Encountering the Cairngorms Reindeer Herd
While in the Scottish Highlands one of our priority destinations was the Cairngorm Reindeer Center. The Reindeer Center releases tickets 30 days ahead of the date. We set a calendar reminder and got ours as soon as we could.
After check-in at the Reindeer Center, we drove to a different lot and waited for our guide. The check-in did confirm that everyone was wearing shoes with some tread. Our guide came and introduced herself and then we started the hike with our group of about 20 people.
The hike itself was relatively short and quite pretty after we crossed the street from the parking lot. The weather was clear and snow had melted when we left so it didn't feel particularly treacherous (despite many warnings on the website that it could be). I didn't have too much time for photos on the way up because they asked us to stay together as a group, promising that we could return down the same trail in our own time after we finished visiting the reindeer.
Once at the top of the hike, we were above the tree line with beautiful vistas. It was quite windy on top of the mountain, the temp was mid 50s to 60s Farenheit, but it felt much cooler with the wind.
Our guide gave us a quick overview of how to behave around reindeer. There were a few rules:
- Don't pet the reindeer. They don't like it.
- Don't kneel down, even to get photos. The reindeer take that as you being subservient and they may come bump you.
We learned that Reindeer and Caribou are the same animal, in North America we call them Reindeer if they are domesticated. In the spring, Reindeer are shedding their winter coats so their fur is patchy and pulls off easily.
We got to watch the male reindeer eat, and even got to hand feed them while we visited. This wasn't their main meal which they'd had earlier in the day - rather a little snack. The younger reindeer were allowed to come eat from the feed bag.
A couple of young males eat from the feed bag.
The males were separated from the females and newborn calves by a fence. We did get to see everyone. As we arrived, the adult males were lounging and not really excited or impressed - while the younger males knowing they were allowed to eat from the bags came near us more eagerly.
Given that I was using my 100-500mm lens, I was quite happy to have the males stay further back so I could get some better photos.
A reindeer slowly meandering toward us while two others just lie in the grass.
The adult males had huge variance in their antler sizes. Some were relatively small, while others were quite large. The herd is maintained to be about 150 Reindeer. This is done by castrating some males and also by having the males and females in separate areas. The reindeer aren't all kept in fenced in areas at all times, part of the herd is allowed to roam freely at any given time.
On the left, a group of reindeer with differing antler sizes. On the Right a boy with incredibly large antler.
In the spring, the bucks have velvety antlers, this skin provides blood flow while the antlers are forming. It will fall off when their antlers calcify. We saw the males with particularly large antlers kicking them. Our guide explained that this would help with blood flow.
As our guide started to explain how we should hold our hands for reindeer feeding, more and more of the reindeer started to come to see us. They go through this routine daily, so they know when to start to carry their heavy antlers across the grounds.
Reindeer starting to come over for food. Some of them even used the boardwalk!
There were a few white reindeer, they have a condition called Leucism. This means that the don't produce as much pigment. However they do not have red eyes, so they aren't albino. These reindeer got sunscreen on their antlers and skin to help them avoid a sunburn. Even reindeer need a good skin care routine.
One of the white Reindeer. The yellow on his antlers is sunscreen.
After we fed the reindeer, our guide dropped some food on the ground and we were free to walk around amongst them. It was a good opportunity to walk around for more photos.
We also got to go visit the females and calves at this point. We weren't allowed in the same penned in area as them, but we were quite close anyway. Both male and female reindeer have antlers, but the females antlers remain small.
The babies were varying ages, with some as young as just one week.
A baby nuzzles its mother
One of the smallest calves resting and getting some nuzzles.
There were some birds amongst the reindeer as well!
A female Mallard stopped by as we were visiting with the reindeer
We also saw some meadow pipits
After some time with the reindeer we hiked about 15 minutes back down to the parking lot, we had time to linger and take photos.
There was a bridge over this stream. It was quite peaceful and beautiful.
A Willow Warbler perched in a tree beautifully amongst the flowers.
The visit to the Reindeer Center was great. It would also be fun to visit in the fall when the Reindeer have pretty coats that aren't shedding. I'm happy that we saw the calves as they were so small. We took about a half day for the visit, leaving us time to do more in the afternoon.
You can also see the free-roaming herd if you happen to encounter them on your own hike through the Cairngorms. But for guaranteed Reindeer you'll want to schedule some time at the Reindeer Center.