As avid animal lovers supporting the local wildlife is important to us, as such we promote nature positive accommodation and actively encourage our guests to embrace our ethos.
The garden has been fenced so as to allow the free movement of wildlife through the area, the path in the garden is a natural long standing wildlife corridor.
On our many visits to the cottage we set up a night vision cameras to capture the comings and goings of our nightime visitors, these camera mounts are left in place for guest use.
There are now a number of pine martens and badgers visiting the cottage nightly for food, they can easily be viewed from the lounge window using the dusk till dawn light and the carefully positioned feeding bowls.
A small supply of bird, badger, and pine marten food has been left at the cottage (while stocks last)however we would suggest bringing your own and/or replenish our supply before departing.
We have installed a number of bird feeding stations in the garden and it is our hope that our cottage guests will maintain these bird feeders in our absence.
In April 2021 we added a pine marten nest box to the garden. The nest box house's a small internal camera and guests will be provided with the details for downloading a mobile phone app to view inside the nest box for activity. Please note this app will enable you to view inside the box at all times and not just when you are at the cottage.
A wildlife diary in the cottage is there for guests to note any wildlife sightings both in the garden and in the local area. Logging sightings helps us build a picture of bird and mammal activity throughout the year.
We are thrilled to now have a red squirrel visiting the garden although the visits can be brief.
Buzzards, red kites, hooded crows, ravens, ospreys, whooper swans, sparrow hawks, the magnificent golden eagles, and sea eagles have all been spotted in the skies above the cottage .... it pays to keep an eye on the sky.
The night skies over Tomich on a clear night are breath taking for star gazing, and its not uncommon to see the Aurora Borealis from the village, however on warm spring and summer nights the skies are also abound with many species of bats as well as numerous owls, including barn owls.
On the long hot summer days the cuckoo's can be heard in the surrounding woodland, and a walk in the woods offers the chance to see crested tits and the Scottish crossbill both unique to Scotland.
A drive to RSPB Corrimorny near Balnain at the right time of year is the place to see black grouse lekking.
The crystal clear burns and rivers around the cottage support the perfect habitat for shy and elusive otters. The sight of an otter is a very special moment and although we haven't spotted one in the burn yet we have heard them.
The river that runs past the cottage is now home to two beavers which is really exciting, beavers have also been introduced into the nearby Loch Bienn na Mheadhoin as part of Affric Highlands Rewilding / Rewilding Europe.
The Brewers Cottage is a proud supporter of Affric Highlands Charity / Rewilding Europe we would encourage all our guests to learn more about Rewilding Europe and the reintroduction / rewilding plans for Glen Affric. (See our links page)
A walk or drive up one of the many glens will reward you with Red, Sika and Roe deer sightings.
There are a number of wild goats which can be seen in Glen Strathfarrar. The glen is open seasonally to a limited number of vehicles each day April - October when free pass tickets are available at the gate house at the start of the glen. Access on the 17 mile private glen road on foot/cycle/horse is permitted all year round.
In a bid to encourage more invertebrates into the garden we have planted a variety of plants and shrubs along with fruit trees and bushes. In 2025 a detailed study carried out in the cottage garden over four nights recorded 113 different species of moth.
We welcome and encourage our guests to help themselves to the fruits in the garden as they become available but please remember to share some with the wildlife.
Wildlife species to look out for at the cottage:
Mammals
Badgers, Red Squirrels, Foxes, Pine Martens, Brown Hare, Bank Vole, Wood Mice, Hedgehogs, Bats, stoats, weasels.
Birds
Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tits, Siskin, Redpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Yellow Hammer, Sparrow Hawk, Merlin, Wren, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Creeper, Robin, Blackbird, Thrush, Waxwing, Dunnock, Wood pigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Wood warbler, Hooded Crow, Raven, Red Kite, and the stunning Golden Eagles, Ospreys and Sea Eagles.
Plus a wealth of butterflies, dragonflies, moths and other insect life ....
The Brewers Cottage. Tomich, Near Cannich, Inverness-shire. IV4 7LY
STL Number HI-50494-F
Translate This Page
