September is a beautiful time of year. We’ve had the first snow on the plateau and lovely autumnal sunny days. The odd soggy day too, of course! The reindeer look fantastic with fully grown antlers and fresh winter coats growing through.
We’ve been doing lots of free range missions to bring in the cows and their calves which is always fun. The bulls and cows have been stripping the velvet and getting a wee bit more feisty and hormonal in preparation for the upcoming rut. We split the first bull, Choc-ice, with a small group of girls on the 22nd – exciting times!
The calves have also been given a name but as always we don’t post any names online until our adopters have their newsletters. Maybe by next month’s photo blog!
1st of September: Cheer and her daughter Chai in the background. 1st of September: The time of year when the bulls start stripping the velvet. Here is two-year-old Limpopo looking very handsome. 3rd of September: Emmental and her calf back in the enclosure after a summer of free ranging. 3rd of September: A family portrait! Irish, his wee sister, and his mum, Helsinki. Since Helsinki has been back in our enclosure, one-year-old Irish has become rather attached to his mum again! Helsinki is very tolerant and shares her pile of food with her teenage son. 4th of September: Bordeaux and her son. These two didn’t come in for their breakfast so I got a lovely walk up Silver Mount to find them and return them to the herd. Both were completely fine and clearly just having a lie-in. 4th of September: Elbe, a twin, is looking phenomenal! He’s two years old and has a really lovely nature! We’re all very fond of him. 4th of September: Peanut’s male calf is looking great and is already quite tame. 4th of September: Two freckly white noses trying to get into the hand feed bag. Sundae on the left and Beanie on the right. 9th of September: The calves in the enclosure have quickly learnt what’s in the bags! They get allowed to feed directly from the bags which encourages them to be tamer and so they can get some extra mouthfuls without a bigger reindeer stealing it from them. Zoom and Choc-ice are circling the bags like piranhas! 10th of September: One of our gorgeous calves. This wee one belongs to Hopscotch. 10th of September: Glacée and her daughter. She’s done so well as a first time mum!11th of September: Lotti and Kate feeding the herd. 11th of September: Moving some of our free rangers from outside the cafe on Cairngorm Mountain! Sunflower, Fika and Solero are the three closest to camera. Fika and Solero are stripping the velvet from their antlers. 15th of September: Old girl Ryvita on a very soggy day. She’s now back out free ranging but came into the enclosure for a few days for a health check and vaccination. She’s looking great for 16!16th of September: Brie posing beautifully on a lovely autumnal morning. 16th of September: The calves are allowed to feed from the bags before we put it out on the ground for everyone else. You can see the older reindeer lurking around the edge and Cameron and Kate on guard duty!17th of September: Amazon is now two years old. Her mum Dante is just behind. 17th of September: Christie has done it again! She looks phenomenal and has produced yet another lovely, chilled-out wee dude!18th of September: Jimmy looking very handsome.22nd of September: Winnie looking gorgeous in the beautiful autumnal light! She was hand reared in 2023 and has come back into the hill enclosure after almost a year out free ranging looking amazing!23rd of September: Morven and her calf. Both have ridiculous antlers!24th of September: Marple and calf. Her calf has turned into a greedy food monster!26th of September: After a week in our Paddocks Dr Seuss is now back in the hill enclosure ready for the 11am Hill Trip and hand feeding!
The September visit was very special. We were lucky enough to attend Fiona and Joe’s wedding and celebrations. They got married on top of Meall a’ Bhuachaille, the hill behind Reindeer House. It was a very wet and windy day but it was so special being on top with Fiona, Joe and everyone and the dogs and to see them get married. A person was playing the bagpipes too which was very magical. We all went to the Pine Marten Bar afterwards for some food, drink and dancing. Then there was a fantastic weekend of celebrations at Badaguish involving a second wedding ceremony and wedding photos and of course reindeer. The reindeer who attended were Busby, Magnum, Hemp and Dr Seuss. The weather was so lovely and there were lots of sunshine. The other celebrations included a ceilidh, Highland games, fun run, a loch swim in Loch Morlich, where I paddled this time, and lots of music, food and drink. It was so lovely seeing everyone and it was very being special being part of the really fantastic wedding celebrations.
Fiona and Joe on a very soggy but utterly beautiful wedding day.Fiona and Joe with Busby, Hemp and Dr Seuss!
I was very lucky enough to be invited to attend the naming meeting of the calves. I sat around the table in the kitchen of Reindeer House with my herding friends and had tea and cake with them whilst they decided on the names of the new calves the theme this year being Teas and Coffees.
The calves had grown so much since I had last seen them in May. They had just come into the hill enclosure from the free range with their mums. They were much bigger and braver. Helsinki’s premature calf was doing so well. His name is Irish after Irish coffee.
Latte (Brie’s calf) and Emm!
So much had changed in the new Reindeer Centre building. Tilly with her grandchildren gave me a tour of the new Centre. The stairs had been put in and the walls plastered. Sinks, pipes and the boiler had been put in. It looked so amazing. It is slowly getting there and is so exciting. It will be brilliant. We went outside to see where the reindeer Paddocks will be.
One morning, Poirot and Mivvi were outside the hill enclosure entrance gate. They had got out of the enclosure somehow. They were put back in and Isla walked around the fence line of the whole hill enclosure to see where they had got out. The fence line is 8km and the hill enclosure is 1,200 acres. She found out that someone had left the gate open down in the woods near Utsi’s hut so she shut it.
Emm and Mivvi.
I had a big surprise one morning on the Hill Trip, as I got out the reindeer van in the carpark and a lady came over to me and I realised it was a lovely lady from our local art shop where I am from. She was with her husband and they were on their honeymoon. They were so surprised to see me as they didn’t know I was up and thought I would be up later in the year. They were visiting because of me as I often go into their art shop back and show her and her colleagues my reindeer photos and tell them all about the reindeer and they got very interested. It was such a lovely surprise to see her and her husband and it was so brilliant taking them up to see the reindeer. That was such a special day.
I had time to chill and enjoy the reindeer which I really find special. One day after a morning Hill Trip, the reindeer were lying down in groups. They were chilling, dozing or asleep. One of the calves, Irish, was twitching in his sleep and his eyes were rolling. Hemp was asleep and snoring. I went around taking photos and selfies and Caterpillar was following me as I had the hand feed bag. She tended to follow me during Hill Trips because of the hand feed bag and because she is a shy reindeer we had been giving her hand feed out of the bag after the Hill Trips to get used to being handled. One day after another Hill Trip, Silk and Suebi from the free range turned up outside the hill enclosure fence. They followed Ruth and Lotti, who had a food bag, into the hill enclosure. They had been trying to get Silk into the hill enclosure for a wee while with little success as she is a very shy reindeer so everyone was really pleased she came into the hill enclosure.
Emm and a bunch of snoozy reindeer, including Morse with those whopping antlers behind.Christie and Espresso having a nap.
I got to help again treat some poorly reindeer when Pumpkin’s calf, called Lapsang, had been lying flat out on the hill trip. We took her temperature and it was very high. I held onto Pumpkin, who was on a head collar, whilst Ruth and Isla were dealing with Lapsang as Pumpkin was a protective mum. Most reindeer are not protective but Pumpkin was but Ruth was able to give Lapsang an injection to bring down the temperature and Isla led them both to the shed in the hill enclosure where to keep an eye on them.
At the end of my stay my herder friends surprised me by bringing Scully my adopted reindeer down from the hill. I was so pleased to see her. They had gone out to get Florence and her calf Cuppa off the free range there and bring them back to the hill enclosure to start getting Cuppa used to people and being handled. They also brought four more reindeer back including Scully which was so special. This was at the end of the day on my last working day so the next morning I went up on the morning Hill Trip to see Scully which was so brilliant. I got to hand feed her and Ruth took lovely photos of me with her.
Scully and Emm on the last day of Emm’s stay.
So, I have shared with you some of the memorable highlights of 2024 being with the reindeer and my herder friends. It was such a special time as always. I am really looking forward to being with the reindeer in 2025 with my first visit in February. I am so excited and am counting down the days till my next visit.
I (Maisy) have been helping out with the reindeer here and there since March 2024. I am now working on weekends and during my school holidays to my delight. I have started to spend a lot more of my time up at the Centre whether it’s because of reindeer, the people and the dogs, it’s just such a welcoming place and I’m very grateful to know them.
Last Christmas I was working quite a bit while being up at Glenmore nearly every weekend in December! This is our busy season for obvious reasons, and it can get quite manic. By the end of December, I think everybody who was working on weekends were really fed up with Christmas songs from hearing the so many times… We were going up the hill in sunshine, rain or snow we just had to wrap up warm and get on with it. At one point I was wearing so many clothes I could hardly move my body it was so cold. Including the wind, it felt like roughly -19 which is pretty cold especially when you’re not moving very fast with your visitors.
My Mum and Dad are friends with Alan and Tilly so when I was younger, we went to the farm to give a hand. One of the only memories I’ve had at the farm when I was little was being in a tractor with my dad and Alan and falling out of it. I have slowly accumulated quite a lot of photos so when Ruth suggested for me to possibly write a blog I obviously said yes.
Magnum in the sun on a really hot day in mid August.Chai running for food in the enclosure on the 12th of April 2025.Lisette with Frost and Busby at a Christmas event in Fort William.Christie snoozing on a gorgeous day in December.Lolly looking surprised, overlooking Kidney Lochan while free ranging on the 2nd of March.And of course, can’t miss a dog photo can I. This is Fraoch on the summit of Meall a’ Bhuachaille and it was the best sunset I’ve ever seen! Scotland at its best.The herd following Lotti in early March heading down Plantation Hill.Wee Fika last year in the enclosure. She is currently Free ranging with her mum Sunflower.The herd crossing the Alt Ban on the 9th of March 2025.Trilby with her calf in front of Meall a’ Bhuachaille in the enclosure being just a few days old on the 11th of May.The first calf of the year building up his confidence in the enclosure. And also, being super-duper cute!Me and my dad were out on the hills in May and came across a herd free ranging. This is wonderful Mocha.This is me and Nuii on the same day who was very interested if we had some spare food going. We sadly did not!Marple and her calf with the herd after coming off free range. This was taken on the 14th of August 2025.Zap having a chill time before a busy day with visitors on the 16th of August.
As the seasons change and we transition from spring into summer our female reindeer will start to move from the lower grounds where they have spent most of the winter, higher onto the hills. This is partly to stay cool as the weather will warm up but also to follow the grazing. In the middle of the winter there will be more snow higher on the hills, meaning further for the reindeer to dig but in the summer the tops of the hills are where the best grazing is.
Waving the cows and calves off to spend the summer free-ranging.
For our reindeer this migration may be only a few miles but across the world, reindeer and caribou (which are genetically the same as reindeer but haven’t been domesticated) migrate long distances. In fact, caribou hold the record for the longest land migration of any animal, migrating a whopping 2,000 miles between their summer and winter-feeding grounds. The equivalent records are held by the humpback whale with the longest migration through water of 5,000 miles and the arctic tern with the longest migration through the air with a mind boggling 18,000 miles.
Long Distance Migration (Varpe and Bauer).Arctic Tern.Humpback.
2,000 miles is still an incredibly long way and takes the caribou first to their spring calving grounds near the coast. The spring calving grounds are highly fertile, providing lots of food for the new mums and free of predators, which is important as the young are born. This sounds like the ideal location to spend the summer and perhaps it would be if it wasn’t for the swarms of mosquitoes that arrive at the start of the summer. These mosquitoes, as well as the warmer weather, drive the caribou to migrate higher onto the hills. They spend the summer grazing on a plethora of different plants and lichens. Summer is a time of abundance in the arctic and sub-arctic regions.
Lace and Ryvita free ranging in the Cairngorms.
With long hours of light, the plants grow quickly, and the reindeer will graze on over 200 different species. This allows the reindeer calves to grow quickly, before the winter. It also allows bulls, cows and calves to all grow a set of antlers. The antlers grow over roughly 5 months and can reach a massive size. The largest set we’ve had in our herd weighed 8.9kg for the pair. It is also important that reindeer gain weight in the summer in order to survive the harsh winter.
Christie’s calf, Espresso, Christie and Borlotti enjoying the best of the summer grazing on the plateau.Glacée and Dante looking fantastic at the end of a summer of free-ranging.
As autumn approaches the reindeer will migrate yet again. As the temperature drops, there will be less to eat high on the hills so the reindeer will move to the lower hills in search of better grazing. It is also the time of year that the mushrooms emerge so many of the reindeer will come into the edge of the woodland to forage mushrooms. They eat many varieties, but the boletus family are their favourite.
In our herd the female reindeer spend the summer months free-ranging and the males spend it in our hill enclosure. This means there is another drive for the females to come to the lower slopes and into the hill enclosure, the boys! The cows know that the rut is held in our hill enclosure each year so when their hormones tell them it’s time to find a mate, they know where to come!
Dante munching on a mushroom.
The migration of the Cairngorm reindeer may be much smaller than reindeer and caribou elsewhere, but it is equally important. It allows the reindeer to move to the best location for each season, following where the best food and climate is.
We returned in May and it was the calving season (Emm’s blog about her February visit can be found by clicking here). The calves are so cute and come in different colours which were silvery, dark brown, normal coloured, and ginger. They are so small and it was so lovely seeing the reindeer being mums to their calves. Some of the mums and younger calves were in the bottom corridor in the hill enclosure which we call the nursery. The mums and older calves were with the main reindeer herd in the main bit of the enclosure. It was so lovely seeing the calves suckling from their mums. Sometimes the mum would lick its tail or bum to encourage the calf to suckle. I saw calves nibbling on their mum ears. The calves would run often over to their mums grunting or the mums would run over to their calves grunting. Reindeer are normally quiet animals apart from calving time and rutting time and it was lovely to see them communicate. My first time handling a calf was when I held Feta’s calf whilst Hen took the calf’s temperature. Most of the reindeer are ok with you going near their calves but Brie was very protective of her calf so we had to be careful around her and her calf.
Emm holding Feta’s calf who we later named Earl Grey as has turned into one of the biggest calves of 2024.
Helsinki’s calf was premature and was so tiny so we kept them by the shed in the hill enclosure so we could keep an eye on them. We went to check them several times a day and were encouraging the calf to suckle. We bottle fed the calf with goat’s milk as Helsinki didn’t have much milk to begin with. Later on in the week, Helsinki and her calf joined the other mums and calves in the nursery as she was producing more milk and the calf was suckling on its own. The calf got much stronger and was doing so well.
Helsinki and her wee boy, who we later named Irish. Despite a rocky start to life Irish is doing well and has grown into a very tame and laid-back fella!
When reindeer are about to give birth, they tend to go away from the herd and find a high place as they are very private animals when giving birth. One day, Christie was missing from the main herd. Lisette went to find her and found Christie with her newborn calf. Later that day Cassie and Amy went to get Christie and her newborn calf and to take them to the nursery.
Lisette’s photo of Christie and new-born Espresso!
During our visit there was a fundraising scheme launched to raise money towards the new Centre. I decided to help support it by taking a swim in Loch Morlich. I am not an outdoor swimming person as I hate cold water. I am more a hot tub person! So, it was big challenge for me to swim in the loch. It was very cold as the water was still coming from snow patches from the Cairngorms. It was very special day as my herding friends, who love outdoor swimming, came and supported me and Tilly and her grandchildren joined in. Even the herder’s dogs joined in too and with everyone’s encouragement I raised £1000 for the new Reindeer Centre. We went for a drink and a meal afterwards at The Pine Marten Bar to warm up and celebrate.
Emm with the hat on and the herders in the loch. Go Emm!!
Following on from my visit in February I went again to Tilly’s farm with Amy. We helped take temperatures and the younger reindeer had an injection to help stop ticks. I was in charge of putting reindeer on head collars and holding them and was able to catch up with some of the reindeer. Winnie and Alba, two hand-reared reindeer who had just turned one year old, looked really well. Also, Elbe (Alba’s twin) who was looking really well too. We took seven reindeer back to the hill enclosure from the farm, Clouseau, Olmec, Aztec, Frost, Zoom, Zap and 99. Tilly tied Aztec and Clouseau the older boys to her quad bike whilst she drove slowly down with them following the quad bike very nicely. We led them down the hill to “Brenda” the reindeer truck. We went back and with help we took the seven reindeer up to the hill enclosure. I led Zoom and Olmec up to the hill enclosure.
One day Vanilla, who is leucistic (white), had a hoof trim. It was interesting to find out that leucistic reindeer hooves grow faster than a normal coloured reindeer. Leucistic reindeer are white, have blue eyes and sometimes are born deaf.
The building of the new Reindeer Centre was going well when I was there. At the beginning of the week, Tilly and Cameron gave me a tour of the new building which was just the walls going up. At the end of my stay Tilly gave me with Ann and Sheena another tour and the change in just a week was so amazing. The roof was on and the first floor in. It seemed to be going up very quickly.
The roof going on!
One morning during the breakfast feed for the reindeer, we did a mock filming session. People who can’t get up the hill to see the reindeer will be able to experience a reindeer hill visit through a film at the new Reindeer Centre in the exhibition. We walked to the reindeer, fed the reindeer, counted them and chilled with them whilst being filmed for a practice run.
March has been a great month for us here at the Centre. We’ve become so used to working in the new Centre it’s hard to imagine life working from Reindeer House! March is always a relatively quiet month for visitors so it’s meant an excellent ratio of reindeer to people on our daily Hill Trips. Things will start getting busier in April with the school holidays, and reindeer will be back in our Paddocks from Saturday 29th of March. The Paddocks will be a work in progress for some time as we continue to landscape, but at least the reindeer will be back on display for folks to see! Have a read here for up to date info about what’s on offer in the Paddocks: https://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/paddocks/.
Here’s lots of lovely photos of some of our gorgeous reindeer taken throughout the month!
3rd of March: Chai is such a cutie, and she knows it!3rd of March: Two girls with big antlers! Mangetout (born 2020) has the biggest set of antlers compared to the females in her year group and Pukka (born 2024) has the biggest out of hers, including the boys!4th of March: Fiona, Lotti and I walked three cows and their calves up the hill to join the free ranging herd we have here on Cairngorm. Previously they’d been free ranging at our second winter site. Feta and Earl Grey, Beanie and Coffee, and Christie and Espresso. 5th of March: We’re so proud of these two! Alba at the front and Winnie behind. Both hand-reared in 2023 and now proper free-roaming reindeer! Go girls.12th of February: Snow! And Cuppa’s awesome eyebrows.12th of March: The top of Ryvita’s head. She’s usually the first cow to start growing her antlers. 13th of March: Winter has returned. Sundae looking particularly beautiful!13th of March: Zambezi and the herd on their way in for breakfast. 13th of March: Winnie and Cameron. 14th of March: Torch making sure Cappuccino is looking good for our visitors. 17th of March: Shannon on St. Patrick’s Day. Shannon was named by herder Amy after the river in Ireland. 17th of March: Ryvita up to her usual tricks! She’s an old girl so I may have allowed this for longer than I would have if it was somebody younger! 18th of March: Trilby leading the herd on a beautiful day. 19th of March: Another old girl enjoying our backpacks – this is Oatcake. 21st of March: Amy and I went over to our second site to help Tilly which was very fun! We got to see all the male reindeer including this greedy chap – Aztec!21st of March: Spartan looking very handsome and enjoying free ranging. He’s just beginning to grow a new set of antlers. 22nd of March: Peanut is a beautiful reindeer. She’ll turn 5 in the spring and is relatively shy in nature but very sweet!22nd of March: Zambezi wondering if I’ve got any food!23rd of March: Sunflower and Fika being very sweet!25th of March: Christie cast her anlters a couple of weeks ago but still looks gorgeous. Her new antlers will begin to grow before too long.27th of March: 10 month old Coffee leading the herd this morning. He’s a very confident chap!
I was lucky enough last year to visit and work with the reindeer three times in 2024, February, May and September. I had many different experiences and I thought I would tell you about my highlights with the reindeer and herders during the year.
You’ll be able to find May and September’s highlights in future blogs!
My February Highlights
Emm with one of her favourite reindeer, Scully!
Our first visit was in February so the weather was still very cold with snow on the mountains. At this time of year the reindeer are free-ranging so each morning there was a visit up the mountain to find them and bring them to a suitable spot for the later hill trip. The reindeer would often be very high up and we would struggle to get them down if they ignored our calls so we would have to go and fetch them. My first trip up the mountain was with Ruth and Cameron. We walked up a steep slope as we thought they were in the gully but we soon realised they were somewhere else on the other side of the ridge we were looking at! We continued calling for a bit hoping they would come but they didn’t so we turned round to return to the carpark and tried another path to find them. At this stage the weather had turned into a raging snowy blizzard, it was very cold and the wind was strong. As we were about to pick up our bags, we turned around and saw half of the reindeer herd running towards us through the snow. It was a magical feeling to see the reindeer run towards us in such snowy conditions and the other half of the herd joined us a few minutes later. It was so amazing how deep the snow had got with the very heavy snow.
Reindeer appearing in a blizzard!
On another occasion with Amy and Cameron again to find the reindeer on the free range for the Hill Trip. We went to the visit spot for that day and called them. Some walkers on the ridge were looking down at us wondering what we were doing! The reindeer didn’t appear, so we had to fetch them which meant a hike across a stream and up a very steep hill to a ridge, then up the ridge going very high. We finally found them all sitting chilling on a rocky hill and ignoring our calls! To get them to the visit spot Amy and I led at the front calling them with a bag of feed to encourage them, Okapi leading the herd. Cameron herded at the back of the herd. Okapi was brilliant at the front, it was so amazing seeing them jump easily over the stream we had to cross. At the visit spot I gave Okapi some food out of the hand feed bag for being such a brilliant leader.
Emm on a Hill Trip with Christie closest to the camera.Emm doing a fab job leading the herd.
The highest I have ever been on the free range in the Cairngorms was on a trip with Andi. It was a lovely day and we had fantastic views. Andi was at the front with a bag of feed whilst I was herding them at the back. Popsicle was limping so when we got to the Hill Trip spot, I checked her temperature and Andi checked her leg but she was ok. The trips were a chance to check the reindeer. On one visit I helped Fiona take Scully and Yukon off the free range as Yukon was limping and was very lame. Yukon is Scully’s calf so we brought Scully off too. I led Yukon whilst Fiona led Scully. It was very snowy and misty. We put them in the Paddocks in Glenmore with access to the shed, next to the Reindeer Centre. Later on that week the vet saw Yukon and gave him a Xray. It showed it wasn’t broken and that he had probably torn a ligament. I did an afternoon Hill Trip with Andi on the top ridge in the hill enclosure and afterwards we took the hill enclosure reindeer onto the free range. Some visitors came with us. I led the reindeer out of the hill enclosure gate and shook the feed bag so they all came out. We were hoping to meet up with the reindeer group on the free range and had a very big surprise when they came running over to us and the two groups joined up as one big herd. It was so amazing seeing them coming running over and there was lots of clashing of antlers from the two groups to establish the pecking order. It was so brilliant seeing them all on the free range. Amur kept licking my hand.
Fiona walking Scully off the mountains.Pinto and the herd on a high snowy ridge.Emm, Ruth, Lotti and Gloriana.
During this visit I was kindly invited to go curling with them something which was completely new to me. I learnt how to throw the stone and sweep and then played a few games. It was very exciting and so brilliant. My team were the yellow stones and we lost against the red stones team but it was such great fun. We went for a meal afterwards and Nan, one of the reindeer house’s dogs, was there and I got to give her a cuddle. Nan is one of Tuva’s puppies. Later in the week I got to see Sheena’s dog, Ginger, who had six puppies. They were only two weeks old and very cute. I helped Sheena weigh them to make sure they were growing well. I also helped out with another of the Reindeer House dogs, Dug, with walks at the back of the Reindeer Centre on the tracks and in the woods which was such great fun.
Emm and the team curling!Emm, Sheena, Ginger and one of her gorgeous pups!
Some of the herd were over at Tilly’s farm so I went over one day with Andi and Amy . We went up on to our second winter grazing site to find the free ranging herd and to feed them and check their temperatures. We went in a buggy and it was a bumpy track, across little streams and going very high up with beautiful views. When the reindeer saw the buggy, they ran over and surrounded us as they associated it with food. We took their temperatures and checked them all. It was such an amazing view made more special by the reindeer. More reindeer appeared running down a hill while we were there including Frost. I was able to walk around the reindeer, chill with them and take photos before we went back to Tilly’s farm in the buggy.
Emm, Amy and Andi enjoying a bumpy ride in the buggy!Some of the free rangers at our second site.
The building works for the new Centre had started and there was a big hole where the Paddocks used to be and it was now a building site with diggers. Despite the building work one day I saw a wildcat walk across the old reindeer shed area the top of the big hole in the Paddocks. It turned to look at me then carried on. It turns out it was one of the wildcats released locally and her name is Callie and she had a collar on.
At this time of year the entire herd is free ranging over two sites. Here on Cairngorm we have most of our adult females and calves and we keep an eye on them usually every second day. In the winter we also lease more winter grazing at our second site where all the adult males are, plus a few cows and some of our bigger male calves with their mums. Tilly monitors the goings on there every couple of days, but we go and give her a helping hand whenever she needs. It’s always a joy to catch up with the reindeer there, especially when the weather is this good! Andi went over to help check all the temperatures last weekend and she took some photos which I thought I’d stick in a blog! Otherwise our social media is mostly made up of the cows at this time of year… so here’s a good mix of the reindeer Tilly has this winter!
Jelly looking great and enjoying a peacful winter!Frost will be 7 years old in the spring! He’s a very reliable ‘Christmas reindeer’ and was out and about at events on weekends throughout November and December. He’s now having a well-earned rest and enjoying free roaming in the hills.Kernel was a breeding bull during last year’s rut where we would certainly not want to be this close to him! But now his testosterone levels have dropped he’s back to his usual freindly self. Phew!Magnum with the white patchy face had his first Christmas season as an adult last year – he’s also now enoying a well-deserved break. Limpopo next to him is one of the darkest reindeer in the herd and is a yearling bull.Mr Whippy standing out like a sore thumb when there’s no snow!Adzuki with his head down grazing and Christie looking into the camera, beautiful as ever. Turtle and her nephew Elbe enjoying the easy grazing.The size of Sherlock’s new antlers are ridiculous already! Usually the males don’t grow antlers until closer to the spring but Sherlock is in such good condition he started growing them in December!What a beautiful day to be out in the hills! Haricot closest to the camera!2 year old Iskrem having recently cast is antlers. Closest to the camera is Earl Grey. He’s one of three male calves at our second site along with their mums. They’re the 3 biggest calves of the year and are already starting to think they’re big bulls!
December has been another mixed month for me in terms of work with time at home on the hills, and out and about on tour! Here at home, I’ve been on the hill working with the herd, taking lots of people up to meet the reindeer on Hill Trips, and helping to keep the office afloat at this incredibly busy time of year. I’ve also been on road again with Christmas teams doing parades and events in Strathaven, Dunkeld, Fife, and very locally in Carrbridge amongst other places. Once again, the reindeer were super and made me incredibly proud.
The Paddocks has also been open – hoorah! We’re still not allowed in the building, and it’s all quite basic at the moment, but at least we have had beautiful reindeer on display, and we have even been visited by Santa. Here’s just a few photos from December for you all.
4th of December: Earl Grey is one of the biggest calves of 2024. What a chunky boy, and a complete poser!4th of December: Cuppa and his funky “eyebrows” making him look super serious all the time.5th of December: The mallards often steal the show on a Hill Trip!6th of December: The team enjoying their lichen after a Christmas parade to the Benarty Centre, Fife.7th of December: Cowboy ready to pull the sleigh in Dunkeld. This is his first season as a sleigh puller and he’s an old pro already!8th of December: Chai was so relaxed behind the sleigh whilst waiting for Santa to arrive she laid down! 11th of December: A funny face from Mangetout!12th of December: Dad Ärta and his son Earl Grey, with matching white noses!13th of December: Scully is in great condition just now after having a year off motherhood, hopefully she may now be in calf. Fingers crossed for the spring. 14th of December: Latte at Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge. Completely unfazed about the giant T-rex looming over the pen!15th of December: Christie and Morven. 15th of December: Maisie is a local lass who’s been working with us on weekends and during her school holidays, here she is with two “hats”, Beanie and Trilby!15th of December: Some of the lovely dogs posing by the fire in the shop, Fraoch, Elsie, Ginger, and Tiree! 18th of December: Scully, Christie, and Torch posing beautifully! There’s even a wee rainbow if you look super close. 20th of December: Irish being cute!20th of December: Mocha and her mum Vienna. Vienna has recently lost an antler this week.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our blog readers, we really do appreciate your support and hope to entertain you every Friday of 2025 too!
November has been a very mixed month for me in terms of work! Here at home I’ve been on the hill working with the herd, taking lots of people up to meet the reindeer on Hill Trips, and spending most afternoons sleigh training or working though the gazillions of adoptions that are coming in ahead of Christmas. I’ve also been on road with Christmas teams doing parades in Dumfries and as far south as Wilmslow. The reindeer were super and made me incredibly proud. Biggest shout out to Akubra who pulled the sleigh like an old pro in his first public events!
31st of October: I had to cheat a little as turns out I was rubbish at taking photos during the first week of November so here’s Feta and her calf Earl Grey from the last day of October!31st of October: Another one from October for good measure – here’s Helsinki and her son Irish!7th of November: Juniper! The only ‘polled’ reindeer in our herd (meaning she doesn’t grow antlers).7th of November: Vanilla looking beautiful. One of three pure white reindeer in the herd.8th of November: If there’s a white bag on the hill, Beanie is never too far away!9th of November: Mel and I took this handsome bunch to a primary school for the day. They did a super job. In the team was Dr Seuss, Clouseau, Akubra, Magnum, Espresso and Irish.12th of November: Lisette feeding a lovely bunch of free rangers. 16th of November: Dr Seuss back on tour! Here he is gently resting his chin on the sleigh before a parade. Clearly trying to impress the crowds as he is usually known for causing mild havoc by wrecking our decorations!17th of November: The boys resting in Dunfermline with Magnum at the front. They were back on the hill in the evening.19th of November: Akubra back on the hill after a weekend away! He was a total star and pulled the sleigh in two parades.19th of November: Feeding the calves out of the bags. Earl Grey on the left and Pukka on the right both with a foot in the air!20th of November: Adzuki looking very smart in the snow!21st of November: Turtle enjoying the snow!21st of November: Christie alongside a snow bunting! I love these incredibly hardy birds! A flock of around 40 came and joined us on the Hill Trip.25th of November: The snow had mostly gone after Storm Bert but Scully and Feta found a patch.25th of November: Pip proving that reindeer can’t bite! Look at the small row of bottom teeth and the hard palate at the top of her mouth. 27th of November: Latte coming in for a close up. What a funny face!
