The hills have had their second full carpetting of snow here after a wild stormy day on Wednesday with proper blizzards. If you want to come out to the hills now, full winter gear is recommended - ice-axe, crampons and winter boots. Many of the tracks are icy - so you need to take care on bikes too.
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| White hills on Thursday morning from the estate office |
However, the wildlife is ready. Our red deer have grown their thick winter coats, with hollow, duvet-like hairs
and the mountain hares have moulted to their winter coat. This white coat is perfect camouflage for conditions like we have now, but it's a disaster if we have a mild winter. When there's no snow, their white coat makes them obvious for miles around, and a hungry golden eagle can follow them very easily, before swooping down and helping themselves to a good meal. Winter is a hungry time for eagles and mountain hares can be an important part of their diet. If they can't find hares, they often survive on carrion.
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| Too obvious when there's no snow! |
Ptarmigan (Mountain grouse) and some stoats also go white in winter for camouflage.
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