Scotland is a wonderful country to visit and is well set up for tourism, with a wide range of accommodation, a good transport infrastructure and lots of information points. There are also many tour companies offering everything from walking and hiking holidays to castle tours, from golf tours to ghost or even garden tours.

The stalking seasons for red deer stags and roe deer bucks coincides with summer and autumn (fall) in Scotland. Consequently, it is a good time to visit. The stalking season for red deer hinds and roe deer doe takes place over late autumn and winter. This is a far quieter time in Scotland, as the weather can be cold, wet and windy. However, when the weather is fine the scenery is magnificent and the winter welcome from the locals always warms the heart. It's definitely worth considering coming stalking in Scotland in winter if you are not after a trophy stag or buck.

With regards to the weather, May and June are the driest and sunniest months and a recommended time to visit Scotland, with normal daytime temperatures of 15-18°C. The northerly latitude also means that Scotland enjoys 4 hours more daylight than London, with the most northerly regions barely getting dark during the weeks around midsummer.

July and August are the warmest months with normal daytime temperatures of 18-22°C. This is a popular time to visit Scotland but our trips are based in genuine wilderness areas far from the crowds. Scotland's famous purple heather is at its best in late August, especially in areas such as the Cairngorms. Late summer brings generally settled weather as we pass into September and October, with normal daytime temperatures of 14-18°C. Autumnal colours begin to emerge with birch and rowan trees throwing up particularly bright colours which complement the reddish hue of the hillsides.

Of course, Scotland is known for its rain but its not as bad you may have heard! It is worth noting, however, that heavy rain and strong winds can be experienced at any time of year, so you must always be suitably dressed and equipped when you come deer stalking in Scotland. The weather is all part of the experience, though, and if you've had a wet day you can laugh about it later while sharing stories, whisky in hand, round a roaring log fire back at the lodge.

Deer Stalking Scotland works in partnership with an established company offering holiday cottages in Scotland: Click here to view cottages

Scotland's national tourism body, VisitScotland, has a useful website which allows you to book accommodation online. Here's a tip - if you search their database and then contact the accommodation provider directly, you will save the booking fee which is applied if you call the VisitScotland booking hotline!

Scotland is now well-served by flights from both UK and international airports, including several daily flights arriving from the USA. The following airlines fly direct to Scotland from the UK, Europe or North America:

A more environmentally friendly way of travelling is by train. The the main train lines to the Highlands are very scenic, which makes it a great way to start and finish your deer stalking trip, and many of the estates will be happy to collect you from the local railway station if you have also arranged accommodation through them. It is normally possible to buy train tickets on the day without making a prior reservation. However, this can be more expensive than if you book in advance. For train timetables, costs and reservations, follow these links:

All the major car hire companies are represented in Scotland and most have offices at the airports. In addition, there are a number of local car hire companies. The main Scottish car hire company is Arnold Clark, which has branches around the country including at most airports: