Wildlife and Gardens to visit

Wildlife and Birdwatching
From the windows of Weiroch you’re sure to see roe deer, hares and pheasants as well as buzzards, oyster catchers and a variety of other birds depending on the time of year. A walk through the quiet pine-forests adjacent to Weiroch could bring sightings of red squirrels, birds of prey or pine martens, and along by the fast-flowing River Spey you can watch the salmon leaping and perhaps see herons, dippers, sandpipers or even otters.

The Highland of Scotland is renowned for birds and animals that are seldom found in most parts of the UK and there are some wonderful bird reserves and wildlife parks to visit. Popular ones close to Weiroch are the Osprey Centre, The Highland Wildlife Park and The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd. Aquatic wildlife and dolphin watching can be enjoyed in many places along the beautiful Moray Firth coastline. For a unique day out, the Cairngorm National Park offers a variety of nature and wildlife safaris that are usually bookable at short notice.

Fishing
The River Spey is one of Scotland’s most prolific salmon and sea trout fisheries, attracting fishermen from all over the world. Weiroch itself is situated adjacent to the middle section of the Spey giving easy access to this part of the river. The Lodge offers perfect accommodation for small groups of fishermen, especially those fishing on the Pitchroy beats and on the River Avon (pronounced A'an).

Although local estates control most beats, day and weekly permits to fish on parts of the Spey, its tributaries and other nearby rivers are available from local angling clubs and some estates. Alternatively, wild and released trout fishing is available on many local lochs and lakes. The nearby Glen of Rothes Fishery provides excellent stillwater bank fishing, and on the Glenlivet Estate, a short distance away, wild brown trout fishing can be enjoyed.  Equipment is available for hire from local tackle shops if you don’t have your own.

Sea fishing, either beach casting or from boats hired by the day is available along the Moray Firth. Fully equipped boats offer chartered trips from a variety of locations with fishing for most salt water species including Cod, Pollock, Ling, Mackerel, Skate, Halibut and Conger eel.

Walking
Whether you enjoy a relaxed ramble or seek something more strenuous there is an unrivalled choice in the Speyside area. From Weiroch Lodge itself, you can walk across the fields, explore the adjacent 800 acres of quiet forest tracks or access the Speyside Way which is just a few minutes away. This world famous trail mainly follows the valley of the River Spey and runs from Buckie on the shore of the Moray Firth, south westwards to Aviemore on the edge of the Cairngorm Mountains.

For hillwalkers looking for more of a challenge, there are 49 Munros plus numerous Corbetts and Grahams (smaller hills) to be conquered within the Cairngorm range and local area. The closest is Ben Rinnes, a short distance away, with a total ascent of 548 metres where on a clear day there are fantastic views from the summit.

Golf
With such stunning landscape it's no wonder that some of the worlds most revered golf courses are situated in the local area. Moray’s low rainfall, warm sunshine and mild coastal airs make the courses playable practically all year round. From classic coastal links at Lossiemouth and Cullen to courses with grand views of the hills, such as the course at Rothes and Dufftown. Many excellent nearby courses include Ballindalloch (a few minutes from Weiroch), Grantown-on-Spey, Nethy Bridge, Dufftown, Forres, Boat of Garten, and the championship courses of Nairn and Royal Dornoch - which is often regarded as one of the best five golf courses in the world.

Snowsports
Weiroch Lodge is situated close to the renowned Cairngorms National Park where skiing and other snowsports can be enjoyed. Two main venues are the Cairngorm Ski Centre and The Lecht where, in total, there are over 50km of ski runs and a snow board fun park, suitable for all levels from beginner to expert. Cross Country, telemark, ski touring and ski mountaineering are also available from specialist operators. Snowsports can take place any time between December and April depending on weather conditions and it is sometimes possible to ski before December and into May.

Mountain biking 
The area has miles of tracks to suit mountain bikers of all abilities. In addition to the little-used tracks within the 800 acres of woodland adjacent to Weiroch Lodge, there are the dedicated Moray Monster Mountain Bike Trails giving 19-miles of singletrack routes to suit all abilities. The main Monster Trails are linked to each other and stretch from Fochabers near the coast to Craigellachie which is close to Weiroch. Bike Glenlivet is an award winning mountain bike trail centre with outstanding cross country and free-ride trails, zip wire trail, café and bike hire, situated at Kirkmichael, just a few miles away.

Watersports
Canoeing the River Spey from where it becomes navigable, through the Cairngorms National Park all the way to the sea, is a classic Highland adventure known as ‘The Spey Descent’.

This trip is suitable for those who have never canoed before as well as canoeists with years of experience. The stretch of the River Spey from Ballindalloch to Aberlour, which is adjacent to Weiroch, is the most famous section for White Water, with rapids up to grade 2, making it an ideal day trip for experienced canoeists. Equipment including canoes can be hired with instructors for those who require it.

Recreational water skiing and a broad range of associated activities can be found at Loch of Aboyne run by the Aberdeen Water Ski and Wakeboard club who welcome all visitors regardless of age or experience. Besides water skiing, sailing and windsurfing are both popular sports in the area. The Moray coastal town of Lossiemouth is one of Scotland’s hidden windsurfing gems, and the Portsoy Boat Festival held annually in July is a hugely popular event that attracts sailing and fishing boats alike.