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RED DEER STALKING ON THE SCOTTISH HEBRIDEAN ISLAND OF RUM

Welcome to the wild and spectacular Island of Rum. Come and stalk the island's magnificent red deer in scenery unmatched anywhere, with experienced guides and using traditional highland ponies. Bookings are now being taken for the 2009 season and prospective clients are urged to book early for the deerstalking experience of a lifetime. Please refer to the terms and conditions following the general information.

The Isle of Rum, in the parish of the Small Isles, lies roughly 15 miles off the west coast of Scotland, directly to the south of the Isle of Skye and was for much of its recorded history the hunting preserve of the Lords of the Isles. Stone dykes, forming deer traps high in the hills can still be seen, dating from these wild times when the deer were hunted in the ancient 'tainchel', whereby large numbers of beaters drove the deer to the aristocratic hunters armed with bows and cold steel and backed up by great hounds. These days are long gone and the red deer on Rum are now professionally managed, as elsewhere in the Scottish highlands, using methods more humane and less wasteful in manpower; as well as less exclusive.

In 1957 the island was bought from the last private owners for a nominal sum to become a publicly owned nature reserve, managed by the Nature Conservancy Council and since then much pioneering work on tree planting and research, particularly on red deer behaviour and management has been carried out and is still ongoing. Latterly, moving with the times, the island's current trustees, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have been obliged to think more broadly about the island's future, in line with the overall move towards Land Reform in Scotland. A key objective for SNH in managing Rum is to improve the condition of the internationally important open ground habitats through targeted management of the red deer herd. SNH has appointed the RDMA to assist in its deer management plan and its operation makes a significant contribution towards the control of deer on the island. It also helps SNH meet its overall conservation management objectives for the important habitats on Rum.

This has led to the pursuit of a more diverse and economically independent community on the island and to this end the Rum Deer Management Association has been established to carry out the deer culls in a way which would increase the value of the red deer herd as a resource - namely by bringing in paying guests.

The island's red deer had long been wiped out to make way for cattle by the time the island was cleared of it's human population in the early 19th century for a sheepwalk, as was the case in much of the highlands and islands. Successive private owners, beginning with the Marquis of Salisbury, reintroduced red deer from the mainland and along with the introduction of various park stags, this has produced the deer herd on the island today. Rum's proven genetically pure red deer means that the island is acknowledged as an important red deer 'refugia', given the spread of Japanese Sika deer and their hybridisation on the mainland. As with most highland deer on open hill ground, those on Rum are considered small, though a 200lb stag seems quite big enough when being loaded on to a pony! Deer born and bred in the island's woodlands are considerably bigger than the hill deer. The judicious introduction of park blood by the island's 19th century private owners has resulted in very good heads, in comparison with many highland estates. Twelve-pointers (royals) and above are quite plentiful, making very good trophies, while a 'switch' head, that is a set of antlers with few or no branching points, so common on the mainland, is very rare indeed.

Kinloch Castle was built by Sir George Bullough in the Edwardian era as a grandiose shooting lodge, and its very short heyday was in the years preceding the First World War. The building is now run by SNH as a combination museum and hostel and accommodation is available in a range of rooms, either catered or self-catering. Kinloch Castle recently featured in the BBC's 'Restoration' programme and funding is currently being sought by SNH to safeguard the building.

As well as stalking we can offer guided fishing for hill loch brown trout, with sea trout on the coast. Guided walks, photographic stalking etc. can all be catered for.

RUM DEER MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

Prices, Terms and Conditions for stalking Red Deer on Rum,2009

All prices are for a single individual

Stalking Prices

A non-refundable deposit of £200 per person per day must be paid on booking.

Stag Stalking

Outing fee: £80 (stalking, dry-stalking, guided photography etc.)
Per stag: £350

Hind Stalking

£160 per day

Accommodation Prices

Kinloch Castle hostel: Website
Hostel - £15.00 per night. Self catering.
Oak Room - £50.00 per night. Room only.
Dinner in the Bistro £15.00 (three course + coffee)
Breakfast £7 (full cooked)
Pack lunch £5

Group discounts availble for bookings of 15 or more people. (Check with hostel to confirm vacancies and prices)
Tel: 01687 462037
Email: kinlochcastle@snh.gov.uk

Showers, drying facilities and common room available; the island has a well stocked local shop which can take orders to supply specific requests if made in good time, tel. 01687 462199 after 5pm

Bed and breakfast-type accommodation in local houses may also be available, with or without meals

Terms and Conditions

Lost or wounded animals will be charged at the full price, there will be no refunds

Clients must follow the instructions of the stalkers and ghillies at all times

Clients must demonstrate, to the stalker's satisfaction, that they can place three shots within a 100mm circle at 100 mtrs, before being permitted to shoot on the hill

Only rifles of a calibre of .243, (the legal minimum calibre for Red deer in Scotland), or above will be permitted.

Please Read: Essential Information and Guidance for Guests

Travel to Rum

To Mallaig (Ferry terminal):
By road take the A830 Road to the Isles from Fort William
By train from Glasgow Queen Street tel. Scotrail

Accommodation in Mallaig:
Mallaig Tourist Information Office tel. 01687 462170

Ferry to Rum:
M.V. Loch Nevis, Caledonian MacBrayne tel. 01687 462403 (sailings every other day). In addition to CalMac sailings, chartered boats can be arranged.

For more information about the Island of Rum visit the Community Website.

Contact

Derek Thomson
Stalker's bothy
Kinloch
Isle of Rum
Inverness-shire
PH43 4RR

Tel: 07768 249 833
Email: bookings@rumdeerstalking.com

All prices, terms and conditions are for guidance only and may be subject to change.