Wildlife Tourism Business Advice Service

About the Advisors

Here's information about some of the advisors available to come and speak to you. You can see the broad range of expertise and practical experience that is on offer.

Peter Cairns: Northshots
Peter Cairns is a professional wildlife and nature photographer. His wildlife and nature photographs are well-known in Scotland and beyond. Based in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, he runs Northshots, where he not only sell photographs but also runs photography holidays. Peter understands the nature and landscape photography market well, both amateurs and professionals.

Adrian Davis, Wildoutdoors
Adrian Davis (GIBiol, MSC, MIEEM) leads Wildoutdoors and with over 20 years experience has excellent knowledge of Scotland’s wildlife and habitats. He studied animal behaviour and has specialist knowledge of mammals, such as red deer and the Scottish wildcat (he authored the recent Scottish Wildcat Survey). Adrian can provide advice on guiding, interpretation and leadership on all aspects of Scotland’s habitats, from birds to botany.

Sally Dowden: Speyside Wildlife
Sally has been running Speyside Wildlife, a wildlife tour operating company based near Aviemore, for nearly 20 years. The wildlife tourism products that her company delivers include day and evening activities with personal guides, through to fully-inclusive holidays. She has extensive knowledge of the practicalities of tour operating, both in the UK and abroad, as well as an indepth knowledge of the wildlife tourism market.

Richard Fairbairns: Sea Life Surveys
Based on the Isle of Mull, Richard is the founder of the West Coast’s first whale-watching company, Sea Life Surveys and has over 25 years of commercial marine wildlife watching. As an experienced skipper and guide, Richard understands the practicalities of running a marine wildlife watching business.

Tony Hill: Seafari Adventures (Oban) and Quinquari Marine North

Seafari Adventures (Oban) was the first company in Scotland to use Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (RIBs) specifically for wildlife watching. Seafari (Oban) currently operates three open RIBs and one cabin RIB from its base at Easdale. Quinquari Marine North are commercial RIB Outfitters for Humber RIBs who apart from supplying individually designed specialist wildlife watching RIBs provide full business information from cash flows to boat operating procedures. Marine wildlife business advice is available and can include aspects from marketing and advertising to tour design. QMN has offered business advice to a number of Scottish RIB operators.