The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd

31/08/2026

We have a few of the cows and calves back in the hill enclosure now, who are currently making our lives hard by sitting round the back of the enclosure hill each morning, meaning we frequently have to walk out to retrieve them. Can't complain too much when the weather is nice though, like this day last week! Here's Pumpkin and Feta and their calves heading in past Black Loch as the sun burns through the mist.

28/08/2026

It is the last Friday of the month! Hope you all enjoy this month's photo blog.

Normality has resumed and over the last month we have welcomed our lovely visitors to our site in Glenmore and have also caught up with a few of our cows and calves. They're all looking well and have had a good summer out on the free range! 1st of August: With the ski road still...

26/08/2026

Last month it was fire all over the mountains... this month it's SPIDERS!

Though actually they are meant to be there and are not at all unwelcome (unlike the fire)! But these misty mornings pick out the cobwebs beautifully. Any spider experts out there who can tell us what species are most common here on the moorland?

25/08/2026

The rut is just around the corner... Whilst we haven't yet decided which bulls we'll breed from this year, Iskrem has made it clear that he is ready, just in case we require him!

Stripping the velvet skin from the antlers occurs once the antlers are fully grown and calcified, and the blood supply has cut off so the velvet is then just a layer of dead tissue that strips away. It looks gory but there is no feeling left in the antlers, so it's not painful at all.

24/08/2026

Ob is one of our very handsome 3 year olds!

At three years old, he's pretty much fully grown and has also grown an EPIC set of antlers. 🥳

23/08/2026

***Now filled, thank you!***

CALLING VOLUNTEERS! 📣 Due to a cancellation we have one placement available for the week commencing Monday the 28th of September.
If you are aged 18 years of age or over, you are welcome to apply. Placements last 5 to 7 days for one volunteer at a time. Sadly, we can't provide any accommodation, and as accommodation books up VERY quickly in the area this might be a stumbling block for many people who otherwise might want to help out for the week. However, you could try the lovely Glenmore Campsite, just across the road from us, if you're happy in a tent or van! ⛺️🚚
If you’re interested in applying, we recommend getting in touch with us ASAP - please email us rather than message through social media ([email protected]).
Before applying, bear in mind that work at the Reindeer Centre can be very physical. It involves carrying heavy bags of feed to the reindeer in the mountains several times a day (20-30 minute walk over rough, wet mountain ground) in all weathers. While we will try to ensure you get as much time working with the reindeer as possible, the nature of the job means you will also be asked to carry out other duties in and around the Reindeer Centre such as general cleaning and maintenance. You will also spend a lot of time assisting the Reindeer Herders with their guided tours so being able and willing to chat to our lovely visitors is essential - don't worry you don't need prior knowledge of reindeer - it's amazing how much you'll pick up!
📸 The photo is of one of our fantastic volunteers Caitlin, leading H**p and Limpopo. Caitlin kindly volunteered her time with us in August 2024.

22/08/2026

(Eek we're a day behind!...) This week’s blog is from our fabulous returning volunteer Kathy, taking us through a 'day in the life' volunteering with the herd. Hope you enjoy and thank you Kathy for another wonderful blog to share!

This May I returned to the Cairngorms as a volunteer for the second time, drawn by the potential for beautiful weather and the prospect of tiny hoof prints. Whilst there is so much I could tell you about my week, with every single day being  amazing, I think there’s one day that might stay in my...

22/08/2026

Some of our lovely free-rangers last week! 🤩

From left to right we have: Flax, Tap, Torch, Chai, Solero and Kuksa.

19/08/2026

At two years old, Coffee is one of our 'teenage' reindeer. In 2024, all our calves were named after hot drinks! ☕

17/08/2026

This wee one was born in May this year. He has spent all summer out free-ranging with his mum, Texel. They have both come into the enclosure in the last week and he is already getting bolder around people. He doesn't have a name just yet, none of our calves will be named until September this year.

Reindeer calves begin to grow their first set of antlers at just a few weeks old. They usually grow quite a simple set the first year and concentrate most of their energy on growing their bodies as much as possible - this one has done a great job! 🥳