GOING WILD: New Scottish wildcat experiences are not about spotting the Highland tiger

As part of the ongoing vision to restore wildcats in Scotland, the Saving Wildcats partnership is planning for the future.

We’ve been looking at ways to turn Scotland’s wildcat conservation efforts into a sustainable venture and we recently teamed up with Speyside Wildlife—a small, passionate company specialising in wildlife tours—to explore the potential for eco- tourism to benefit local communities and, ultimately, support our conservation goals.

Speyside Wildlife, based in Grantown, knows the Cairngorms inside out and has been drawing people from around the world to experience the region’s rugged beauty.

They provide bespoke wildlife tours, with packages that cover everything from transport and cosy accommodations across Badenoch and Strathspey, to sampling the finest restaurants that the area has to offer.

With their commitment to quality and local expertise, Speyside Wildlife seemed like the ideal company to help us design a wildcat experience for visitors.

Together, we created a three-day itinerary to give guests a rare glimpse into the world of the elusive ‘Highland Tiger’ – Scotland’s wildcat.

The itinerary took guests to key areas of the Cairngorms where wildcats had been carefully introduced, under the guidance of both our expert field team and Speyside Wildlife’s seasoned guides.

This isn’t a simple ‘spot the cat’ experience (the cats are far too elusive for that) but an immersive journey into wildcat habitat, complete with stories of their history and conservation significance.

And thanks to the close work between our teams, guests were able to explore these habitats without disturbing the wildcats or any other local wildlife, ensuring a respectful and sustainable tourism model.

The feedback from the visitors on this first trip was overwhelmingly positive.

They loved learning about the wildcats’ story, seeing its environment, and experiencing Scottish hospitality at its finest.

Attendees remarked that ‘The visit to the Speyside Wildlife hide was superb’ and that they were ‘very lucky to see badgers and pine martens’.

Beyond the amazing landscapes, it was the wildlife expertise, local food, drink, and friendly faces that truly made the experience unforgettable.

Of course, any venture like this requires balance. The last thing we want is to flood sensitive areas with too many tourists or, worse, those who might disrupt the ecosystem.

It’s a delicate space where even a small misstep can have big consequences and so we’re committed to developing a sustainable approach.

The early success of this partnership suggests there can be a blueprint for responsible wildcat tourism that can support conservation without compromising the integrity of the habitats we’re working to protect and restore.

If we can keep this balance, responsible tourism could not only support the return of Scotland’s wildcats but also contribute to the economic wellbeing of local communities, creating a virtuous circle where both nature and people thrive.

With the help of Speyside Wildlife and others who share our commitment to Scotland’s natural heritage, we are well on our way to building a sustainable future for the Scottish wildcat – and for the people who care for this extraordinary landscape.

Helena Parson is Saving Wildcats’ outreach and engagement manager

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