Some neighbours cause trouble. These three cause traffic jams, photo stops and happy memories. A Highland cow blocking a single-track road on Skye, a reindeer on a Cairngorms hillside and a puffin on a Shetland cliff are all part of daily life in Scotland. Here is where to find each one, when to go and how to behave around them.
Highland Cows on Skye: The Road Block You Will Not Mind
The Highland cow is the face of Scottish farming. It has long, curved horns and a shaggy coat in ginger, black, dun or cream. Locals call them “coos”. The breed is tough. It has a double coat, with a soft layer underneath and a long, oily outer layer that sheds rain. That is why the animals cope so well with wet, windy hills.
On the Isle of Skye, cattle often graze near the road, and some roads have no fences. It is common to round a bend and find a cow standing in the middle of the tarmac. Most are calm. They will move when they are ready, so switch off your engine, relax and enjoy the view.
Tips for meeting Highland cows
- Stay in your car if you can. A cow in the road is easy to photograph through the window.
- Do not feed them. Human food can make them ill, and it teaches them to crowd cars.
- Keep your distance in fields. Stay at least a few metres back. Never go between a cow and her calf.
- Leave dogs at home or on a short lead. Cattle can react badly to dogs, and walkers have been hurt.
- Close gates behind you. Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Skye roads are narrow, with passing places. Drive slowly, give way to oncoming traffic and do not stop in a passing place to take photos, as it blocks others.
Reindeer in the Cairngorms: Britain’s Only Free-Ranging Herd
Many visitors are surprised to learn that reindeer live in Scotland all year round. The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd roams the mountains near Aviemore and is the only free-ranging reindeer herd in the United Kingdom. The animals were brought back in 1952 by Mikel Utsi, a Swedish Sami herder who saw that the arctic-style plateau suited them. Reindeer had died out in Scotland many centuries earlier.
Today the herd is looked after by the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre at Glenmore, in the Cairngorms National Park. The herd numbers roughly 150 animals. In summer they graze high on the hills. In winter they come down to the shelter of the forest.
How to visit the reindeer
You cannot simply walk up the mountains and expect to find them. The best way to meet the herd is on a guided visit.
- The Hill Trip: A guide takes a small group up to the free-ranging herd on the hills. Check the centre’s website for current times and prices.
- The Forest Visit: Some visits are in the paddocks near the visitor centre. They suit young children and anyone who prefers an easy walk.
- Book ahead. Places are limited, especially in school holidays and at Christmas.
The weather in the Cairngorms changes fast. Wear waterproofs, sturdy shoes and warm layers, even in summer. Hill trips can be changed or cancelled in poor conditions, so confirm before you travel.
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, which is unusual among deer. The animals have wide hooves that spread their weight on snow and soft ground. If you visit in the autumn, you may spot bulls with their antlers fully grown.
Puffins on Unst: Shetland’s Cliff-Top Comedians
Unst is the most northerly inhabited island in the British Isles. It is a long way from anywhere, and that is part of the appeal. At the northern tip lies Hermaness National Nature Reserve, one of the best places in the UK to see Atlantic puffins up close.
The birds arrive in April and breed in burrows on the grassy cliff tops. They leave in early to mid August, heading back out to sea for the winter. May, June and July are the best months. Puffins are small, about the size of a bottle of milk, with bright orange feet and a colourful beak. They are very much at home on the edge of a cliff.
Getting to Hermaness
- By ferry: From the Shetland Mainland, you take a ferry to Yell, drive across the island, and take a second short ferry to Unst. Check timetables with Shetland Islands Council before you go.
- On foot: A path and boardwalk lead from the car park across the moor to the cliffs. Allow several hours for the walk there and back, and more if you want to sit and watch.
- The view: Look out for Muckle Flugga lighthouse, standing on a rock off the coast. Beyond it, there is nothing but sea until the Arctic.
Bring a warm, windproof jacket, even on a sunny day. The cliffs are high and the wind is strong. Keep to the marked path. The ground is riddled with burrows and the edges are unprotected. Great skuas, known locally as “bonxies”, nest on the moor and may swoop at walkers who stray too close, so stay on the path and keep your distance.
So, Which Neighbour Would You Choose?
Each of these animals offers something different.
- The Highland cow is the easiest to find. You can see one from the car, and it costs nothing.
- The reindeer needs a booked trip, but it is a gentle and memorable experience for all ages.
- The puffin asks the most of you, with ferries and a long walk, but it is a rare and rewarding sight.
If you want to see all three in one trip, plan carefully. Skye and the Cairngorms are both reachable by road on the mainland route, while Shetland needs a flight or an overnight ferry from Aberdeen. Late May to July is a good time for puffins, reindeer and cattle together, as the days are long and the weather is at its mildest.
Wildlife Watching Basics
- Never feed wild or farm animals.
- Keep dogs under control, or leave them behind.
- Stay on marked paths, especially near cliffs and nesting sites.
- Take all litter home.
- Check weather, ferry and tour details before you travel.
Scotland’s wildlife is part of what makes it special. Treat it with respect and you will leave with some wonderful memories.
So, over to you. Which of the three would you want living next door: the Highland cow, the reindeer or the puffin? Tell us in the comments.
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