Autumn is one of the most spectacular times of the year to visit Braemar. During the late summer/early Autumn, the hills are transformed as the Heather blooms in to flower, decorating the landscape with a carpet of purple, then as the leaves begin to change colour, a pallet of reds, golds and bronze transforms the landscape.
It’s at this time of year that the Red Deer Rut takes place, one of the most spectacular natural events to be witnessed in Scotland. Braemar is one of the best places to watch Red Deer, and in October the Stags put on a display to show their dominance in order to mate with their harem of hinds, and they will stop at nothing to defend them.
The roar echoes across Braemar. The stags less dominant stags without a harem try to move in on the dominant stags territories, first by displays of parallel walking, roaring and often it results in a fierce battle where the stags charge head first at each other, locking antlers to try and over power their opponent and drive them away from their harem. In some cases the battle can result in injury or even death, but more often than not it results in the defeated stag running off, leaving the conqueror to mate with the hinds in his Harem.
Migrating Geese are an amazing sight in the Autumn months, huge flocks of Geese pass over on their way North to colder climates for the winter. The flocks, often thousands in numbers, often stop in a field for a night to feed ready for the next leg of their journey.
Hundreds of Species of Fungi emerge in an eray of shapes and colours, Red Squirrels are busy gathering and storing food to see them through the winter months, and Thrushes swamp the Rowan trees to gorge on the berries.
Autumn really is a magical time to visit Braemar and the Cairngorms, and we look forward to welcoming you.
