us know and we will be happy to discuss alternative activities.

What wildlife will we see?

Our Rewilding Journeys are not focused on wildlife sightings, however, during our walks, we will keep an eye out for any interesting wildlife and where appropriate, spend time enjoying the sighting.

Will biting insects be an issue?

Midges aren’t usually an issue but can be irritating on calm, mild evenings in mid-late summer. If you’re travelling with us during this period, we suggest you bring a suitable repellent. 

What will the weather be like?

Weather in the Highlands is changeable and at any time of year, you should expect anything from warm, calm conditions to wintry squalls. Temperatures are likely to range from 10c to 22c in the spring/summer to 0c to 10c in autumn. If you’re unsure what to pack, we’ll be pleased to advise. 

How does my custom benefit rewilding?

After covering the necessary costs associated with delivering our experiences, such as accommodation, food and transport, we are left with a surplus which, unlike a commercial tour operator with shareholders, is reinvested into our rewilding work.

Do local people benefit from my booking?

Yes. We are committed to developing nature-based business models that show how a landscape rich in nature can also support vibrant communities. Your custom allows us to support local accommodation and food providers that train and employ local staff and to purchase supplies and services from local businesses. In doing so, we can demonstrate that rewilding is an economically viable land use in Scotland.

Are you encouraging travel that produces harmful emissions?

Fundamentally, we believe that nature-based travel is a force for good. However, it would be easy to ignore the inconvenient truth that travel - air travel in particular - contributes to climate change. As an organisation, we constantly review ways to reduce our carbon footprint, so we can continue delivering high impact experiences with a low impact on the planet.

If you’d like to recognise the climate impact of your own travel to and from our experiences, we invite you to make a contribution to rewilding - an effective way of capturing carbon and returning wildlife to our landscapes. All contributions are paid into this Fund, which enables more rewilding to happen.

AN SPIRIS

In the heart of the Affric Highlands sits Dundreggan, a 10,000 acre estate purchased by the charity, Trees for Life in 2008 and rewilded ever since. In 2023 they opened the world’s first dedicated Rewilding Centre to share the forest with everyone. In its first year, it was awarded the Best Tourism Project in the UK and Ireland by the British Guild of Travel Writers International Tourism Awards. A short distance from the centre, sits the purpose-built accommodation, An Spiris. We have a private wing to ourselves, where everyone will have their own room with en-suite facilities. There is also a shared living space to socialise and relax in during the evenings.

Facilities:

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT AN SPIRIS