Tuesday 28 February 2017

Secret Pancake Recipe

Yvonne’s Secret Pancake Recipe

Yvonne in the Highland Safaris Café is a legend in the area for her delicious Scotch Pancakes. Today is her day in the limelight, where folks from all over Perthshire come to satisfy their sweet tooth with a pot of hot tea or an expertly brewed Glen Lyon coffee. Yvonne has agreed to share her recipe with us…

Makes Six Pancakes
200g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt

1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon * Secret ingredient*
1 large egg
300 ml milk
Method
Add dry ingredients to mixing bowl
Beat egg and milk into the mixture
Heat frying pan to medium and add oil
Add a ladleful of batter to the pan and wait till the mixture begins to bubble then turn till golden on both sides

Highland Safaris Kilted Rangers Top Toppings
Donald: Lemon and sugar
Ross: Nutella, ice cream and banana
Andy: Strawberries and whipped cream with dark chocolate shavings
Colin: Maple syrup and crispy bacon

Tony: Butter and raspberry jam

Monday 13 February 2017

The Perfect Place to Propose…


It’s the moment that you have dreamed of, playing ideas out in your head since the day you decided it was forever. You’ve picked the ring and you know what you want to say – but have you found the perfect location to ask the biggest question of your life?

 Make that magical moment even more memorable by popping the question in the breathtaking surroundings of Highland Safaris.

 Based in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, and set amongst thousands of acres of sprawling Scottish Highlands, you and your loved one will feel like the only two people in the world at Highland Safaris. Experience a private tour, enchanting sunsets, the perfect backdrop to the biggest moment of your lives to date, or just take in the captivating natural scenery surrounding you both. And whether you choose the cosy and romantic Hilltop Bothy, hidden away off the beaten track and only reached by Land Rover, or out in the heart of the rugged landscape, it will be a moment neither of you ever forget.

 However you choose to pop the question this Valentine’s Day, Highland Safaris has a location that will capture your partner’s heart. It is also home to unique marquee and bothy locations for the big day itself, so you can revisit the place you created some of your most precious memories for years to come.

Thursday 2 February 2017

The red fox - top tips to spot wild foxes in Scotland


By Donald Riddell, Director, Highland Safaris

Now that we are into February the days are getting noticeably longer and lighter, which offers more opportunity to spend in the great Scottish outdoors. Wildlife watching is always hugely popular with visitors to Highland Safaris, whether they are out on bikes, on a Land Rover trip or simply walking one of our many trails. And one of the most popular creatures to look out for is the red fox, so here are our wildlife rangers’ expert tips on the wily red.

I want to see a red fox, but where do I start?
The red fox (whose scientific name is Vulpes vulpes) is the UK’s only wild member of the dog family. Hardy and resourceful, it has a reputation for intelligence and cunning. Slightly smaller than a medium-sized domestic dog, the adult measures around 75cm from head to tail and weighs around 5kg (it stands about knee-height to a 6ft-tall man). You may catch a glimpse of an orange-red creature, so check to see if it has a flattened skull, upright triangular ears with black tips, a pointed snout and a long, bushy tail, which is known as a brush. When on the trail of the fox look out for droppings, which are often grey-tinged with small mammal bones in them, on tracks. And if you spot tracks in the snow, check to see if they are in a straight line as foxes put each paw into the same track.


When is the best time to see red foxes?
Foxes are out and about all year, and can be active by day. Red foxes mate during winter, with vixens making noisy, yipping calls at night to attract a mate. A pair will stay together to act as parents to newborn ‘kits’ or ‘cubs’, which are born blind and resemble a puppy, with a short nose and ears, and brown fur. The young stay in the den for several weeks and after three months are left to fend for themselves.

Where are the best places to look for red foxes?
Foxes are able to survive in diverse habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to mountains, but also adapt well to human environments, such as farms and suburban settings. They can be spotted anywhere from the shores of lowland lochs, to woodlands and mountains.


How long do foxes live?
Wild foxes can live around 7-10 years, while in captivity that can extend to around 15 years, similar to pet dogs.

What do foxes eat?
Perhaps surprisingly, foxes are omnivorous, enjoying everything from small mammals, rodents, birds and carrion, to berries and fruit. Urban-dwelling foxes will scavenge food from bins. Excellent hunters, they are extremely quick off the mark, and can turn and jump with ease.


If you do happen to spot a red fox, remember to let us know with the hashtag #fantasticmrfox. And if you are lucky enough to get a picture, please share it on any of our social media channels via #HighlandSafaris