Nature and wildlife

There’s a wide range of flora and fauna native to the area, with many local opportunities to visit areas for sightings of rare species. The vast and varied habitats range from peat bogs and heather to Caledonian pine forests and coastlines, all supporting a wide array of species. For close-up viewing of Scotland's native mammals, especially those that are more illusive or even extinct in the wild, we recommend the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig.

Bird watchers

Keen bird watchers have the opportunity to hunt down ospreys at the Boat of Garten, sea eagles on the West Coast, puffins on the Western Isles, crested tits and capercaillie in the pine forests, black cock and red grouse on the heather moorlands and ptarmigan on the mountaintops.

In the grounds of Polmaily

The gardens at Polmaily have been transformed from a working farm into a peaceful and beautiful haven. We have a wide variety of resident birds. We feed them throughout the year and invite our guests to do so if they so wish: there are a number of bird boxes in the grounds and on the cottages themselves. We now also have resident pheasants that feed about the gardens and enjoy seasonal visits from a family of red squirrels.

Barn owls

We’re particularly honoured to play host to a pair of barn owls who return every year to raise their young, especially as we are on the northernmost limits for these birds of prey. A barn owl box was installed in 2000, which has successfully raised a brood of chicks each year since. The British Trust for Ornithology rings the chicks each year and allows us to follow their progress and fate. We have built more boxes and created dry roosting spots to encourage more barn owls to settle. Some of the fields are kept back for hay and provide open areas for them to hunt their prey: field voles and mice.

Roe, red and sika deer

The birch woodland towards the back of the buildings is home to a number of roe deer. Many of the surrounding grassland fields also have visitations from red and sika deer, although this mainly happens when there is no other farm stock grazing.

2003: the return of the rabbit!

This may not seem extraordinary to many but for years rabbits had not been seen at Polmaily, having been wiped out by myxomatosis, The occasional mountain hare (white hare) can also be seen although these animals can be easy prey for hunters such as buzzards.

Salmon, toads and other beasts

The River Enrick passes through much of the Farm; it’s a spate river, which means it can appear almost dry in some summer months and yet threaten to overflow during wet weather! Although it’s an important spawning river for the salmon of the Ness system, its nature means it’s rarely perfect for the fisherman. The Farm is alive with toads, which have proved fun and educational for the young to hunt down and rescue off the farm track. In the garden, if you look carefully, it is also possible to spot sloe worms and small lizards.