WHY CHOOSE HEATHERLEA?

Heatherlea is built on a love of wildlife watching, and a real spirit of adventure. There is wildlife to marvel at, flora to enjoy and landscapes and culture to savour! We are firmly focused on finding wildlife for you to see, though only in a sensitive and sustainable way, and plan very carefully in advance to give you the best chances, in comfort and safety. We are always aware of the environment around us. Whether you are viewing Crested Tit and Capercaillie within a few miles of our Hotel in the Scottish Highlands, watching Tiger from a jeep in a remote Indian reserve, or finding spring migrant birds in Skyros or Extremadura, we work hard to give you the ‘real’ experience and treat you as a valued individual, not as part of a crowd. Our Guides are professionals, much more than couriers or day-guides, and they work hard with patience and skill, wherever you are, to make sure that your investment of time and money is rewarded.

Back at our office, inside our own Hotel, we know that integral services including accommodation, food and travel are just as important as activities in the field when delivering a wildlife watching holiday. In our specialist part of the tourism industry, there are very few travel companies who own and deliver hotel services on a daily basis, and even fewer hotelowning companies who understand the complex delivery of wildlife holidays. Heatherlea does both! We own a three-star hotel and take you to places around the world for wildlife. We have the knowledge and experience to deliver everything you need, and our full-time Operations Team are ready to help.

Established in 1991, protected by our own ATOL Licence (6113), and with a dedicated UK Bank account solely for clients’ monies, Heatherlea offers the foundation and security you need when deciding who to choose. We hold specialist Tour Operator Insurance, and our Hotel is wholly owned by the company, so we offer added security which might not be available everywhere you look. Our attitude and dedication have established Heatherlea as one of Britain’s leading wildlife holiday providers, and as we enjoy our 33rd season we have never stopped striving to be better, to give our clients the best we can. We also take care to make sure you are comfortable, and you won’t feel out of place if you have less experience than others. We are not ‘intensive’ or ‘twitchers’, but are dedicated to showing you wildlife, and above all, we have fun.

Your gateway to Scottish birds and wildlife!

This is where we started, and our lovely Hotel in the beautiful Highland village of Nethy Bridge, on the edge of the Abernethy Forest, is where many of our clients take their first wildlife watching holiday, often continuing with us to new places around the world. Our Highland holidays take you to places where wildlife is special, and we travel in minibuses which are great mobile hides. Many key species can be found close to our Hotel, though our Scottish Highland itineraries might also take you as far away as Handa Island, Orkney, the Isles of Lewis and Harris, Skye, and Mull, including a night or two in a second centre to reduce travel miles.

We show you all the wildlife, and include all accommodation, food, travel, access fees and ferry charges. You get terrific value from our fully inclusive holidays, so book with confidence – there are no hidden extras! Turn to page 10 to read more.

Go a little further!

We are experts on the Scottish islands, where Corncrake, eagles, skuas, Basking Shark, Storm Petrel, rare, windblown migrants, wonderful scenery, charming people and exciting places are all waiting for you. These adventures begin to unfold on page 29.

OVERSEAS WITH

Do it ‘The Heatherlea Way’ Europe, the Americas, long-haul to Africa, Asia or Australia, there is a world of choice with Heatherlea. ‘The Heatherlea Way’ involves looking after you with care whilst maximising your experience and giving value for money. Most holidays begin before you even reach airport check-in, with our Pre-flight services. Head to page 54 for a sample of what we offer!

Finally, we should point out that this Brochure offers a flavour of our holidays, and most of the basic information you need. More information is available on our website or directly by telephone or email, and details can change. We always issue a full itinerary with each holiday confirmation, though please check against the website to ensure you know exactly what the content will be. New holidays are launched virtually every month, and as some dates fill others are made available. We are always very happy to hear from you. Thank you for reading our 2023/24 Brochure!