Scotland is increasingly marketing itself as Europe's leading wildlife destination, and with an incredibly diverse range of habitats now hosting dozens of top quality projects and experiences, it's an idea that's becoming plausible.

Home to vast expanses of protected ground and two spectacular national parks, both rural and marine Scotland are awash with wildlife watching opportunities, from bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth to golden eagles on the west coast or sailing among thousands of seals and puffins in Shetland.

According to VisitScotland, the annual worth to the economy of wildlife tourism is £153m. That's a figure averaged over 2006, 2007 and 2008, and despite the economic downturn, almost two-thirds of Scotland's wildlife and nature tourism operators reported an increase in visitor numbers in 2009.

The country also supports an ambitious programme of re-introducing species that have long since disappeared from the region. In 2009, red kite chicks hatched in Aberdeenshire for the first time in almost 150 years, while in Argyll's Knapdale forest there is a project to bring back beavers, last seen in Scotland in the 16th century (although tourists are unlikely to see them).

There are countless other projects based around Scottish wildlife, but here's my pick of the best.

Dolphin and whale-watching, Scottish Islands

Two decades ago whale-watching was rare in Scotland, but with the increase in wildlife tourism paralleled by the decline of the Scottish fishing industry, many fishermen have turned to it as a career alternative. More than 40 operators now offer whale and dolphin watching in Scotland. Many of these are around the Shetland Isles, Orkney islands, the Hebrides, the Moray Firth and the Kyle of Lochalsh. Sightings of minke, humpback, fin, killer, pilot and sperm whales are all possible, as well as puffins, eagles and seabirds, otters in secluded bays and common and grey seals close up.

•Responsible Travel offers an eight-day Shetland Isles Wildlife Tour from £950pp, departing 10 July. Northern Light Charters (01631 740595) has a six-night Cetaceans & Sunsets cruising holiday in the Inner Hebrides from 28 Aug–3 Sep for £910pp. Island Cruising (01595 693162) has a one-week Shetland Nature trip from 4–11 June for £990pp.

Whales and dolphins, Mull

If you can only get to one destination to enjoy Scottish wildlife, make it Mull, just off the west coast in the Inner Hebrides. The variety of wildlife and habitats on this attractive island is mind-blowing. The Mull Wildlife Experience offers a group holiday led by wildlife experts with a full-day whale-watching cruise to see minke whales and basking sharks and a guided safari to spot otters and eagles.

If you're staying longer on Mull, Loch Frisa, near Aros Mains, is one of the best places to spot white-tailed sea eagles. The RSBP runs Mull Eagle Watch trips from April to September. Contact Craignure Visitor Information Centre (01680 812556) to book.

• A four-night trip costs from £389pp, including return ferry for a car from Oban and B&B in Dervaig, plus a wildlife tour and whale-watching trip. From 21 April-30 Sep. 0844 804 0020, seescotlanddifferently.co.uk.

Red kites, Stirlingshire

Based at a farm in rural Stirlingshire, these spectacular birds can be seen from a purpose-built hide at Argaty. Only a few decades ago they were almost extinct in Britain but in recent months 30 to 40 kites have been seen each day. At feeding time, staff on the farm give a daily talk in the hide about the kites' behaviour and how they are thriving.

From the car park, there is a 500m walk up a winding path to the hide, which has 360-degree views. There is room inside for 30 people, and also a visitor centre with a wood-burning stove, hot drinks and loos.

•Argaty Red Kites, Lerrocks Farm, nr Dunblane (01786 841373). One-day walk and hide visit: adults £12, children £6, families £30. The Thorntree Barn (01786 870710) at Arnprior, near Stirling, sleeps up to seven people and costs from £350 per week.

Seabirds and seals, North Berwick

Photograph: Simon Grosset/Alamy

Just half an hour outside Edinburgh at North Berwick, the Scottish Seabird Centre provides a fun insight into the wildlife flourishing along this attractive coastline, and is great for families.

Let the kids control webcams in the Discovery Centre to zoom in on wild seabirds and marine wildlife to display live footage of them on a big screen. At this time of year you can see puffins, while in summer the guillemots huddle together on the sea cliffs. The centre also arranges boat trips to the nearby Isle of May National Nature Reserve, located in the Firth of Forth. It's home to one of the largest seal colonies on the east coast of Britain. Although the island is inaccessible from October to March, visitors can also watch seal pups in the Scottish Seabird Centre's virtual wildlife-watching hub.

• Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, (01620 8902202), adults £7.95, children £4.50, under-4s free. To visit the Isle of May, take the Isle Of May ferry with Anstruther Pleasure Trips (01333 310103) from Anstruther in Fife: April-Sep only, adults £19, children £9.50. Stay at the recently refurbished, three-bedroom Craigend Cottage (01620 890209), from £750 per week.

Birds of prey, Trossachs

Osprey in Scotland

They call the Trossachs "the Highlands in Miniature", and this 25-mile driving route from Aberfoyle to Doune shows why, running through spectacular mountain-framed scenery from the lowland peat bogs of the Carse of Stirling to the Duke's Pass, amid breathtaking landscapes that are home to 13 species of birds of prey.

Download a map that makes the bird-spotting easy, marked with various points to stop off and see hen harriers, ospreys, golden eagles and more, as well as suggestions for places to fish, walk or stop for a tea or beer break.

• Trossachs Bird Of Prey Trail. (01877 382075) at Gartmore, near Aberfoyle, sleeps four to six from £259 per week.

Red squirrels, Perthshire

Red squirrel, Scotland

Launched in February 2009, SSRS – Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels – is a three-year partnership project to halt the decline of red squirrel populations in the north of Scotland and improve habitat so their numbers can increase.

Perthshire is a great place to see red squirrels. Sites include the stunning Cluny Gardens near Aberfeldy and historic Atholl Estate.

Perthshire is also known as "Big Tree Country". See the oldest living thing in Europe – the Fortingall Yew (estimated at up to 5,000 years old); one of the tallest trees in Britain – a mighty Douglas fir near the Hermitage, Dunkeld; and the widest conifer in Britain – a giant redwood, also at Cluny House Gardens.

• Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels ; download walks at walkhighlands.co.uk. Stay at Moulinalmond Cottage (07770 350765) near Perth on an estate full of wildlife, including red squirrels. A week's self-catering for up to four people starts at £375.

Elk and wild boar Sutherland

Wild boar at the Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Reserve in the Highlands

The Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Reserve is an ambitious and controversial project that aims to restore an area of the Highlands to its former state, before many species of wildlife, flora and fauna were driven to near extinction. The fenced reserve offers luxury accommodation plus 4x4 safaris and ranger-led walks to spot the reintroduced wild boar and elk, plus ptarmigan, grouse, kestrel, buzzard, peregrine falcon, sea eagle, golden eagle, water vole, otter, mountain hare, roe and red deer. Other activities include fishing, mountain biking and pony trekking. Accommodation is in a wilderness lodge or two luxury bothies.

• Alladale Wilderness Lodge and Reserve (01863 755338). From £80pp per night, including all meals, safari and ranger walk.

Otters, Skye

Photograph: P Tomkins/VisitScotland

Sightings of otters are common on Skye, seen swimming in the sea, or scavenging along the shoreline. One of the best places to look for them is from the Forestry Commission hide, at Kylerhea, just across the water from Glenelg on the mainland, the setting for the otter's moment of fame, Gavin Maxwell's book Ring of Bright Water.

•Forestry Commission hide, (01463 791575, forestry.gov.uk), free. Rent the Kylerhea Old Inn (innskye.co.uk) for 13 people from £550 per week.

Golden eagles, Cairngorms

On the Glenlivet Estate (part of the Crown Estate), in the Cairngorms National Park, a bespoke nesting platform has been erected to attract nesting golden eagles, which are hoped will shack up there this year. RaptorWatch – a partnership involving RSPB Scotland, Grampian Police, Scottish Natural Heritage and Cairngorms National Park Authority, is monitoring the project. Pine marten, wildcat, deer and badgers are spotted in the woodland, and historic sites to explore include old iron mines dating to the 1700s.

• Glenlivet Estate, near Tomintoul, Aberdeenshire. Stay at the Easter Corrie holiday cottages (01807 590241), which sleep up to six, at Tomnavoulin, within the Cairngorms national park, from £320 per week.

Birds, porpoises and seals Orkneys

Last May, 100 bird species were spotted in one week by the folks at Orcadian Wildlife – and this year they hope to beat the record, so twitchers should look out for grebe, longtailed duck, divers, lapwings, curlews and redshank, and the thrift and sea-squill that turn the clifftops pink and blue. June and July bring seabirds, auk colonies, terns skuas and orchids bloom and porpoises and whales pass by. Early autumn attracts migrant birds and pink-footed geese. The company offers packages that include guiding to spot them.

•Six nights at the working Gerraquoy Organic farm (01856 831 240, orcadianwildlife.co.uk) with meals and guiding, costs £995pp per week.

Reindeer, Cairngorms

Reindeer were introduced to the Cairngorms in 1952 by a Swedish reindeer herder, Mikel Utsi. He began with 29 animals, and now the herd numbers around 150, some of which roam freely on the mountains, while others live at the Reindeer Centre, close to the Glenmore Lodge outdoor activity centre. You can easily see the animals there or join daily walks to (hopefully) see the herd up on the hill.

•Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, (01479 861228; cairngormreindeer.co.uk). Adults £9. The website features Wild Farm, a stone cottage 10 miles from the estate, with a hot tub and sauna, from £144 for four people per night.

Red deer husky safari, Cairngorms

At the foot of the Cairngorm mountain range in Aviemore, the Cairngorm Sleddog Centre has 30 sled dogs – a mix of huskies and pointers – with whom visitors can practise the sport of sled-dog racing by taking a ride in a buggy pulled by the canine team. You can visit the kennels and museum, or book a three-hour safari to spot a herd of wild red deer.

•Cairngorm Sleddog Centre (07767 270256; sled-dogs.co.uk). A three-hour sled-dog safari for two costs £175pp. Accommodation in nearby B&Bs can be arranged by the centre, costing from £34.50pp per night.



Katie Wood is a travel and eco writer living in Scotland, and author of The Good Tourist