Thinking of heading off on safari? Well how about Scotland? Stick with me, I’m not kidding here. Scotland has its very own Big Five wildlife for you to go out in search of, amazing creatures that thrive in our epic seas and mountains. So what are you waiting for? Grab your binoculars and your camera as we head off for a Scottish safari.

Red Deer - Glenfinnan

First up we come to the mighty red deer, the largest land mammal in the UK and the undisputed Lord of the Glens. Autumn and winter are the best times to see these big beasts as they come down off the high hills seeking food and shelter. And Glenfinnan is a great place to see them. Forget that famous railway viaduct and Harry Potter – we are here for the deer. I recommend walking deeper up the glen, though they can even be spotted much lower down in winter. In autumn you can witness the famous rutting when their blood curdling cries echo like there has been a murder as the stags take on each other in a battle for dominance. My most memorable experience was when I was sitting on the hillside to take a photo of a train crossing the viaduct and a huge stag appeared just metres away. We just sized each other up, before we slowly moved apart, though I don’t recommend getting this close to deer.

The hostel - Glenfinnan Sleeping Car – This is a brilliantly unusual hostel tucked right in the glen by the railway station. Stay here and you get free access to the railway museum too.

Golden Eagle – The Angus Glens

Forget those cheeky newcomers, the sea eagle, and focus on this mighty bird, a creature that is deeply majestic to view in the wild. The simple rule of thumb is that if you cannot decide if it’s a buzzard or an eagle, then it’s definitely a buzzard as it’s obvious - golden eagles are so much larger. The Angus Glens are brilliant for spotting golden eagles – look out for them on any walk in this wilderness of steep glens and craggy mountain - your hostel makes a great base, as you are tucked within the southernmost edge of the Cairngorms National Park and it’s easy to fire into the East Cairngorms footpath network. Two testing Munro mountains await: the Mayar and Driesh. Glen Prosen itself has nesting pairs of golden eagles and if you push on to the other Angus Glens you will discover even more – Glen Clova is a favourite of mine, with the best eagle spotting in its upper reaches.

The hostel – Prosen Hostel – Cosy hostel lined whose walls are insulated with sheep wool.

Harbour Seal – The Moray Firth

If you want to catch sight of a harbour seal then you have definitely come to the right place here in Scotland’s north-east. The Moray Firth is home to around 900 harbour seals – you’ll see them on the shore and the sandbanks all the way from Helmsdale to Findhorn. I was up for a weekend in Findhorn recently with my family and we spent ages peering across the water at these cute furry wonders. We were staring over and then they got curious and a couple came right up to us to check us out, which delighted my girls! If you want to get any closer a wee ferry take your over, though don’t get too close as you’ll disturb them. There are also RIB rides with North 58º Sea Adventures.

The hostel - Findhorn Village Centre – This hostel is very handily located near the river so you can go down and check the seals out.

Otter – Isle of Mull

Mull for me is a world-class wildlife destination. You can see otters here, but also all the other Big Five bar red squirrels – Arran is the only island in Scotland with red squirrels. Mull does offer a great chance of seeing otters, the gorgeously cute furry animals that spend their lives working their way around our coasts hunting for fish and splashing around in the shadows. They are Eurasian otters - Lutra lutra – who are a member of the Mustelid family along with badgers, mink and pine marten, and can grow over a metre in length at maturity. Some people reckon morning is the best time to see them, but that is probably just because it’s quieter with less people around and they tend to be shy. I reckon the best time is around low tide as they often just chill at high tide – look out for them working their way around in the seaweed and rocks down by the water’s edge. For more information check out the Mull Otter Group, who do great work on the island. You can see otters on the coastline near the hostel I recommend below. One adventurous way to see them is tackle a section of the rough Stevenson Way that ekes along the Ross of Mull, or you could nip over to the gorgeous island of Iona, where there are plenty of otters too.

The Hostel – Ross of Mull Bunkrooms – Great access to the Ross of Mull and the coast from this welcoming hostel.

Red Squirrel – Highland Perthshire

Forget the chunky invasive grey squirrels that terrorise tourists in Scotland’s city parks. Here we are talking about the much rarer red squirrels. You don’t get to see these cute bushy-tailed delights all over Scotland so rejoice that here in the Comrie area in Highland Perthshire you can find them. The hostel I’m recommending hires out mountain bikes so you can push off into the hillsides in search of them. There are plenty of hiking trails to explore to where you might chance upon them. There is no mistaking them – though they can look more black than red – with those big bushy tails. Some great spots to look out for them are on local walks to the Deil's Cauldron, Lady Mary's Walk, Torlum Hill and the Maam Road. It’s a real privilege to see red squirrels as their survival is not guaranteed unless we make sure to preserve and protect them – check out the work of Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels to find out more about what has been done and what needs done. 

The Hostel – Comrie Croft – Superb hostel at the heart of the co-operative community set-up here on the forested hillsides.

Blog by our travel writer, Robin McKelvie