This guided tour of the vast, privately owned Rothiemurchus Estate allows you to explore the history of the landed gentry in Scotland and one of the country's largest remaining strands of ancient Caledonian forest.
The old-growth Scots pine woodland here supports a huge array of wildlife including wildcats, ospreys and capercaillies (woodland grouse). With the help of an experienced countryside ranger you'll get the best chance of spotting these rare creatures.
The Rothiemurchus Estate encompasses forest, lochs, mountains, rivers and glens, giving you the opportunity to discover a landscape that is scenic as well as steeped in history.
The private tour begins at the Rothiemurchus Centre where you'll meet your driver and guide, one of the estate's specially trained rangers, before setting off on a three-hour trip around the grounds.
Your guide will explain how Rothiemurchus has been owned and managed by the Grant family for over 450 years, and how the Grants and their myriad staff continue to manage, develop and conserve the land today.
You’ll explore some of the estate’s most significant landscapes and historic settings on tracks and trails by both Land Rover and on foot. The exact route of the tour will vary depending on the weather, your interests and any specific conservation initiatives at the time. However, you’ll get a good overview of the local flora and fauna, the history of the area and the beauty of the scenery of the east Highlands.
Rothiemurchus is regarded as the ‘gateway to the Cairngorms’ and as you explore its diverse landscapes you'll get an insight into why the estate is so special in terms of its history, wildlife and land use.
Along with being a thriving destination for outdoor activities of all kinds, Rothiemurchus encompasses the largest area of ancient Caledonian Scots pine forest left in the UK, along with a broad range of wildlife.
This makes the estate extremely important in Europe for the sheer number of protected species found here, and for the efforts of the family in conserving this habitat and biodiversity. You're likely to spot red squirrels and deer in the forest, ospreys soaring overhead and if you're lucky, badgers and pine martens.
At the end of your tour you'll return to the Rothiemurchus Centre where you can have lunch (not included) in the Druie Cafe Restaurant which serves produce grown and reared on the estate.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Scotland specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Dalwhinnie Distillery tour with whisky and chocolate tasting
Learn how Scotland's smooth but complex single malts are produced on a tour of a historic whisky distillery set high in the Cairngorms National Park, and discover what gives each whisky its distinctive characteristics as you linger over several samples.
Wildlife photography walk through Rothiemurchus Estate
Improve your photographic skills on a three-hour guided walk through the ancient forests of the Rothiemurchus Estate, a regular filming location for wildlife documentaries. With the help of a professional photographer you'll get up close to many of its rare species.
You can enjoy this activity as part of the suggested tours below, or we can weave it into a trip shaped entirely around you.
