Walk on the wild side

Autumn is a time of action in the animal kingdom, as creatures scramble to fatten up before the lean days of winter, juveniles make their independent way and the stag rut approaches. In the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, 25 per cent of the UK’s threatened species still flourish. Rothiemurchus is a rare remant of the ancient Caledonian Forest, made up predominantly from Scots pine and home to osprey, otters, pine martens, badgers, deer, red squirrels and golden eagles. If you’re super-lucky, you may spot a Highland tiger – or Scottish wildcat – which, due to being near-extinct, is subject to conservation efforts.