"Seeing both female and male Pine Martens so close and watching the male keeping an eye on a Badger while it climbed up the table to steal the egg. I much appreciated the sentinel IR cameras that alerted us to animals approaching the hide. Most visitors would find seeing the badgers and red deer so close was also a very rewarding experience."
Dorian and Penny Pritchard
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"Seeing 2 Pine Martens was the highlight, however other exciting points where Red Deer and Badgers. I was surprised by how close they all came to the hide. I was also pleased with how comfortable the hide was. I had layered up expecting to be freezing but the hide was heated, excellent viewing points and comfortable seating."
Rebecca Cooper
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"Seeing the Pine Marten after 3 hours of waiting - my pulse shot through the roof and I was speechless with joy!"
Ben Scott
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"The remarkable timing of a female Pine Marten, at 2250 hrs. approx. who ate on the bird table, then picked up the egg, which John Picton had said would be difficult because of a smaller jaw to that of the male..It was the end to a great evening."
Gerry Chilton
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"Seeing the animals so close without them knowing we were there. Both Badgers and Pine Martens performed well and the supporting cast of Wood Mouse and Red Deer were also entertaining."
Richard Shaw
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"The whole visit was superb from the close proximity of the Red Deer, the Badgers and of course the Pine Martens."
Mark Williams
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"Reason for Excellent experience was because we were delighted to see what we'd hoped for - some Red Deer in the dusk on the way to the hide, but in particular 2 Pine Martens and 5 Badgers (all at once) for a good period of time, not to mention a little Wood Mouse."
Fiona Govan
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“We have just come back from a weekend in Aviemore and decided to visit the hide while we were there. It was a wonderful experience, there were only 3 of us in the group so we could move around the hide freely to get the best views & photos. We'd only waited about half an hour when the first badger appeared and a mouse which didn't hang around long. More badgers subsequently came though as others left and hoovered up the peanuts. The last one left about 10pm but was shortly followed by a roe deer. We then had a wait of about half an hour again where all eyes were on the egg! Finally just before we were about to leave at 11pm, a female pine marten appeared. All in all if you love wildlife this is a great experience as the animals come up very close and have no idea you are there. Our guide was also very informative and answered any questions we had."
Sarah Geoghegan
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"The highlight of our visit was seeing a Pine Marten in the wild. But it was hilarious to see the badgers jostling with each other to get the most peanuts."
Colin Preshaw
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"This was amazing. Seeing Pine Martens and Badgers so close was truly inspiring. A fantastic hide and an excellent guide led to a wonderful evening. Also saw Roe Deer and a toad! We could not believe that the animals could come so close without suspecting our presence. Would recommend this to anyone."
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"Excellent evening seeing 7 badgers and, after a bit of waiting, the egg thief ..also known as the pine marten which whizzed through to pinch the egg, then came back for longer at midnight. The animals come very close to the hide which is comfortable and roomy. You can whisper away quite happily and not frighten the wildlife too. Our guide was very knowledgeable which added to the evening which was one of the highlights of my brother's visit to Scotland."
Margaret Parr
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"The hide was warm and comfortable, in fact it was like being in someones house. The badgers and pine marten turned up as if on a timetable and were amazing. They were within 6 feet of us. The ranger is really knowledgeable too. 5 stars."
Mark Atkinson
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"We all thought it was an open hide so came prepared to get cold and bitten by midges - it was a lovely surprise to realise it was enclosed and heated!."
Julie Jenkins
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"The guide was friendly, informative and helpful."
Osama Altajer
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"The guide was very kind and friendly. He gave us a lot of information."
Alexandra Rasokat
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"Fantastic guide. Very pleasant, friendly, helpful, and extremely knowledgeable in wildlife and his surroundings. He was first class."
Diane Thomson
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"As a qualified professional wildlife guide myself I'm happy to say that I found the guide very good with all guests. He was knowledgeable, welcoming, approachable and clear in his descriptions and instructions."
Neil Aldridge
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"Absolutely brilliant, it was an enjoyable evening. The guide passed on his extensive knowledge and experiences without being arrogant or a "know it all" and he seem to pick up quickly the level of experience we had so wasn't giving us simplified info or being condescending. An excellent guide who enhanced the experience of seeing our first Pine Martens."
Pete Hadfield
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"Thanks for a wonderful evening at the night hide this past Monday night. Have been wanting to see Pine Marten for a good while and I was not dissapointed. Malcolm was a very friendly and knowledgeable guide.
Ten out of ten for the whole night!"
Mark Spedding
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"The hide has always been fantastic and as usual pine martins and badgers gave stunning views."
Owen Jones
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"Seeing so many badgers for such a long time and at such close proximity".
Cath Bratan
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"Seeing two female pine martens fighting"
Paul Collins
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"Seeing two Pine Martens. We all really enjoyed the whole thing and will definitely recommend it to friends and family."
Sarah Munro
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"The great show of animals - Red Deer, Badgers and Pine Marten."
Kevin Wood
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"It was just so FANTASTIC the best wildlife experience we have ever done!!!!!!! It made our holiday the best yet!!"
Vicki Townsend
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"A badger snuffling around the base of the hide for a good ten minutes was my highlight, the children would probably say the mice though."
Kirsty Cathrine
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"Seeing a Badger for the first time, up very close, and for a long time."
Kate Mayo
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"The whole night was very relaxed and it was the first time we had done any type of visit like this so didnt know what to expect but the whole experience was great. The highlight had to be seeing the Badger, annoyingly didn't see the Pine Marten that we had hoped to see, but thats nature. We thought it was so good we are looking to return later in the year, when the seasons change and we may have more time after dark to see other animals, We had a very good time. Thank you".
Gayle Lowrey
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"Excellent standard of service and facilities not to mention the rare wildlife spotted."
Steve Sleigh
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"Pine Martens, Red Deer and Badger, all within 5 feet of viewing windows. What else do you need for a great night?"
David Quinn
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I'd have rated the experience as excellent but the windy evening held back the wildlife but even so I was delighted to see Pine Martens and a Badger."
Marian Owen
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"Seeing a Pine Marten. If we are in the area again we would definately use you again!!"
Kay Caven
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"The highlight was getting so close to Badgers. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening for myself and my 14 year old son. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to family and friends. A welcome change in the pace of life, just sit and wait for nature to appear."
Michael Jenks
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"Just seeing the wildlife in their natural habitat - Badgers, Pine Marten and a lovely female Red Deer who stuck around for ages"
Ann Brown
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"Badgers! The most Badgers we have ever seen from the Speyside hide (we think there were 8 different individuals). At one stage we had 4 lined up right in front of the window - magic :)"
Claire Stares
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"The Badgers and Pine Martens and to find that the hide was heated."
M V Brooks
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"Has to be the Pine Martens; we saw 3 over the course of the evening and we will never forget it!"
Mary Wheal
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"Seeing the Badgers, Deer and Pine Marten so close-up."
Pat McKerrow
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"The Pine Martens....and when the Badger chased the Pine Marten up the tree and tried to climb the tree after it...what a laugh.."
James Knowles
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"My partner is Australian and has always wanted to see a Badger and I have never seen one either so the highlight was when a Badger came to feed right in front of us. We were also thrilled to see Pine Martens feeding at the same time which we were told was quite rare! Brilliant experience and congrats to our guide for his great work."
Fiona Smellie
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"Excellent guide, a pleasure to have met him. Very informative and enthusiastic about his wildlife and the estate."
Mr Golding
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