Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
@cairngormreindeer.bsky.social
The UK's only free-ranging reindeer herd in their natural habitat, located in the Cairngorm Mountains.
99, along with our other three pure white (leucistic) reindeer, spend most of the year sticking out like sore thumbs. In the recent snow however, he's been perfectly camouflaged! ❄🤩
November 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
99, along with our other three pure white (leucistic) reindeer, spend most of the year sticking out like sore thumbs. In the recent snow however, he's been perfectly camouflaged! ❄🤩
This week's blog comes from the wonderful Kathy, who volunteered with us for a week back in September. It's a really lovely read so grab a cuppa and enjoy! Thanks for writing it, Kathy, we’re looking forward to seeing you back with the reindeer soon! 🤩
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/21/v...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/21/v...
Volunteer Blog: Kathy’s Week in September 2025 - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
September 2025 was a month of ‘firsts’ for me…my first solo road trip, my first holiday in Scotland and my first time meeting a reindeer… It was also my first time as a volunteer reindeer herder and i...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
This week's blog comes from the wonderful Kathy, who volunteered with us for a week back in September. It's a really lovely read so grab a cuppa and enjoy! Thanks for writing it, Kathy, we’re looking forward to seeing you back with the reindeer soon! 🤩
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/21/v...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/21/v...
Winter has arrived in the Cairngorms! 🤩
Here is Sundae enjoying a snowy morning on the hill. ❄
Here is Sundae enjoying a snowy morning on the hill. ❄
November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Winter has arrived in the Cairngorms! 🤩
Here is Sundae enjoying a snowy morning on the hill. ❄
Here is Sundae enjoying a snowy morning on the hill. ❄
BLOG DAY! 🥳 This week's blog is all about a three-year-old female reindeer called Glacée. In the past she's not stood out much in the herd, but after having her first calf in the spring she's become much more dominant! Take a read here...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/14/g...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/14/g...
Glacée - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
It's nice to do a blog about an individual reindeer every now and again. Naturally it often ends up being an older reindeer, or someone with bags of in-your-face character. However this week's blog is...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 2:05 PM
BLOG DAY! 🥳 This week's blog is all about a three-year-old female reindeer called Glacée. In the past she's not stood out much in the herd, but after having her first calf in the spring she's become much more dominant! Take a read here...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/14/g...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/14/g...
Dante and her 6 mth old daughter are looking fantastic! 🤩 Dante is now 8 yrs old and has been a very successful breeding female over the years with 3 other daughters to her name - Mangetout, Glacée and Amazon! Her youngest is proving to be quite shy in character but is slowly growing in confidence.
November 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Dante and her 6 mth old daughter are looking fantastic! 🤩 Dante is now 8 yrs old and has been a very successful breeding female over the years with 3 other daughters to her name - Mangetout, Glacée and Amazon! Her youngest is proving to be quite shy in character but is slowly growing in confidence.
A (wild) red deer hind and calf passing through the hill enclosure a few weeks back, to the mild interest of some of the reindeer. Red deer are much more agile than reindeer and can jump the fences of the enclosure, but we only see them inside it a couple of times a year probably.
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A (wild) red deer hind and calf passing through the hill enclosure a few weeks back, to the mild interest of some of the reindeer. Red deer are much more agile than reindeer and can jump the fences of the enclosure, but we only see them inside it a couple of times a year probably.
This weeks blog includes lots of beautiful artwork on postage stamps from all over the arctic! 🖌
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/07/r...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/07/r...
Reindeer Artwork on Postage Stamps. - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Recently, when researching something else, I came across series of beautiful, Mongolian, postage stamps highlighting the Tsaatan people's lifestyle throughout different seasons. After a quick Google I...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This weeks blog includes lots of beautiful artwork on postage stamps from all over the arctic! 🖌
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/07/r...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/11/07/r...
Zoom and Kernel waiting for their breakfast! 🤩
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Zoom and Kernel waiting for their breakfast! 🤩
Sleigh training has started here at the reindeer centre. 🔔
Mr. Whippy at the front and Magnum at the back are both learning the ropes alongside experienced boys Hemp and Aztec. 🤩
Mr. Whippy at the front and Magnum at the back are both learning the ropes alongside experienced boys Hemp and Aztec. 🤩
November 6, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Sleigh training has started here at the reindeer centre. 🔔
Mr. Whippy at the front and Magnum at the back are both learning the ropes alongside experienced boys Hemp and Aztec. 🤩
Mr. Whippy at the front and Magnum at the back are both learning the ropes alongside experienced boys Hemp and Aztec. 🤩
Orinoco is currently out free-ranging so it was lovely to catch up with her today! 🤩
She friendly and inquisitive without being pushy, a really lovely lass.
(Behind Orinoco is Brew to the left and Kuksa to the right)
She friendly and inquisitive without being pushy, a really lovely lass.
(Behind Orinoco is Brew to the left and Kuksa to the right)
November 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Orinoco is currently out free-ranging so it was lovely to catch up with her today! 🤩
She friendly and inquisitive without being pushy, a really lovely lass.
(Behind Orinoco is Brew to the left and Kuksa to the right)
She friendly and inquisitive without being pushy, a really lovely lass.
(Behind Orinoco is Brew to the left and Kuksa to the right)
Friday is blog day! 🥳 As it's the last Friday of October, this one is a photo blog jam-packed full of photos taken over the last month featuring lots of wonderful members of the herd. Can you spot your favourite reindeer?! www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/31/p...
Photo Blog: October 2025 - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
Where has October gone?! It was a pretty hectic month here with the rut in full swing, halter training the calves, free ranging reindeer keeping us busy, and three weeks of October holidays. But it's ...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Friday is blog day! 🥳 As it's the last Friday of October, this one is a photo blog jam-packed full of photos taken over the last month featuring lots of wonderful members of the herd. Can you spot your favourite reindeer?! www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/31/p...
Whilst most of the males in our hill enclosure were waiting patiently for their breakfast in the cloud, the cows and calves were happily lying above the cloud enjoying the morning sun! Fiona went up to find them and herded them down, meanwhile Andi and Ruth waited with the boys in the cloud! ☁☀️
October 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Whilst most of the males in our hill enclosure were waiting patiently for their breakfast in the cloud, the cows and calves were happily lying above the cloud enjoying the morning sun! Fiona went up to find them and herded them down, meanwhile Andi and Ruth waited with the boys in the cloud! ☁☀️
Adzuki and the boys snoozing on a recent misty morning. 🤩
(Behind Adzuki we have got Jester, Zoom Cowboy, Busby, Kernel and 99)
(Behind Adzuki we have got Jester, Zoom Cowboy, Busby, Kernel and 99)
October 28, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Adzuki and the boys snoozing on a recent misty morning. 🤩
(Behind Adzuki we have got Jester, Zoom Cowboy, Busby, Kernel and 99)
(Behind Adzuki we have got Jester, Zoom Cowboy, Busby, Kernel and 99)
Happy Sunday from Sundae! 😍
Sundae features quite a lot on our social media - she's just so photogenic! She's had a brilliant year and became a mum back in the spring. She's currently in our hill enclosure with her 5-month-old daughter, her three sisters, and her 14-year-old mum, Spy!
Sundae features quite a lot on our social media - she's just so photogenic! She's had a brilliant year and became a mum back in the spring. She's currently in our hill enclosure with her 5-month-old daughter, her three sisters, and her 14-year-old mum, Spy!
October 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Happy Sunday from Sundae! 😍
Sundae features quite a lot on our social media - she's just so photogenic! She's had a brilliant year and became a mum back in the spring. She's currently in our hill enclosure with her 5-month-old daughter, her three sisters, and her 14-year-old mum, Spy!
Sundae features quite a lot on our social media - she's just so photogenic! She's had a brilliant year and became a mum back in the spring. She's currently in our hill enclosure with her 5-month-old daughter, her three sisters, and her 14-year-old mum, Spy!
Whilst we share this week's blog, the herders are frantically trying to get the October newsletter in the post to all our adopters! This blog features articles from a newsletter from 20 yrs ago - some things have changed greatly, other things not so much! www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
Stories from the archives: October 2005 Newsletter - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
As I sit down to write this blog the current newsletter, October 2025, has just arrived at the Reindeer Centre from the printers and will be packed up and sent out over the next few days! The newslett...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
October 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Whilst we share this week's blog, the herders are frantically trying to get the October newsletter in the post to all our adopters! This blog features articles from a newsletter from 20 yrs ago - some things have changed greatly, other things not so much! www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/24/s...
Beret and her lovely male calf! 🤩
Beret is spending the autumn in the hill enclosure after free ranging all summer with her son. She's a fantastic mum, has a friendly character, and is thoroughly enjoying hand feeding from our visitors every day!
Beret is spending the autumn in the hill enclosure after free ranging all summer with her son. She's a fantastic mum, has a friendly character, and is thoroughly enjoying hand feeding from our visitors every day!
October 21, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Beret and her lovely male calf! 🤩
Beret is spending the autumn in the hill enclosure after free ranging all summer with her son. She's a fantastic mum, has a friendly character, and is thoroughly enjoying hand feeding from our visitors every day!
Beret is spending the autumn in the hill enclosure after free ranging all summer with her son. She's a fantastic mum, has a friendly character, and is thoroughly enjoying hand feeding from our visitors every day!
Nuii, Fab and Suebi have NEWS!
The October newsletter is away to the printers now, so if any of you adopters have changed addresses, or would like your newsletter posted directly to you rather than to the person who purchased your adoption for you - NOW would be a mighty fine time to tell us!
The October newsletter is away to the printers now, so if any of you adopters have changed addresses, or would like your newsletter posted directly to you rather than to the person who purchased your adoption for you - NOW would be a mighty fine time to tell us!
October 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Nuii, Fab and Suebi have NEWS!
The October newsletter is away to the printers now, so if any of you adopters have changed addresses, or would like your newsletter posted directly to you rather than to the person who purchased your adoption for you - NOW would be a mighty fine time to tell us!
The October newsletter is away to the printers now, so if any of you adopters have changed addresses, or would like your newsletter posted directly to you rather than to the person who purchased your adoption for you - NOW would be a mighty fine time to tell us!
This week's blog is from our fantastic volunteer Emm. Regular blog readers will have read Emm's wonderful blogs before. They're always packed full of information and funny stories! This one is from Emm's visit in February 2025.
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/17/v...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/17/v...
Volunteer Blog: Emm’s visit in February 2025 - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
It was very exciting as the new Reindeer Centre building and Paddocks were up and running. It was still ‘work in progress' with still lots to do. The Exhibition was not ready for the visitors yet but ...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
This week's blog is from our fantastic volunteer Emm. Regular blog readers will have read Emm's wonderful blogs before. They're always packed full of information and funny stories! This one is from Emm's visit in February 2025.
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/17/v...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/17/v...
"Well hello, pretty lady!"
The bulls are in full rutting mode just now - here's Butter strutting his stuff. Not sure Winnie is impressed though!
The bulls are in full rutting mode just now - here's Butter strutting his stuff. Not sure Winnie is impressed though!
October 14, 2025 at 1:45 PM
"Well hello, pretty lady!"
The bulls are in full rutting mode just now - here's Butter strutting his stuff. Not sure Winnie is impressed though!
The bulls are in full rutting mode just now - here's Butter strutting his stuff. Not sure Winnie is impressed though!
NEW BLOG! 🥳 In April Kate joined the team as a full-time reindeer herder after many years of doing stints of seasonal work with the herd - hooray! Read all about her journey to full-time herding in this week's lovely blog! 😍
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/10/k...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/10/k...
Kate’s journey to full time herding - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
I’ve worked with the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd as cover staff since 2019, coming and going, never staying more than a couple of months. This year I finally joined the team as permanent staff, so I wante...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 8:50 AM
NEW BLOG! 🥳 In April Kate joined the team as a full-time reindeer herder after many years of doing stints of seasonal work with the herd - hooray! Read all about her journey to full-time herding in this week's lovely blog! 😍
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/10/k...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/10/k...
A very sleepy Dr Seuss! It's hard work being this fantastic! 😂 Dr Seuss has been back in the hill enclosure here on Cairngorm for the last couple of weeks. He's been on top form as ever, devouring hand feed, posing in photos with visitors, and generally lazing around!
October 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A very sleepy Dr Seuss! It's hard work being this fantastic! 😂 Dr Seuss has been back in the hill enclosure here on Cairngorm for the last couple of weeks. He's been on top form as ever, devouring hand feed, posing in photos with visitors, and generally lazing around!
Mangetout and Holy Moley have both spent all summer out free-ranging in the hills. They both had a year off calving last year so we have brought them into the enclosure for the rut this year. 🤩
Holy Moley only ever grows one antler, whereas Mangetout grows an enourmous set. Aren't they phenomenal?
Holy Moley only ever grows one antler, whereas Mangetout grows an enourmous set. Aren't they phenomenal?
October 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Mangetout and Holy Moley have both spent all summer out free-ranging in the hills. They both had a year off calving last year so we have brought them into the enclosure for the rut this year. 🤩
Holy Moley only ever grows one antler, whereas Mangetout grows an enourmous set. Aren't they phenomenal?
Holy Moley only ever grows one antler, whereas Mangetout grows an enourmous set. Aren't they phenomenal?
This week's blog is written by Daisy! Daisy volunteered with us for a week in May and we were delighted to welcome her back as an official reindeer herder in August. Her blog is a fantastic read, all about her first month working as a herder... enjoy! 🤩
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/03/m...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/03/m...
My first month as a reindeer herder - The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
It was 2022 I think, when I found a book in a local Waterstone’s in Kent entitled ‘An Arctic Life’ by Tilly Smith. At that point I had a road trip with my dog planned for the Cairngorms and fancied a ...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This week's blog is written by Daisy! Daisy volunteered with us for a week in May and we were delighted to welcome her back as an official reindeer herder in August. Her blog is a fantastic read, all about her first month working as a herder... enjoy! 🤩
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/03/m...
www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk/2025/10/03/m...
Problems on the hill road after Storm Amy! Now we are into the winter season, full waterproofs (inc over-trousers) are often mandatory to take part in a Hill Trip, for safety reasons. Hypothermia is a very real issue on a cold wet day in the mountains - and one that we'd really rather avoid! 🥶
October 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Problems on the hill road after Storm Amy! Now we are into the winter season, full waterproofs (inc over-trousers) are often mandatory to take part in a Hill Trip, for safety reasons. Hypothermia is a very real issue on a cold wet day in the mountains - and one that we'd really rather avoid! 🥶
This calf has been in the enclosure for the last wee while, he's getting really tame and inquisitive! 🤩
He has been named, but, as always, we don't name any of our calves online until the October newsletter has announced them to our adopters. 🤫
He has been named, but, as always, we don't name any of our calves online until the October newsletter has announced them to our adopters. 🤫
October 1, 2025 at 5:01 PM
This calf has been in the enclosure for the last wee while, he's getting really tame and inquisitive! 🤩
He has been named, but, as always, we don't name any of our calves online until the October newsletter has announced them to our adopters. 🤫
He has been named, but, as always, we don't name any of our calves online until the October newsletter has announced them to our adopters. 🤫