Arc Guiding

Bespoke guiding in the Scottish Highlands: MTB, ski touring, sea kayaking, walking and wildlife. Since 2003. Malcolm O'Reilly (@malcoreilly)

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

At 'only' 1309m, Ben Macdui is Britain's 2nd highest mountain (by about 35m). But at 57 deg north, it's at the same latitude as polar-bear-central Hudson Bay in Canada! Get advice on what to pack to stay safe: https://t.co/nbQqE36MZO #walking #mountains #hiking #hillwalking

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Nut-tree Tussock moth (Colocasia coryli). Beautiful, fresh individual found in the SW of the Isle of Mull. Some nice deciduous woodland rewilding there 😊 @ScotlandTBP #rewilding #northwoods @savebutterflies @Achabanhouse

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

During a guided wildlife day earlier, we found this large group of Long-tailed tit chicks (Aegithalos caudatus). Counted over a dozen chicks (tails😂). Cooperative parenting means this group likely from 2 different parents. #birding #BirdsSeenIn2023 @KowaOptics @vikingoptical

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Cool bridges are a feature of many MTB routes in the Highlands. Thankfully, you can't drive over the 18th Cent Sluggan bridge, and you have to put the effort in to get to it 😊 #bridges #scottishhighlands #cairngormsnationalpark #cairngorms #mtb #cycling #Scotland

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Gorgeous singletrack, nice cafe, epic views and a beast of a climb: Cairngorm's Burma Road loop does it all (and a 30mph 400m vert gravel descent made up for the climb 😎) #mtb #mountainbike #cairngorms #cycling #sustainable

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Join me for a free ride with Craic Events this Saturday between Carrbridge and Aviemore: jumps, trail, singletrack or all 3: your choice🙂 https://t.co/bdbP8oZ9bN #mtb #cycling #cairngorms #SustainableLiving

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Great company, wildlife and windspeeds on Cairn Gorm a few weeks ago! The snow patches up there are gonna feel the heat today! #cairngorm #wildlife #birdwatching #BirdsSeenIn2023 @vikingoptical @KowaOptics

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Guided half day yesterday in the forests around Nethy Bridge. Plenty of history, botany and commoner woodland bird species. Also some nice butterfly sightings: Speckled Wood, Orange tip and Green-veined white. #Butterflies #birding #wildlife #cairngorms

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Still-snowy Cairn Gorm (1245m) the other day in great company 😊 Ptarmigan, mtn hare, ring ouzel and great alpine plants on show too 🐰🌱🏔️🐦‍⬛ #Scotland #birdphotography #birding #mountain #cairngorms @CairngormMtn Digiscoping thanks to @vikingoptical @KowaOptics

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Important wildife up on the Cairn Gorm plateau - let's ensure we don't disturb/trash it 🧐 #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark #birdwatching #birdphotography #Rewilding #birding

[Malcolm O'Reilly @malcoreilly]

Wee bird recce on Cairn Gorm today: Male ptarmigan, ring ouzel, mtn hare, Wheatear and a splendid male Dotterel. Trailing azalea in flower too. #BirdsSeenIn2023 #birdwatching #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark #scotland @vikingoptical @KowaOptics

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Plenty good wildlife to be found in the #Cairngorms! Just bring an open mind and patience 😁👍🌲🏔️ @malcoreilly #birding #birdwatching #cairngormsnationalpark #scotland #wildlifephotography

[Malcolm O'Reilly @malcoreilly]

Past 2 days bird guiding: golden eagle pair, Osprey, Redstart, Crested tit, Tree pipit, goosander, Goldeneye, treecreeper, long tailed tit family, buzzard, Grey wagtail, Dipper, goldcrest + redpoll. #birding #cairngorms @vikingoptical @KowaOptics #BirdsSeenIn2023 @ScotMtnHols

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Great to be guiding a Field Guides group from the US today. Star birds were a perched male Scotbill, whinchat, Crested tit and Tree pipit (and hairy coo 🦬). @vikingoptical @KowaOptics #birding #birdwatching #scotland #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Great #wildlife and #birding to be had on the coasts of Scotland at this time of year 😁 #seakayak #marinebiology #islands.

[Malcolm O'Reilly @malcoreilly]

So far, seen 15 Bottlenose dolphins, Minke whale, Grey and Common seals, multiple golden and sea eagles, great northern divers, cuckoo, Wheatear, sedge warbler and Whimbrel. Sea kayak guiding on Mull for @TeamWilderness. #birding #wildlife #nature @Achabanhouse

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Last 3 days sea kayak guiding for @CumbriaUni around Arisaig. Multiple sightings of Great Northern divers, some in breeding plumage. Plus a few pairs of Greenshank, Wheatear, Red throated diver and occassional Whimbrel. #BirdsSeenIn2023 #birding #birdwatching

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

6 sandmartins feeding over the River Spey at Cromdale today #birding #spring #BirdsSeenIn2023 #cairngorms #birdwatching

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Rewilding and species reintroductions are a frequent topic when exploring the Highlands. We don't have large carnivores at the moment - could we ever coexist with them again? #rewilding #nature #wildlife #climate #Scotland #cairngorms

[Malcolm O'Reilly @malcoreilly]

On the one hand, I'm pleased that a large native carnivore is returning to habitats. On the other, I'm saddened that human fatality has resulted 😕 https://t.co/wvGXiWaIBB #rewilding #wildlife #bears #wildlife

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

Not what you want to see when skiing steeps! But after four seasons FT guiding, that's expected😁 Hopefully @FritschiSwiss will repair, which would be good for #Sustainability 👍 @AnythingTec #skitouring #skimountaineering #backcountry #skiing #mountaineering

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

This is certainly advice I will be following this season. I recommend all birders/#wildlifephotographers do the same, as the majority already are👍these species need a break. @CNPnature @vikingoptical #BirdsSeenIn2023 #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark #birding #wildlife

[Arc Guiding @ArcGuiding]

This is advice I will certainly be following this spring. I would recommend any birder/wildlife enthusiast/photographer to do do what the vast majority are doing and give these species a break 👍@CNPnature #cairngorms #cairngormsnationalpark @vikingoptical #BirdsSeenIn2023