Well, July has been a MONTH! At the start of the month, harness training for our male reindeer was well under way and there was still some really scruffy males around. The antler growth that we have had over the last month has been phenomenal and our male reindeer look completely different to what they did a couple of weeks prior.
Our usual July routine was interupted about half way through by the threat from a local wild fire which was spreading quickly over the mountain side. You will be glad to know that the reindeer were never in any direct threat from the fire but it gave us all a bit of a fright and on the days that us herders couldn’t get up to see the reindeer we were all walking around a bit lost, unsure on what to do with ourselves! We are so lucky to have a great team of people working with us at the Centre, a lot of which were on hand at the drop of a hat to help move reindeer.
It has been two weeks since we’ve been able to open to the public here in Glenmore but we have been able to take Hill Trips at our secondary site and we have most of the male reindeer back from their little jaunt on to the free range here on Cairngorm with a small group of reindeer still out on the mountainside enjoying the peace and quiet.
1st of July: Cappuccino and Mivvi on the morning feed line; still looking very scruffy.2nd of July : Adzuki after of our Hill Trips.3rd of July: Busby and Charleston with their Christmas harness5th of July: Brothers, Ob and Iskrem, were last in for their feed this morning- How handsome are they?8th of July: Stumbled across a leveret whilst walking through the enclosure (photo was taken with a high zoom so we didn’t disturb the little one)9th of July: You can probably tell from Mivvi’s face that it was a warm one!11th of July: It was fun to watch the reindeer emerge from the mist this morning.12th of July: Zap looking very handsome, he has a cracking set of antlers this year. 13th of July: A line of very sleek looking boys. Hemp and Yangtze are closest to the camera; it is a yearly occurence for Hemp to retain his winter coat longer than the other boys.15th of July: Part of the harness training experience is grazing with their harnesses on. Here is Elbe enjoying the early morning sun and lush vegetation.15th of July: At this point we realised that the fire had spread over Robber’s hill and was spreading quickly. 17th of July: After being given the OK to head out to the reindeer we had a police escort. It was quite a sombre drive as I had understood there would be a lot of damage done to the area by fire, but hadn’t thought about the necessary damage that would have been done in an effort to stop the fire from spreading. We owe a great debt to all of those who have worked to save Glenmore and the surounding area from fire.17th of July: Rocket leading the herd. It was a great relief to see the herd after pushing them out onto the free range. We moved the group along to an area that was less affected by smoke and checked that everyone was ok. 19th of July: In the days following the start of the fire, us reindeer herders felt a bit lost but you can always rely on there being adopt letters to be written. In the back ground you can see a sleepy Rowan, who is my fiery Collie.20th of July: A late night mission to locate some of the male reindeer that had been pushed out of the enclosure as a precaution – here are Mivvi and Morris.20th of July: This was Mivvi, Morris and I’s view (looking down towards Loch Morlich) whilst walking back down towards the hill enclosure.28th of July: Ob with the herd lying behind him.29th of July: Being ruminants, reindeer will regurgitate food to further chew it. Here is Yukon with cheeks full of partially digested food or as we know it, cud.30th of July: A fence being in the way is no match for Choc-ice when there is food involved.
I am the youngest Scottish reindeer herder. Although many people think I’m older than I really am and it happens on a regular basis. I’m either on a hill trip or doing a paddock talk and there is always someone asking me, “how did you end up being a reindeer herder?” When I give people my answer I often hear a gasp. “What, you’re still in school?!.” Yes I am, and only 2 years left then I’ll be free (Im counting down the days practically). Another question always follows this: what are you doing after school? I dunno, I’ll figure it out but I know one thing I ain’t sitting at a desk for ten hours a day. The reindeer herders have learnt that I ain’t sitting still.
Maisy feeding the herd during a snowy start to 2026.
Although most people are surprised about my age of only being 16, and are really interested in how I have such an interest in reindeer and the hills, the majority of the people I meet are supportive. But you’re always going to have a couple of people who treat you differently when they find out I’m at school still. I get a bit disappointed when people treat me differently after I tell them because all of a sudden there is a switch, “oh you do something so cool, but I still know better than you”. I do sometimes find it can be a struggle being young in a professional environment – but I enjoy this. I get a chance to show poeple my knowledge and it helps me build confidence.
Maisy and Winnie both enjoying the sunshine!
At first hanging out with the reindeer I was just an extra pair of hands carrying feed onto the hill and maybe chatting to a couple of visitors on the hill trips. I was nervous, only 13 and had no experience of talking to big groups of people with no knowledge of reindeer. Now I can easily chat to 50+ people because I now have a love for reindeer. I want to get everyone else to know all their fun facts to know why the herders are here and how important reindeer are to the Cairngorms ecosystem. However, saying this I still will not do a presentation in school! Reindeer I can talk all day about, but in other areas I’m still working on my confidence.
Dante and Disco relaxing out in the hills during this years free range season, during one of Maisy’s many long hikes out to see them.
A strong memory I have of the first time I talked in front of 20 people was in horrible weather with Joe. Joe asked me to talk about handfeeding but I did it only because I wanted to get off the hill and back to the centre as soon as possible! I’m glad for it now – sometimes you just need a little push out your comfort zone to see what you can do.
Reindeer have grown my confidence from now being able to talk to lots of people, work in the shop, give paddock talks, and even answer the phone… The thing I really don’t like is answering the phone! Mainly because you never know what you’re going to be asked on the other side. If it’s anything to do with officey things or on the computers I have no answer. There is always me handing the phone across the room when it’s ringing. If someone is busy in the shop however and only me to answer I have the dreaded task of answering. Slowly getting there but I am still not a fan.
Maisy feeding Cheer and Chai in August 2025 during a hike – Maisy always makes sure her backpack has all the neccassary gear for finding reindeer!
It is obvious that reindeer herding has boosted my confidence massively and I’m slowly gaining more responsibility and trust with the herders. At first I was just an extra person on a hill trip but now I get to help with the talks and help run them.
Amazon looking her absolute best on a morning free range mission in April!
In school they know I hang out with reindeer. This year I had the delight of giving my English teacher a 15 minute talk about The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd. Fun fact, my English teacher even taught Fiona… For my national 5 geography assignment I looked at how reindeer affect the vegetation cover and the different species of vegetation where there is a change in population of riendeer. My results showed that reindeer are creating more diversity of plant species. (If you want the results email us and I can send them over.) By doing this project it also meant I spent a few hours roaming on the hills. However it was revolting weather with no visablity whatsoever but it was still fun!
Morris helping Maisy with her studies of the vegetation growing along the top ridge of the Hill Enclosure.
A favourite memory of mine… In the summer on a Friday afternoon off the school bus, I was tying my shoelaces about to go for a run up Meall a’ Bhuachaille with Froach when Hen answers the phone from Amy saying she’s found some reindeer in Glenfeshie. Hen looked at me, “Maisy, what are you up to this afternoon?” There I was forgetting about Fraoch and my run and off we went up Glenfeshie to go find some calves and Amy. Not a bad Friday afternoon!
Lochi resting on a sunny day out in the hills. Maisy sitting with Winnie and Alba out in the hills after a free-range trip.
It took me a while to get used to being comfortable around the reindeer just because they are animals and I was still unsure of what their next steps were going to be. However now a few years down the line I’m comfortable with having reindeer brush up against me and try to calm a situation. From working with the reindeer my confidence has boosted and people in my life outside of reindeer can see that. This year was my first proper calving with working a lot more often during the weekend and my study leave. The calves are such sweeeties!
One of the first calves I met this year and my jaw dropped when I saw this guy. This is Texels calf and is just the sweetest little thing.
I think young people should get the chance to work outside with animals and in the outdoors more as so many young people are not getting opportunities to try many varied environments of work. I have found my own self confidence and knowing many young people struggle with this, it would benefit many. Working with reindeer has made me realize that I’m never going to want to get an inside office job mainly because I would probably explode if I were to sit still for 8 hours a day! I know there are lots of young people just like me that are meant for outdoor jobs and volunteering and working with animals gives you a chance to explore that. I’m also grateful for the resposibility and to find a group of people with interests just like mine. Sometimes you just find the right place where you belong!
Cameron, Sheena, Lotti, Daisy, Echo, Amy, and Maisy – Christmas Fun Crew, 2025!
At the end of May, the first group of cows and calves made their way out onto the free range for the summer as the younger group were growing stronger and more confident. A week into June the last group of cows and calves were walked out onto the free range to spend their summer there. Meanwhile lower down, the reindeer are starting to moult their winter coat, meaning they are looking rather scruffy. By the end of the month, we have most of our male reindeer in our hill enclosure and their appetites have definitely ramped up. It has also been great to catch up with all of our male yearlings since they have spent the last few months at our secondary site- identifying them all has been a challenge and us herders have been relying on their ear tag numbers to identify them at the moment.
5th of June: Aztec is showing off his panda eyes. One of the first places that the summer coat will pop through is on the nose and around the eyes of a reindeer. 5th of June: It’s the season where you go for an itch and come back with a mouthful of hair. Lovely Scolty with a mouthful of fur. 6th of June: Elbe after an itch along side one of our Volunteers.7th of June: Who could resist this little face. Here is Elbe chancing his arm for some extra feed! 7th of June: The last group of our cows and calves were led out to the free range; we will hopefully catch up with them again soon.10th of June: Despite there being food on the ground Cappuccino is looking for more10th of June: I enjoyed a morning heading to our secondary site to check our reindeer there. After gathering the herd there in our shed for a feed, they were moved back out onto the hill side again. Here is Butter and Quickstep after their food. 13th of June: Perks of being a reindeer herder – you can walk dogs sometimes too! Sanna, Tiree and Fraoch having a pit stop in the shade 14th of June: Fraoch and Sanna with the Northern corries behind; as you can see the Fox glove is in full swing. 15th June: Irish marching down hill looking for extra food on one of our Hill Trips24th of June: Here come the boys! Yearlings (left to right) Bolero, Morris and Oro are now in our hill enclosure after spending time at our secondary site. 25th of June: Whilst feeding the reindeer we put their food out in a long line which allows us to count the reindeer a lot easier. (Left to right) Tub, along with Choc- ice and Cappuccino raced from one end of the feed line to another to ensure they get some food.
In this latest blog I would like to share some memories from my visit in October 2025. It was very exciting as the new reindeer exhibition was open to visitors with lots of interactive things, videos, information and photo displays. It is so brilliant. The visitors will learn lots of things about reindeer and the history of the herd.
Emm is back, and we’re so thrilled! Emm, Lotti, Amy, and Jig all posing for a team photo!
On my first morning, I walked the calves around Glenmore with EK and Cameron. The calves this year (born in spring 2025) are named after types of dances so I had a lot of fun learning all their names. We walked Ballet and Polka with 2 adult reindeer.
Emm and EK walking Ballet and Polka during calf training.
We were getting them used to everyday things like people, traffic, being led and being handled. Afterwards, Cameron showed me his shed he had built for the reindeer poo bags so they don’t get wet and it is named the poo shed, and it is really good.
There were some new things in the Paddocks. The Santa’s bothy was being built by Alex and Cameron, and they were hoping it would be ready for Christmas. There was also an extended area for the reindeer in their daytime paddock area in the trees.
Santa’s Bothy under construction!
Jimmy the bull, who had been over on Silvermount in the hill enclosure with his group of girls, had finished his job with them so one morning Lotti, Ben and Cameron led him off the hill as he was going to go back to Tilly’s farm. We were also taking Gazelle off the hill to go back to the farm that morning too.
Boogie relaxing with some of our older boys.
I led Gazelle off the hill to Brenda (the truck we transport reindeer in). Ruth and I went to find Vienna one of Iskrem’s girls as they had been moved into a different part of the hill enclosure and she had become separated from them. Iskrem is a very calm bull. We found Vienna and we had to herd her up the hill, as she didn’t want to be caught, to join Iskrem and his girls. Then we moved them as a group to a different part of the hill enclosure. We were very lucky that day as we saw 6 Black Grouse lekking.
Our hill enclsoure isn’t just home to reindeer.
The day after, I went with Kate, Ruth and Daisy back to Silvermount in the hill enclosure so we could move Jimmy’s girls to where they were meant to be next. Nuii and Fab were missing so Kate went to look for them. We let a few of them out to be with the main herd in the east enclosure in the hill enclosure and I helped Daisy and Ruth take 5 reindeer across the hill enclosure from Silvermount to a different part of the hill enclosure, as they were going to go out onto the free-range soon. I led Orinoco and Suebi. Meanwhile Kate had found Nuii and Fab and brought them back to join the group.
Emm leading Orinoco and Suebi across the hill enclosure.
One day, the free-ranging reindeer were put in a part of the hill enclosure for a few hours so Amy could take Alba off the free-range, who needed to come into the enclosure for a short while.
Meanwhile Kate had gone to find 4 missing reindeer in the hill enclosure as they hadn’t turned up for breakfast or for the 2 Hill Trips and had been missing for the day. They were Pinto and her calf Quickstep and Borlotti and her calf Morris. Morris is such lovely natured and laid-back calf and is pure white meaning he is leucistic. Like some leucistic animals, Morris is deaf.
Emm and Morris relaxing on the hill.
I helped Amy put the free-range reindeer back out. We took them to the top ridge on the free range, Amy led and I was at the back. Then we went to help Kate who had found the 4 reindeer on Silvermount in the hill enclosure. Pinto had found a bag of handfeed and was eating out of the bag when Kate found them. We led Pinto and Borlotti on halters and their calves followed and I helped Amy herd at the back. We led them across the hill enclosure and took them to the shed to check them out and take their temperatures as reindeer being away from the herd might mean they are ill. Whilst out leading them we were lucky enough to see a mountain hare.
A mountain hare in winter colours.
One morning, the reindeer were slow coming down for breakfast in the hill enclosure. Some of the herd were with us and the rest were on Silvermount. As I helped Ruth call them down, Andi went up and herded them down from the top. We were then able to get them in position for the later Hill Trip.
Busby leading the way along the board walk ready for the days Hill Trip.
Unfortunately on our way back down at the end of the day Brenda broke down near the Sugar Bowl car park. The next day, she was towed away to be fixed, a sad sight!
Stay tuned for part two of Emm’s visit in October!
November has whizzed by. Even more so because I took a week off at the beginning of the month. Don’t worry though, this blog has just as many photos in as normal!
When I left at the end of October the rut was still underway for a couple of our breeding bulls. On my return the rut was well and truly over, and sleigh training had started! One reason I love this job is that every season is different with new things happening every few weeks.
Hopefully you’ll enjoy this snapshot of November. The snowy days were some of my favourites!
13th of November: Morven with her crazy curly antlers!13th of November: I’ve only just noticed Beanie and Quickstep (Pinto’s calf) have matching coloured hooves!13th of November: Sleigh training on a soggy afternoon in Glenmore. Kulfi and Jester at the back.14th of November: Kulfi and Jester in the Paddocks. Kulfi drinking from the burn that flows through their night-time (off show) enclosure.14th of November: Six-month-old Jig looking handsome! He’s Chickpea’s calf.14th of November: Beautiful Beret on a cold morning.14th of November: Salsa and her mum Sundae behind. 15th of November: My first Christmas event of the season in Buckie. The team were amazing. 17th of November: I helped out on a photoshoot trying to get the reindeer into position for two models. Kernel, Zoom and Dr Seuss were very obliging… if food was on the cards!18th of November: Reindeer on the ski road! A regular sight at this time of year. 18th of November: Sanna and Tiree keeping me warm in the lorry.18th of November: Sleigh training in the snow! Zoom pulling for the very first time alongside Mivvi. 20th of November: Snow has arrived!! Alba looking amazing. 20th of November: Florence leading the herd through the snow. 20th of November: More snowy reindeer – they’re all so stunning. This is Popsicle closest to camera and Cheer behind. 20th of November: Vanilla camouflaged for the first time since last winter!21st of November: Haka suckling from his mum Christie. 21st of November: Another white reindeer in the snow! This time six-month-old Morris.22nd of November: Patchy snow on the hill this morning after a warmer spell. This is Oro who potentially has the best tuft of all calves this year. He belongs to Emmental. 22nd of November: Sorbet and daughter Ballet sharing a pile of food. 27th of November: Cicero patiently waiting for breakfast.27th of November: Some of this year’s gorgeous calves Bolero, Waltz, Lochi, and Foxtrot’s nose!
