LBC in talks with holiday company about birding holidays to Scottish Highlands

 As of last Friday, 31 people had booked.

Although there are still plenty of spaces on the coach, the hotel might soon run out of rooms because I understand there is another group (non-birders) going from the Newcastle area.

So, if anyone is still in thinking-about-it-mode, best to book with Cairngorm Travel sooner rather than later.

Re its Loch Garten reserve (one of the destinations) the RSPB has set up 2023 webcams for both osprey and goshawk nests, and these can be tracked down on YouTube.

The hotel and gardens look amazing.

Scottish Bird Safari: April 28 - May 2

There are still some spaces on this trip  for couples and twosomes.

So if interested, don't delay because it's first come/first served.

Pick-up points at Grimsby/ Cleethorpes and Lincoln with (to be confirmed later) feeder minibus from other Lincs towns if there is sufficient demand. 

Price is £269 per head to include coach travel to and from  Kingussie and four nights at the very grand Duke of Gordon Hotel (with full Scottish breakfast and multiple-option, including  vegetarian, four-course evening meal).

Also included: optional excursions on two days to:
* RSPB Loch Garten
* Lochindorb 

There are also plentiful scenic walks around the hotel, with RSPB Insh Marshes just three miles away 

Target species for the trip include: 
* Ospreys
* Two eagle species
* Black-throated divers (in breeding plumage)
* Capercaillie
* Crossbills
* Crested tits
* Redstarts
* Tree pipits
* Drumming snipe and other breeding waders
* Breeding phalaropes (bit of a long shot - this one)
* Red squirrels
* Otters and more.

And if a UK first mega turns up (a black woodpecker would be good), we'll be in pole position to see it.  

The  trip is with holiday company Cairngorm Travel, but is not in their brochure because it has been tailored for Lincolnshire-based birders.

Cairngorm Travel: www.cairngorm-travel.co.uk
Tel number (Monday-Friday) for booking: 01405 761334

Thanks Jacquie - Jim

Thank you for sorting this holiday Jim.  Unfortunately, John and I had booked both our spring and summer breaks before we received but we may be interested in future if they are to continue.
Kind Regards
Jacquie
 

Thank you to all those who have been super-quick out of the blocks and already booked.

The single rooms have all been taken.

However, twosomes/ couples sharing a room are welcome on a first come, first served basis. 

Details are below:


Re Cairngorms birding trip, Duke of Gordon Hotel, Kingussie

Outward: April 28

Return: May 2


Optional coach/birding trips on two days to

a) RSPB Loch Garten & Aviemore

b) Lochindorb  (hopefully b-t divers) & Grantown-on-Spey

There will be a range of experience - from beginner birders to relative experts. 

The Lincs Bird Club does not have the infrastructure to handle/ process bookings, so this is by telephone call to Cairngorm Travel.

Unfortunately, time has been too short to allow the company to  set up a special online booking page on our behalf, but this is a possibility for the future.

It will be on a first-come, first served basis.

The Cairngorm telephone number is: 01405 761334.

The name of the holiday is Scottish Bird Safari - April 28

The price is £269 per head for doubles/twosomes sharing a room - this to include bed, full Scottish breakfast and four-course evening meal and the coach travel/trips.

I understand (though am not certain) there is a vegetarian option with all courses.

The proposed pick-up points are:

a) Grimsby/Cleethorpes and 

b) Lincoln

However, subject to confirmation, there might be additional mini-bus feeder options if there is demand from a particular town or village.

If so, this info will be detailed, either on booking or when you get the confirmation details a week or so before departure. The letter will also state the pick-up times.

I should state that, though I have facilitated the trip via the Lincs Bird Club website, the LBC bears no responsibility. If you make the booking (as I hope you do), your contract is with Cairngorm Travel. From past experience, I can vouch for their credentials - they pull out all the stops to make everything as welcoming and enjoyable as possible.

A reminder of the telephone number : 01405 761334.