I should definitely go to Scotland. In broad terms, the west of Scotland (Argyle, Wester Ross) is challenging walking and you should make the effort to get fit beforehand. The eastern coast (Sutherland) tends to be flatter and more boggy, as well as more built-up. I had a great deal of fun on Mull, one of the islands, as a young man. The scenery, looking out over the sea from the hills, is spectacular. Island deer are heavier than mainland deer.
Ponies ('garrons' in the language) are a pain in the arse. By all means, if you are coming over for a week, take an estate with them: but they are severely limiting in terms of where you can go, which is effectively 1/2 a mile from where they are 'dropped off'. Argocats are a much more sensible option.
I am afraid that I don't understand Rookhawk's opinion about 'high fences'. The whole point about red deer is that they are legally
res nullius, a completely wild animal, belonging to whoever's ground they happen to be on at that time. Stags are also great wanderers: the Red Deer Commission tagged one back in the '90s and found that it had marched 70 miles across Scotland (measured as a straight line).
Stalking is hard work, especially if not fit. Bank on at least one day off due to bad weather, R&R, or whatever. Inquire before booking about the possibility of rough shooting/ fishing. Some estates have feral goats, which can be smelly fun (the liver can be eaten, barbecued - the rest leave for the game dealer). The stag season runs from 1 July - 20 October, hinds from 21 October - 15 February: the later you are for the stags, the more likely you are to be in time for the rut, when they roar and fight.
One final point: for the last eight years, I have taken stalking on a different estate each year. I have never come across so many dishonest people in booking, and I have, on two occasions, held money back because I did not get what I was promised. I recommend
Loch Maree, who were expensive but completely honest: I took Carnmore lodge, which was living like Scott of the Antarctic for a week: they use garrons and the land is fookin' (as the Scots say) steep. Avoid
Hendry.
If you want an enormous trophy, you can go to Mr. Houston on
Ardnamurchan who is said to feed his stags on potatoes. It is not, apparently,
a particularly sporting experience.
Many years ago, I met
Cyril Adams, who had done an awful lot of sporting shooting and hunting, and he told me that, in his opinion, Highland deer stalking was the best sport in the world, and how under-appreciated it was by the British, who had it on their doorstep. I think that I probably agree with him!
www.africahunting.com
