January 2024

January 2023

Stalking continues throughout the winter, whenever weather conditions and safety considerations allow.

Photo: M Moss

January 2021

Winter reached Kildermorie later than usual, but we go into the new year with a visual feast of snowy landscapes and breathtaking sunsets.

Photos: H Stefankova

January 2020

Kildermorie stag image: R Finch

January 2018

Last month's snow lingers into the new year, with more snow forecast; this is ideal for the younger guests who are enjoying the freedom offered by the open spaces at Kildermorie.

Conditions are challenging for stalking with significant snow on the open hill, but the sporting guests are enjoying the opportunities to stalk both sika and red deer, with the added satisfaction of seeing their quarry brought back safely to the deer larder.

January 2016

At this time of year, the work of the Estate continues through rain, snow, ice and sunshine.

January 2015

Frosty days and wind-blown trees make Kildermorie an enticing playground for Christmas - New Year family holidays.

Photos: A Shakeshaft

The snow has now found Kildermorie; the photograph below will be of special interest to summer guests who do not experience the Kildermorie winter.

Photo: S Beattie

January 2014

The training of young garrons to carry carcases is a long but gentle process. During the early part of the hind season they become familiar with the experience by accompanying the older working garrons to the hill to retrieve carcases from a guest's stalking day. This enables them to absorb the sights, sounds and smells associated with the retrieval process in passive mode which inflicts no stress on them.

After that they are introduced to the special deer saddles and given a number of opportunities to walk and graze with the saddles in place.

In a winter week when there are no sporting guests in residence, the estate staff embark on training days with the young garrons. The cream dun mare in the photographs below is 5-year-old Brannoch and the black gelding is 2-year-old Major. They are accompanied by the experienced Coire on their first day in case one or both reject their carcases.

In the event, Coire became a spectator since both Major and Brannoch accepted their carcases without problems. On their next outing – a very misty day as evidenced by the second sequence of photographs - they made their way from the hill down to the deer larder with great aplomb.

Photos: D. Russell