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WILD SPACES
Enjoy intimate encounters with the best of Scotland’s wildlife
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WILD SPACES
Learn about rewilding from knowledgeable guides
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WILD SPACES
Relax, unwind and savour the moment in nature-rich landscapes
Wild Spaces offer memorable experiences in nature, while supporting rewilding.
Nested within our Northwoods Rewilding Network, this carefully selected collection of unique wildlife, wellness and overnight experiences, allow you to reconnect with the natural world.
Your valued custom also helps make the social and economic case for rewilding, by supporting jobs and services in rural communities.
Day Retreats with West Coast Wellness
Evanachan Farm, Otter Ferry, Argyll & Bute
Join Rosie Barge and Hailey O'Hara at West Coast Wellness, based at Evanachan Farm, for a unique Day Retreat that provides the opportunity to slow down, and reconnect both with nature and yourself. The day includes two yoga practices, time in their Lochside Sauna, a revitalising swim in the sea, nourishing seasonal lunch and snacks, and a walk through the native forest along the river.
DETAILS
When: 9am - 4.30pm on selected dates throughout the year
Suitable for: All fitness abilities are welcome
Price: £165 per person
Wild Running Retreats
Auchgoyle Farm, Argyll
Join Auchgoyle Farm owners, Katharine and David, both passionate runners, ecologists and environmentalists on a unique multi-day Running Retreat. You’ll run through their rewilding farm, over hills, along Argyll’s secret coast and through ancient woodlands. Along the way, you’ll discover wildlife and hidden habitats. The retreats also include yoga, saunas, wild swimming, a farm walk focusing on birds, plants and rewilding, as well as a presentation about the couples run across the length of South America (a world first!).
Accommodation in the farm house or ecolodge is included, along with food that is organic, local, and wherever possible, gathered.
DETAILS
Group size: Limited to small groups of 7
When: Seasonal from Autumn to Spring
Nights: 3 (Thursday evening to Sunday after lunch)
Suitable for: Options are available for both beginner runners (with short 3-4 mile runs per day), or proficient runners (able to run at least 8 miles comfortably, with sufficient fitness for running consecutive days).
Price: from £599 per person
Red Kite Experience
Argaty, Stirling
Argaty is a livestock farm in south Perthshire committed to making space for nature. It has been home to six generations of the same family since 1916 and is now also home to iconic red kites, beavers and red squirrels. Over 20 years ago, RSPB began reintroducing red kites to Central Scotland and Argaty has now become a favoured gathering spot. People come from miles away to see these enigmatic birds of prey jostle for food and perform mid air acrobatics.
Visit the hide for a guided 1.5hr tour to learn about the history of red kites and their successful reintroduction, while witnessing them swooping down to feed.
DETAILS
When: Daily summer tours (21 Feb – 31 October) begin at 1.45pm, while winter tours (1 November – 20 February) start at 1.15pm.
Suitable for: The entire family is welcome and the spacious viewing hide can accommodate large groups, if required.
Price:
Adults: £10
Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children): £24
Concessions: £9
Children aged 6-16yrs: £4
Under 6s: Free
Red Squirrel Photography Hide
Ballinlaggan Farm, Cairngorms
Join Mark Hamblin, professional nature photographer and owner of Ballinlaggan Farm, for a morning session at a local hide to photograph the iconic red squirrel from a unique vantage point.
The experience is available all year round to enable photographic opportunities in all seasons. Photographers can typically expect to see 2-6 squirrels around the hide, feeding, running and jumping; providing opportunities for both portraits and action shots.
DETAILS
When: All year
Times: Usually 8am - 1pm
Price: £75 per person, with hides accommodating 1-3 photographers. If two people are booking together, the price is £120 and there is a 20% discount when 2 or more sessions are booked together.
Bikepacking Wild Landscapes
Comrie Croft, Perth & Kinross
Join professional mountain bike guide, Emily Greaves, on a memorable overnight bikepacking adventure through the Perthshire glens surrounding Comrie Croft. Along the way, learn how this former livestock farm and commercial conifer plantation is being transformed into a rich mosaic of habitats and a model for rural regeneration. Alongside exploring the various trails and paths, the tour also includes a night of wild camping and cooking under the stars - the perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature.
DETAILS
Group size: Limited to small groups of between 2 and 6
When: 25th - 27th June and 16th - 18th September 2024. Alternative dates available on request.
Times: From 6 pm on Day 1 to approximately 4 pm on Day 3.
Suitable for: Those with some off-road riding experience. You should be comfortable riding your bike for 3-4 hrs at a steady pace for two days in a row on hilly terrain.
Price: £240 per person, inclusive of expert guiding, bikepacking equipment, all meals, 1 nights shared steading accommodation and 1 night wild camping.
THINGS TO KNOW
What is the Northwoods Rewilding Network?
Established in 2021, the Northwoods Rewilding Network is a Scotland-wide chain of land owners committed to nature recovery. It seeks to demonstrate how rewilding can be applied across different scales and settings, with many of these partners operating nature-based enterprises that enable their rewilding efforts.
How does my custom benefit rewilding?
Wild Spaces are nature-based enterprises at our Northwood partners sites. Each of these land partners share our vision for an ecologically-restored landscape and have committed some or all of their land to nature recovery. Our Wild Spaces demonstrate the range of nature-based business opportunities rewilding can drive and allows each landowner to reinvest this income into landscape restoration.
Do local people benefit from my booking?
Absolutely! 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 our land partners to train and employ local staff and to purchase supplies and services from local businesses. In doing so, our Wild Spaces demonstrate that rewilding is an economically viable land use in Scotland.
How can I support more rewilding across the Northwoods Rewilding Network?
If you have been inspired by these Wild Spaces and wish to see more land restored across Scotland, we invite you to donate to the Northwoods Rewilding Fund. All donations to the Fund are invested in rewilding actions within the network.
