Best place in Scotland for a wildlife holiday?

[GandolfBold]

Looking to book a week/10 days in May next year. We love walking, castles, steam railways and Dd loves wildlife. Close to a beach would be good too.

Recommendations would be welcome. I have looked and looked and I can't narrow it all down as it all looks amazing.

Mull for wild life and beaches
Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig as an outing?

How old is Dd?

If she's smaller, the steam trains at Bo'ness are great fun and you could go to the Scottish sea bird centre and all the many castles in / around Edinburgh (Edinburgh, Linlithgow, tantallon etc).

We live around there and have been doing day trips all summer instead of a holiday away. It's been fantastic!

Oh and beaches from portobello out

Aviemore. Lots of walking, near castles, has a steam railway, RSPB Osprey centre, beach on Loch Morlich! You're also well placed to get quite far within a hour's drive in many directions. Only thing I would say is it's not a gourmet eating place!

Mull Mull Mull

We went at Easter and saw Eagles (golden and white tailed) deer, otters, seals, Dolphins, pine martins, buzzards, hen harriers, herons, oyster catchers, and caught lots of crabs....it was amazing.

Also had good days out at duart castle, Calgary bay, ferry to Iona, Tobermory etc.

Going back next year as just so much more to see and do. Hoping to see whales and porpoises if we do a few more
Boat trips.

I have booked already to go to Mull next summer, primarily because I hear the wildlife viewing is excellent. Can't wait! I'm actually going on my own, since viewing wildlife is a big interest of mine and I won't be able to do much with DH and dogs in tow. I'm a bit nervous about the driving on narrow roads, though (I am actually used to single track roads, as there are quite a few where I live but, god, I hate them!). Oh, and about going on the car ferry - I've never actually been on one, never mind doing it on my own!

LordRothermere you shouldn't hit single track roads till you get to Mull itself, assuming you're getting the ferry from Oban. Once you're there, you won't want to go fast (even if you could); you might miss something! And remember Mull isn't very big. The Calmac boys will guide you into position on the ferry; I'm sure you'll be fine.

Thanks BlueChampagne. Yes, I'll be going from Oban, driving a hire car from Glasgow airport.

And there are boat trips from Mull in season for whale and dolphin spotting.

I would go to Ardnamurchan Peninsula/Sanna Bay Sanna Bay photos and split my trip, taking a ferry directly to Mull (Tobermory - Kilchoan which is only ten minutes from Ardnamurchan) for half of the time. Maybe going home from the other side of the island.

Ardnamurchan pretty much all single track roads, tho' beautiful.