Central Perthshire is one of the best places to see European beavers in the wild and we run safaris by kayak, in conjunction with local kayaking experts, as well as on foot to get close to these amazing creatures. We have three beaver tours: Half-Day Tour, Riverbank Beaver Safari & Beaver Safari by Kayak.
Experience the evening or early morning wildlife on one of Perthshire’s loveliest rivers in spring or summer (mid-April to early October). This is the best time to easily see the wild-living beaver families in Perthshire and makes an excellent gift (so we are told!).
We meet you close to the river and have a short walk to the water, during which you will find out about the history of beavers in Scotland, their life story, how they re-appeared in Perthshire and why they are so important to the ecology of our rivers. We will do a bit of riverside foraging too! Although we can never guarantee wildlife sightings, we had a 100% success rate of seeing the beavers on this trip in 2017 and 2018, and 95% success rate in 2019, along with regular sightings of kingfishers and occasional otter appearances!
Key species: European beaver, Kingfisher, Sand martin, Dipper, Goosander.
PRICE: £50pp or £150 for family bookings (2 adults + 2 children)
GROUP SIZE: Max 4 people, minimum 2
TIME: 2.5 – 3 hours
AVAILABLE: All year round though sightings are best spring – autumn
This trip takes in two beaver locations where they live in different habitats. The first part of the trip goes to a location where beavers have built a series of amazing dams and we can easily see how they have changed the surroundings to produce wetlands. We then go to a nearby river to enjoy an evening of watching the beaver family that lives there. With their lodge in the riverbank and no dams, these beavers have had a minimal impact on their environment.
This is a great trip to learn all about the history of beavers in Scotland, their life story, how they re-appeared in Perthshire and why they are so important to the ecology of our rivers and wetlands. Although we can never guarantee wildlife sightings, we had a 100% success rate of seeing the beavers on this trip in 2017 and 2018, and 95% success rate in 2019, along with regular sightings of Kingfisher and occasional Otters.
Key species: European beaver, Kingfisher, Sand martin, Dipper, Goosander.
PRICE: £160 (group booking only)
GROUP SIZE: Up to 4 people
TIME: 4 hours
AVAILABLE: All year round although beaver sightings are best spring – autumn
These aren’t taking place at the moment due to Covid 19 – but our Riverside beaver safaris are!
We have teamed up with local kayaking experts to deliver this tour, which takes place on a sheltered section of the River Tay, close to Perth. We use sea kayaks which are very stable and easy to use.
This is an ideal way to get close to wildlife with minimal disturbance and we usually see a variety of bird life as well as the local beaver lodge, beaver trails, evidence of feeding and the beavers themselves (and although we can never guarantee wildlife sightings, we saw the beavers on around 70% of our kayak safaris in 2018 & 2019). The best time to see the beavers is in the evening but we can run the tour at any time. The Beaver Safari by Kayak includes kayaking instruction, your kayak, buoyancy aid, guiding by your wildlife guide and a wee dram at the end!
Key species: European beaver, Kingfisher, Osprey, Sand martin, Heron, Sandpiper.
PRICE: £55pp
GROUP SIZE: Min 4 people, max 6 people
TIME: 2.5 hours
AVAILABLE: April – October
Please be aware that some of our walks and tours are only available on specified dates or seasons. This information can be found in the description above.
