October 2023

Safety when using a rifle and accuracy when placing a shot are of paramount importance when stalking. In view of increased interest in the sport by non-stalking guests, a new rifle range has been developed to suit all abilities.

A number of life-size deer targets are arranged at intervals in a safe area, set at various distances between 100 m and 1,000 m from the firing point. This enables even those without experience, under the tutelage of our qualified stalkers, to try their hand at the sport. The new range is also available to experienced stalkers for zeroing their own rifles on arrival at Kildermorie.

October 2022

When Kildermorie Estate was taken over by the present owners, the derelict buildings were full of discarded artifacts, including late 19th Century grouse panniers which, though in poor condition, were kept for their historical interest. With the recent increase in the grouse population, it was decided to have them restored, being faithful to the original construction and materials. Major is pictured below, trying them for size, before being brought into use for this year's grouse season.

It is hoped that in future years the panniers will also be used earlier in the year for guests to enjoy pony picnics around the estate.

Photo: S Thompson

October 2021

Each year, Kildermorie Estate, in conjunction with the University of the Highlands and Islands, provides an opportunity for two students to experience life on a busy sporting estate as part of their course. The Gamekeeping Modern Apprentices take part in a range of relevant activities, with an emphasis on habitat management, sustainability and animal welfare. This year's apprentices are pictured above, training two of the Estate's traditional garrons for carcase retrieval.

At this time of year, Meall Mor Lodge sporting parties enjoy the true hunter-gatherer experience. A haunch from a sika taken by one member of a Danish party is pictured being prepared by their accompanying chef, and both he and other members of the group contributed to their evening's dinner by foraging a generous quantity of chanterelles from the surrounding woodland.

October 2020

On September 23rd, Scotland's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP, confirmed to the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) that the one household restriction for private homes also applies to self-catering properties. This, together with the quarantine rules attached to international travel, has caused a significant shift in the profile of guest parties wishing to book Meall Mor Lodge.

In response to these social changes, one wing of Meall Mor Lodge is now being made available to accommodate a single household, whether stalking or non-stalking, at a reduced accommodation rate. Four or six bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, may now be booked; all self-catering and recreation facilities are included.

Red and Sika stag stalking is available until October 20th and is followed immediately by the hind season [See the SPORT page]. Exceptionally during this period, stalking will also be offered to April and May Cottage guests.

Stalking packages need to be booked in advance and allocation will be on a 'first come, first served' basis. Guests are always accompanied by qualified, professional Kildermorie staff who are able to accommodate all levels of proficiency including first-time stalkers.

Interested parties should email for available dates and options.

Fortunately for Kildermorie, staff homes, guest accommodation and work areas are so well spaced around the grounds that the work of the estate has been able to continue safely through the pandemic, albeit without guests for much of the year.

One notable success story from this year is the 'coming of age' of the youngest garron. Jennach was born on the estate six years ago, and since early spring has been in training to carry deer carcases from the hill. The photo below shows him at his first retrieval. He will continue to work, in rotation with his mother Brannach, until the hind season ends in February.

Photo: W Mackay

October 2019

Though spring is traditionally the best time for observing wildlife, autumn's mild weather and clear skies provide numerous chance encounters for the keen photographer:

• An elegant golden eagle soars over Carn Cas nan Gabhar.
• A covey of red-legged partridge (escapees from a neighbouring shoot) find refuge in the pony fields at the Old Croft near Loch Morie.
• The hills echo with the roaring of red stags, but this stag seems more interested in grazing close to home, rather than taking part in the rut.

Photo: H Stefankova

Early in the building phase of their new home the owners’ grounds were planted with a variety of trees to attract various species of wildlife – a mix of deciduous and evergreen, including hardwoods such as hazel, horse chestnut and sweet chestnut. That early tree planting has paid dividends after more than 20 years.

During the summer there were a couple of brief sightings of what looked like a red squirrel – not previously seen at Km. On October 7th there was no doubt, as your web-correspondent was treated to the sight of a bushy-tailed red squirrel racing between clumps of hazel bushes, gathering nuts and secreting them around the grounds. Keen nature-watchers were immediately alerted, to be captivated by its energy and industry as it spent a couple of hours, morning and afternoon, establishing its winter stores.

Photo: C H Duncan

Photos: H Stefankova

October 2018

October mists fail to subdue the colours of the autumn hillside; those 'dreich' days offer the stalker the perfect opportunity to take advantage of a high seat.

October 2016

The beginning of the grouse season in August, "the glorious twelfth", was accompanied by BBC News Scotland's prediction that the earlier cold spring weather would adversely affect the Scottish grouse shooting season. This has proved to be the case at Kildermorie. Ground nesting birds suffered a major setback during a period of unusually cold and wet weather resulting in nests being abandoned, eggs and chicks lost and some hen mortality. Though there is some evidence of second nestings resulting in a few covies of late, small birds, the decision has been taken that there will be no bird shooting on Kildermorie this season in order to preserve a stock of birds for the 2017 breeding season.

October 2015

Ptarmigan - Photo: W. Tyler

October 2014

The stag season continues until the 20th; the stalker blends into the landscape and selects a suitable animal from those grazing on the opposite hillside.

Felling and replanting according to the Estate's long term forestry plan continues. Returning guests will see the change as they travel down the brae on the final approach to the estate. Guests have been fascinated by the harvester which rapidly devours the forest as it fells, weighs, strips, measures and cuts each trunk to length according to its diameter.

October 2013

The stag season peaks at the beginning of October when the rut is well established and the hinds are kept in close groups around the dominant stags. This is when the garrons, accustomed to uninterrupted grazing, have to earn their living.

The photographs below illustrate a typical sequence in a hill pony's working day.

First of all the ghillie collects the designated garron – in this case it is Coire – after the stalking party has left for the hill and leads him up from the croft to be made ready for the day’s work. It is the ghillie’s responsibility to check that the saddle is in good order and fully kitted with belts and straps before offering it up to the garron. He may remain saddled for up to eight hours so it is essential that he is comfortable and that the saddle is secure and will not be dislodged when loaded with the stag carcase.

When ready, the ghillie leads the garron towards that part of the estate where the stalk was to begin and then they wait for further instruction.

After a successful stalk, the carcase is secured to the saddle and is brought down a network of pony paths to the deer larder where it is weighed and prepared for the game dealer. Coire is unsaddled and returns to the croft to join the other garrons.

October 2012

October sees the end of the stag season on the 20th and the beginning of the hind season on the 21st.

On average, the stags going into the larder this year have been heavier than in previous years, mainly because the grazing has been exceptionally good. One stag weighed in at 280 pounds, the heaviest that our head stalker has processed in his 17+ years at Kildermorie. The stag was around 15 years old, nine points going back, and is known to have had 11 points last year and was a 'royal' in 2010.The stalk was also memorable for the high winds and torrential rain, making it difficult to keep the 'scope clear when preparing to take the shot.

The rain has a startling effect on the height of the River Glasa which as a spate river can rise a metre in a couple of hours. The extra volume of water creates a deafening roar as it forces its way under bridges, crashes over massive boulders and covers the river banks.