Field trips

Participants attending the conference are very welcome to join one of five field trips to various locations in the Scottish Highlands. The field trips will take place concurrently on Sunday 4 October 2015.

Further information about the field trip locations and host organisations can be found below. All trips include a visit to a whisky distillery or a Scottish winery.

All trips will leave from Perth Concert Hall around 0830/0900 on Sunday, returning between 1700 and 1800.

You should register for a place on the field trip of your choice when XXXregistering for the conference. Please note that you can only join one field trip (they are all taking place at the same time). The field trips cost £20. When registering, you will have the option to pay for a guest/partner to join you on the field trip if you wish.

The field trips are proving popular and Field trips 1 and 3: Angus Glens and Cairngorm Mountain are now full.

 

Field trip 1: Angus Glens (Glen Doll and Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve, Cairngorms National Park)

(this field trip is now full)

 

Host: Angus Glens Ranger Service

This trip involves a guided walk from wooded Glen Doll up to Corrie Fee National Nature Reserve in the eastern Cairngorms (approximately 7km round trip).

Corrie Fee is one of the best examples of a glacial corrie (cirque) in the UK with an impressive natural amphitheatre of cliffs. The area is an internationally important site for plant life with the most extensive stand of montane willow scrub in Scotland and a diversity of arctic-alpine plants that grow on the cliffs and wet flushes in the corrie. It is also rich in bird life with golden eagles regularly being seen in the area. The reserve rangers will talk to you about the natural heritage and land management in the area. You will have a tour of the Cairn o’ Mohr Scottish winery on the return journey to Perth.

 

Field trip 2: Ben Lawers, National Nature Reserve, Killin

(this field trip is now full)

 

Host: National Trust for Scotland (NTS)

This nature reserve encompasses a large mountain range above Loch Tay and is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Ben Lawers is Scotland’s tenth highest mountain (1,214m) and is of great interest to botanists for its arctic-alpine flora which includes rare and vulnerable species. The ecologist at Ben Lawers NNR will show you habitat restoration projects on the mountain including montane scrub and peatland restoration and explain their rare plant monitoring programme and upland footpath management. Mountainous ground can be easily accessed from a high car park. You will return to Perth via Aberfeldy for a tour of the Dewar's Aberfeldy distillery.

 

Field trip 3: Cairngorm Mountain (this field trip is now full)

 

Host: Cairngorms National Park Authority

This trip will take you into the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, where you will be taken by funicular railway to the high slopes of Cairngorm Mountain.  From the top station, you will be able to view the sub-arctic tundra of the Cairngorm plateau.

Staff from the Cairngorms National Park Authority will be present to talk to you about conservation and visitor experience in the National Park. There will be a tour of Dalwhinnie distillery on the return journey to Perth.

 

Field trip 4: Glenfeshie, Cairngorms National Park

(this field trip is now full)

 

Host: Glenfeshie Estate

Glenfeshie is a highland estate in the south-western Cairngorms. This estate is well-known for its ambitious and successful work to restore native pinewood habitat to increase biodiversity and enhance the landscape. There has been significant regeneration of pine, birch, rowan and aspen in the glen after changes in deer management to reduce overgrazing (watch a short video made by the BBC).

The estate manager will give you a tour and explain the historical land management and regeneration in the area. A scientist who has done research on the hydrology and peatlands of the area will describe his research. You will have a tour of the Blair Atholl distillery on your return journey to Perth.

 

Field trip 5: Kirkton Hill and Mountain Research Centre, Crianlarich

(this field trip is now full)

 

Host: Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)

This research centre is based at an upland farm in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park which has high quality productive grazing habitat and high altitude (over 1000m above sea level) semi-natural habitats of high conservation value. Research at the centre is focused on economically, environmentally and socially sustainable land management systems in the context of international, national and local land use policies with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists at the centre will take you on a tour of the farm including a short walk along a hill track and give talks on their research activities in relation to land use and farm diversification activities, and the biodiversity, history and archaeology of the area. You will then visit the Famous Grouse distillery near Crieff on the way back to Perth.