Scotland Blog - The final Part - 5 / Scotland blog

🔥 Scotland: The last couple of days I Accidentally Became a Wildlife Tour Guide (Without Seeing Any Wildlife) 🔥

Today’s episode of Hayley vs The Highlands begins with me moving to new accommodation near Loch Lomond… after a luxurious 3–4 hours of sleep. Nothing says “road trip vibes” like delirium, caffeine, and the Scottish sun trying its best to impersonate the Sahara. Honestly, I’ve never known heat like it. Scotland is broken.

Before checking out, I finally stopped to photograph Carrbridge Packhorse Bridge, the same bridge I’ve driven past twice already this week while muttering “I’ll stop next time.” Well, today was next time. It’s stunning, and I felt spiritually obligated to give it more than the usual 0.3 seconds of appreciation through the car window.

I waved goodbye to my new evacuation buddies, and headed off for my pre‑booked 4x4 mountain safari. Yes, I booked it at 3am when i couldnt sleep!

🦌 The Great Red Stag Hunt (Featuring: No Red Stags)

I arrived early, grabbed lunch, and listened to barn swallows and yellowhammers shouting at each other. Naturally, I couldn’t see the yellow hammers.

Then came the jeep. I jumped in. Actually no — I launched myself in like a determined toddler climbing onto a bar stool. The guides were brilliant: full of mountain knowledge, forest facts, and plant gossip.

We reached the first viewpoint. Beautiful. Warm. I could feel myself sizzling, i definitely put suncream on.

Scopes out. Binoculars up. Nothing.

Then: “Found them!”

I look through the scope… and see 3–4 tiny red speckles. At the bottom. Barely visible. Basically pixels. I’ve seen bigger deer on road signs.

So no stag photos for me. Again. Never mind wildlife is unpredictable and thats an important thing to remember.

🌸 Cluny Gardens: Where Squirrels Are Friendlier Than People

Determined not to miss another beautiful thing, I stopped at Cluny Gardens. Honesty box paid, camera ready, off I went.

It was like walking into a fairy tale. Flowers everywhere. Woodland paths. Benches placed perfectly for dramatic viewing.

Then a red squirrel bounded up to me like he owned the place (because he does own the place). I said hi. He said nothing (rude), then scuttled off. I didn’t take a photo, sometimes you just enjoy the moment. Also, he was so close I could’ve touched him.

The owner told me to come back at 9am for feeding. I wanted to. But Loch Lomond awaited.

🏡 The B&B That Could Win Awards for Being Accidentally Perfect

I arrived at my accommodation, a remote cottage surrounded by fields. I’d booked it ages ago and forgotten everything about it. Turns out it’s stunning. And the owner offered homemade pizza. my eyes lit up! pizza is always a winner.

Inside:

Homemade cakes
Homemade organic soap
Breakfast included
Basically heaven

I slept like a rock that had been hit by another rock.

🦅 Loch Lomond: Where I Got Lost on a Clearly Marked Path

I arrived early at the reserve. First one there. A good omen, surely.

Absolutely not.

I walked the entire place, heard jays, wrens, and every woodland gossip‑monger going… and saw almost nothing except for the sparrow hawk that flew straight past me, too fast for me to even lift my camera.

I even managed to get lost on a clearly marked path, strolling straight through a gate with a giant sign saying “You are now leaving the reserve.” Brilliant. Eventually I looped back round and made it to the car park in one piece, a couple of woodland bird shots in hand, and of course, no deer. Again.

It’s easy to feel disappointed when you don’t get the shot. But here’s the truth: a lot of the incredible wildlife photos you see online are taken in paid hides. Nothing wrong with that, they’re amazing, but not everyone has the budget for hides, including me. So when you’re out walking miles, following recommendations, and hoping for a bit of luck, the moment you do get the shot feels ten times sweeter.

I’m sharing this because wildlife photography isn’t always glamorous or successful. Sometimes it’s just you, your camera, a long walk, and a bird that refuses to sit still. And that’s okay. It’s all part of the adventure.

🏰 Balloch Castle Country Park: The Heatstroke Edition

I headed to Balloch Castle. It was boiling. I was tired. The woodland was quiet. Anything that did appear, I missed. Obviously.

I sat on the grass, listened to a buzzard, refused to take any more photos out of protest.

🐮 Highland Cows: The Unexpected Stampede

Farm shop time. My emotional support activity.

They had Highland cows. Perfect. I took out my long lens, stood back… and one cow let out a massive MOOOOO and they all charged toward me like I owed them money.

I got some cracking shots though.

🥚 Milk Machines & Emotional Recovery

Next farm shop: fresh milk machine. My favourite thing. I bought eggs, duck eggs, and a coconut milkshake,because if there’s a coconut option, I’m having it.

On the drive over, I spotted a perfectly perched buzzard on a telephone wire. He looked majestic in the sunshine, absolutely textbook. The kind of pose you dream about. Naturally, with the luck I was having, I debated even bothering. The nearest place to park wasn’t exactly near, but I decided to give it a go.

Round the roundabout I went, parked up, camera in tow, and began my stealth mission. I was sheltered from his view about half a mile down the road, so I started power‑walking along the pavement, hoping the busy traffic disguised my approach. As I got closer, I slowed down, eyes fixed on spot where i saw him to catch him if he flew.

Just as I reached the point where I could almost see him properly… he launched himself off the wire and flew straight across the road. Missed it. Again. Another sign from the universe that today was absolutely not my day.

Then I went back to the B&B to collapse.

🍳 The Final Feast

Tomorrow: full Scottish breakfast. The perfect ending to a chaotic, hilarious, wildlife‑light but memory‑heavy trip.

I might even detour to see more red squirrels because clearly I haven’t had enough of them.

If you’ve enjoyed this journey, I hope it inspires you to visit Scotland — preferably with more sleep and fewer charging cows.

🔥 Wildfire Update

Before I sign off, I want to share a quick update on the wildfire that I was evacuated from earlier in the week. The fire near Ryvoan Bothy and Nethy Bridge has burned through a large stretch of heathland and forest, with crews working around the clock to contain it. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported, but the damage to the landscape is significant.

It’s heartbreaking to think about the wildlife that lives in that area — red squirrels, crested tits, capercaillie, pine martens, deer and so many small birds and insects. These habitats take years to recover, and knowing how many nests, dens and feeding grounds have been lost is genuinely sad.

If you’d like to support the people and places affected, here are a few trusted organisations:

RSPB Scotland — helps protect and restore nearby reserves
Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Family Support Trust — supports firefighters and their families
Cairngorms Trust — funds conservation and recovery projects across the national park

Even a small donation helps the people who protect these landscapes — and the wildlife that depends on them.

Scotland Blog - The final Part - 5