Group Travel » Rewilding the Scottish Highlands, Waterbear

Alladale Wilderness Reserve’s 100 square kilometers of rugged mountains, forests, rivers and lochs are located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, just 1.5 hours north of Inverness. The Reserve is easily accessible via road, via the well maintained A9 along the east coast towards Tain. Alladale Wilderness Reserve your 23,000-acre utopia located just an hour’s drive north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Alladale’s dramatic glens, colourful hills, glistening rivers, many hill lochs, and native wildlife will capture your heart.

Although strikingly beautiful, the Highlands are not what they once were. These barren lands used to be home to lush pine forests and large predators. Few people know that just one per cent of what the Romans called ‘the Great Forest of Caledon’ remains today. As a result, much of the flora and fauna that once thrived here, have disappeared and the landscape has altered dramatically.

The Alladale team works hard to rewild this unique part of the Highlands to its former glory, reintroducing original plant and wildlife species.

Alladale’s conservation work is well documented and includes extensive native tree planting, peatland restoration, outdoor learning for teenagers, and multiple wildlife projects. Your stay contributes directly to the work of our charity partner The European Nature Trust which supports wildlife and conservation projects across Europe.

Alladale Wilderness Reserve’s 100 square kilometers of rugged mountains, forests, rivers and lochs are located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, just 1.5 hours north of Inverness. The Reserve is easily accessible via road, via the well maintained A9 along the east coast towards Tain. Alladale Wilderness Reserve your 23,000-acre utopia located just an hour’s drive north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Alladale’s dramatic glens, colourful hills, glistening rivers, many hill lochs, and native wildlife will capture your heart.

Although strikingly beautiful, the Highlands are not what they once were. These barren lands used to be home to lush pine forests and large predators. Few people know that just one per cent of what the Romans called ‘the Great Forest of Caledon’ remains today. As a result, much of the flora and fauna that once thrived here, have disappeared and the landscape has altered dramatically.

The Alladale team works hard to rewild this unique part of the Highlands to its former glory, reintroducing original plant and wildlife species.

Alladale’s conservation work is well documented and includes extensive native tree planting, peatland restoration, outdoor learning for teenagers, and multiple wildlife projects. Your stay contributes directly to the work of our charity partner The European Nature Trust which supports wildlife and conservation projects across Europe.

Deanich Lodge is one of the most remote lodges in Scotland, 16 miles from the village of Ardgay. This is truly a off-the-grid experience in the Scottish Highlands. Located in the heart of the Wilderness Reserve, just 5 miles from Alladale lodge, the views and surrounding landscape are simply stunning.

The former historic hunting lodge has recently been converted to provide modest but comfortable lodgings for our groups. It’s the peaceful silence of Deanich that make this lodge so extraordinary.  From star gazing, mountain biking and hiking, you will have the time to see the reserve’s wildlife including red deer and golden eagles.

Sleeps a maximum of 18 in 5 bedrooms (mix of bunk beds and single beds)
2 large bathrooms & 2 guest toilets
Fully equipped kitchen
Spacious open-plan living room and dining room

Three meals per day are included. Due to the remote location of Deanich Lodge, dinners are ready made meals and stored in the fridges and freezers at the lodge, the volunteers will need to assist with the re-heating of the meals. Breakfasts and lunches will need to be prepared by the volunteers, the food will be provided and stocked up by the lodge before and during the group’s stay.

Alladale proudly grow and supply most of the fresh produce, (vegetables, free-range eggs, venison) which are all locally grown and bred on the reserve, this ensuring this programme is as eco-friendly as possible.

Transfers are included.

There is no Wi-Fi at Deanich Lodge. There is a landline for calls and 4G a short walk up the hill.

This is a bespoke trip and can be tailored to include additional activities.

Accommodation
Meals
All fieldwork, lectures and any other field related visits included in the itinerary
Transfer to and from your placement on the day of arrival and departure. Any changes will need to be communicated in advance to ensure there are no additional/unexpected amounts that you may need to allow for due to these unforeseen circumstances.

Our professionally managed courses make the perfect addition to a school curriculum or stand alone as an engaging summer camp. Delivered over eleven days and ten nights, the programme includes hiking, navigation, bush craft and numerous other outdoor activities – ecology underpins and is integrated throughout the whole journey.

Activities can include:
Hiking
Navigation
Wild camping
Team building
Eco-caching
Tree planting
Peatland surveys
Vegetation surveys
Animal watching
Bush crafting
Fire lighting
Shelter building
Archery
Gorge walking
Outdoor living
Mountain biking – this will also be your main mode of transport around the reserve!