Ardtornish is home to a large population of Red Deer. Controlling their numbers is at the forefront of our sustainability efforts – reducing numbers in order to create a healthy herd in balance with its habitat.

Fiadhach translates from Scots Gaelic as both ‘deer hunting’ and ‘wildness’ – and deer hunting is to us both a symbol of wildness and necessary for the recovery of wildness.

Willie McKinnon joined our team in 2024 as Deer Manager, and we are pleased to be able to offer our guests the opportunity for days out on the hills for stalking. Under Willie’s expert guidance and with the aid of modern technology, guests can learn traditional skills in Stag stalking that go back hundreds of years.

Stalking is available during September and October . In these early autumn months, Stags are in their prime ahead of the breeding season and are at their most vocal and active, making it an exciting time to be up in the hills. The Red Deer autumn rut is a spectacle in itself.

To find out more about stag stalking, please contact willie@ardtornish.co.uk

We will continue to reduce deer numbers until the habitats and other wildlife are shown to be recovering.