The Brewers Cottage Holiday Let

As avid animal lovers supporting the local wildlife is important to us, as such we welcome and actively encourage both our feathered and fur clad friends to visit the cottage garden. 

The garden has been fenced so as to allow the free movement of wildlife through the area, the path in the garden is a natural long standing wildlife route.

On our many visits to the cottage we have set up a night vision camera to capture the comings and goings of our nightime visitors. 

We have installed a number of bird feeding stations in the garden and it is our hope that our cottage guests will maintain these bird feeders in our absence.

In April 2021 we added a pine marten nesting box to the garden. The nest box house's a small internal camera and guests will be provided with the details for downloading a mobile phone app  to view inside the nest box for activity. Please note this app will enable you to view inside the box at all times and not just when you are at the cottage.

The wildlife diary in the cottage is there for guests to note any wildlife sightings both in the garden and in the local area. By logging sightings it helps us build a picture of bird and mammal activity throughout the year.

In addition to the numerous variety of visiting birds we also have regular visits from badgers, foxes and pine martins who like to feed in the outdoor drying area. We also have visiting hedgehogs, brown hares, bats and bank voles. 

We are thrilled to now have a red squirrel visiting the garden although the visits can be brief. 

Buzzards, red kites, hooded crows, ravens, ospreys, whooper swans, sparrow hawks, the magnificent golden eagles, and sea eagles have all been spotted in the skies above the cottage .... it pays to keep an eye on the sky. .

The night skies over Tomich on a clear night are breath taking for star gazing, and its not uncommon to see the Aurora Borealis from the village, however on warm spring and summer nights the skies are also abound with many species of bats as well as numerous owls, including barn owls.

On the long hot summer days the cuckoo's can be heard in the surrounding woodland, and a walk in the woods offers the chance to see crested tits and the Scottish crossbill both unique to Scotland. 

A drive to RSPB Corrimorny near Balnain at the right time of year is the place to see black grouse lekking.

The crystal clear burns and rivers around the cottage support the perfect habitat for shy and elusive otters. The sight of an otter is a very special moment and although we haven't spotted one in the burn yet we have seen evidence of their existence, and we have heard them.  

A walk or drive up one of the many glens will reward you with Red and Roe deer sightings. 

There are a number of wild goats which can be seen in Glen Strathfarrar. The glen is open seasonally to a limited number of vehicles each day April - October when free pass tickets are available at the gate house at the start of the glen. Access on the 17 mile private glen road on foot/cycle/horse is permitted all year round.

In a bid to encourage more invertebrates into the garden we have planted a small orchard on the rough bank, these trees along with the many other fruit trees and bushes we have now planted will in time provide for all our visitors. 

We welcome and encourage our guests to help themselves to the fruits in the garden as they become available but please remember to share some with the wildlife.

A small supply of bird, fox, badger and pine marten food has been left at the cottage (while stocks last)however we would suggest bringing your own and/or replenish our supply where possible.

Visiting bird and wildlife to look out for:

The Brewers Cottage. Tomich, Near Cannich, Inverness-shire. IV4 7LY

STL Number HI-50494-F