Wildlife at Muir Estate

 

One of the greatest joys of staying at Muir Estate is that you never quite know what wildlife you're going to see next.​ From the moment you pass through the security gates and begin the drive up towards the house, the estate starts to reveal itself.

 

During late spring and throughout the summer, it's almost impossible not to notice the House Martins. They swoop, dive and chatter overhead from dawn until dusk, performing an aerial display that never seems to stop. Year after year they return to build their nests under the eaves of the house, and we're always delighted to welcome them back.  Yes, they do leave a reminder that they're living here too! Guests sometimes ask why we don't stop them nesting, but for us, that would miss the whole point of living here. House Martins are now a species of conservation concern in the UK, and if they choose Muir Estate to raise their young each year, we think we're rather privileged. After all, if they can't nest here, where can they?

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As you continue towards the house, keep an eye on the fields. You're far more likely to spot a brown hare than a rabbit. We honestly can't remember the last time we saw a rabbit here, yet hares seem to be everywhere. You'll often see them sitting quietly in the grass before suddenly bounding across the fields with those wonderfully long legs, sometimes looking as though they're all elbows and knees.

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Of course, the stars of Muir Estate are our own herd of red deer. At the heart of the herd is Otto, our magnificent ten-year-old stock stag. He's incredibly handsome, wonderfully majestic and, if we're honest, part of the family. Otto looks after a herd of around twenty-five hinds, and every spring we eagerly await the arrival of the new calves. Watching them take their first wobbly steps never gets old. They arrive looking just like little Bambis, complete with their beautiful white spots, although unlike the famous Disney character, those spots gradually disappear as they grow.

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The deer roam across a series of large parks covering around eighty acres, and if you're awake early enough, you'll often find them waiting patiently near the house for breakfast. One of our favourite things to do is introduce guests to them. You're very welcome to join us when we feed them, and because they're used to people, many are happy to come over for a gentle stroke and a photograph.

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Their welfare is the most important part of everything we do. We firmly believe that happy, healthy animals thrive, and we do everything we can to give our deer the very best life possible.  For most of the year, they simply graze naturally across the estate. During the winter months, and when the hinds are pregnant or nursing their calves, we supplement their diet with a small amount of cattle nuts to provide the extra nutrition they need. They also have a particular fondness for apples and carrots, which they regard as the very best treats!  We keep intervention to an absolute minimum. The deer are free to behave as deer should, grazing, resting, socialising and raising their young in a peaceful environment. We don't routinely use chemicals or unnecessary treatments, believing that good husbandry, plenty of space and careful management are the foundations of healthy animals. It means our venison is as natural as it could possibly be, while ensuring the welfare of the herd always comes first.

 

Just three miles away is Mid Torrie Farm, Muir Estate's sister property, where we farm our flock of sheep. Depending on the time of year and how the grazing is growing, you may spot some of them enjoying a holiday at Muir Estate. Their gentle grazing helps keep the pasture and areas of our ancient woodland healthy and well managed, while making the most of the estate's natural resources. It's a simple partnership that benefits the sheep, the deer and the landscape alike.

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The estate is also home to wild roe deer, Scotland's smallest native deer species. They're much shyer than our farmed red deer and have an incredible ability to melt into the woodland before you've even realised they're there. We also have wild red deer that regularly wander across the property.

 

Autumn brings one of the most magical spectacles of the year.  Although Otto lives within his own parks, nobody has told him that. During the rut, you'll hear him roaring across the estate, often answered by several wild stags beyond the fences. On still autumn evenings, their calls echo around the hills in an unforgettable display of nature at its most dramatic.​

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The loch has a life of its own too. Swans return to nest, Canada geese gather on the water, herons patiently stalk the shallows and, beneath the surface, trout quietly go about their business. In spring and early summer, the margins of the loch come alive with frogs, filling the evenings with the unmistakable sounds of the Scottish countryside.

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The ancient woodland is another of our favourite places to explore. It's a peaceful, almost magical part of the estate, filled with mature trees, wildflowers, mosses and fungi that change with every season. If you're especially lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of one of Scotland's most elusive mammals, the pine marten. Alick has been fortunate enough to see one, although I've yet to be so lucky! We know they're here, even if they prefer to keep themselves hidden.

 

You'll almost certainly hear tawny owls after dark, their haunting calls drifting through the trees long after the sun has gone down. Foxes are regular visitors too. They're beautiful animals, even if, as anyone who farms will understand, they occasionally keep us on our toes.​

 

What makes Muir Estate so special isn't simply the variety of wildlife, it's that you become part of it during your stay. Whether you're watching house martins dancing above the courtyard with your morning coffee, feeding Otto and his hinds, hearing owls calling after dark, or simply enjoying the peaceful sight of a hare crossing the fields, we hope you'll leave with a little of the estate's magic to take home with you.