A postcard from… Cairngorm Reindeer hill trip, Scotland (April 2017)
Images taken at Cairngorm Reindeer Centre hill trip. April 2017.
This was one of the visits I’d most been looking forward to on our recent trip to Scotland, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The Cairngorm reindeer herd is Britain’s only free-ranging herd and was introduced to the Cairngorms from Sweden in 1952, the sub-arctic qualities of the mountains being an ideal home for the reindeer. The trip began at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre in Glenmore, from here we drove in convoy for around one mile, followed by a 30 minute walk up to where some of the reindeer were gathered.
The guides were very knowledgeable and spoke at length about the history of the herd at various points along the walk. The walk was very picturesque although in parts it was steep and hard going and was also incredibly cold and windy the further up the mountainside we went. After the obligatory H&S warning about pointy antlers and such like (although most of last year’s antlers had already fallen off), some food was put down on the ground for the reindeer and we were then able to approach them, hand feed them and even stroke the ones who were willing to be stroked. They were so gentle and friendly, and it was a wonderful experience to visit them in their natural environment. We made our own way back down and were able to take in the views of Loch Morlich below, as well as spotting the Funicular Railway we’d planned to go on later that day.
Linking this post up with #CountryKids #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky and #MyFamilyAdventures
Goodness what stunning scenery and such beautiful animals. We have fallow deer here on the farm and they are really quite shy running off to hide in the trees and bracken when we arrive with their breakfast. These reindeer sound much more friendly and treated with caution it sounds like they are happy to come close. I can see why this would be a highlight from your trip.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
This looks just stunning. What an amazing experience. After reading your posts recently, I NEED to get to Scotland! Your photos are really beautiful too. Thanks for sharing. #countrykids
Oh wow! What an amazing trip. The views look just stunning and reindeer are just beautiful.
Such a fantastic experience. #CountryKids
What a lovely experience. We have a lot of reindeer here in Sweden where yours originate from, but I am still getting used to living surrounded by them! #countrykidsfun
Gosh they are magnificent, how cool that you could get so close to them and look at that scenery. Mich x #Countrykids
A friend of mine was telling me all about the reindeer in the Cairngorms earlier this week, and now I see your beautiful photographs – must be a sign that I really have to go visit them! They are stunning – looks like such a special experience. #countrykids
Oh wow! Those reindeer are absolutely gorgeous! I don’t think I’ve seen that many at once before and all roaming around like that! Just beautiful! Thanks for linking up to #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky 🙂
Oh my! I love your photos! They look stunning. #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky
Wow that looks amazing and I had no idea that there even were reindeer in Scotland. Beautiful setting too #CountryKids
This looks like such an amazing trip they you have captured perfectly with these beautiful photos #countrykids
The Cairngorms are so beautiful. I never knew there were reindeer there. How lovely to be able to get close enough to stroke them too 🙂 #countrykids
I maybe stealing your postcard idea – hope that’s okay! monkey would love this he is m obsessed with reindeer although he would also expect Father Christmas to be there too!! #CountryKids
I love reindeers, I bet it’s amazing to see them in such a stunning location. I’d never heard of the reindeer centre, will definitely have to have a look when we go back to Scotland. Love your photos! #CountryKids
What a wonderful experience. I tracked down some reindeer last Christmas to show the girls. #CountryKids
What an amazing place to go, the reindeer are just perfect, and the scenery is amazing. #ThePlacesWeWillGoLinky
Oh my goodness what an amazing adventure and how beautiful are they? Truly amazing to see them in their natural habitat so to speak. Beautiful photos too. Thanks so much for joining in with #MyFamilyAdventures