The very first time I saw (and subsequently fell head over heels in love with) mountain hares, was July 2016. I wrote a blog about it. There were quite a few around that day and we sat with a couple which was so thrilling to me. Over the next few years, before I relocated to the Scottish Highlands, I’d often travel up from Glasgow and visit the “hare hill”, at all times of year. Although many more hares then than now, summer could still be tricky. Brown hares hidden amongst brown heather was a challenge, and it was much more likely a hare would be spooked and run. However I had a few wonderful, memorable experiences during the summer and autumn months.
Late summer/autumn 2020 in between lockdowns was the last year I had any summer success with a couple of adults and 4 wonderful youngsters. Since then I haven’t even tried.
Fast forward to September 2026. Mountain hare numbers at this location plummeted a few years ago and haven’t shown much sign of recovery. There are always a few though. This is tough even in the winter months, but in early autumn, my expectations of finding one were very low. Fortunately on the day my friend Gemma and I visited it was fairly dull and my thermal imaging scope showed a bright blob not too far away. It still took a while to actually find the hare with my bins, it was so well camouflaged! I finally found the hare nestled in a form on a heathery ledge. We approached cautiously and even then I full expected it to run off as they do tend to be more mobile outwith the cold winter season. Amazingly the hare stayed put and showed little interest in us, in fact, she did a spot of grooming which is always a good sign, had a shake and then fell asleep!
We sat with her for a while, but I was keen to survey the rest of the hill and see how many hares might be there. We spooked one, so well hidden in the undergrowth that it was invisible until it leapt up a few metres ahead of us and darted off. The only other one was in a location where, in the winter, an adult often sits. I call that hare “Clifford” as this spot is on a steep bank and difficult to access. We sat across from this hare and I realised it was a youngster. Not a young leveret, probably one born in the spring. Even though we were a good distance away this hare looked nervous, often sitting facing into the hillside. Not wanting to spook it, we didn’t try to approach. Lovely to see a juvenile though!
My scope was playing up and would power down after about 10 seconds, so with some difficulty, I scanned the rest of the hill, but saw nothing but meadow pipits. We came down a different route and I tried to keep well away from the location of our original hare so as not to disturb her. I failed… next thing we knew the hare had run slightly down hill where she paused. Fully expecting to have lost her, we nevertheless eased ourselves down very slowly and sat motionless to see what would happen next. Amazingly, rather than run, the hare turned her back on us and began to graze, eating the tips of the heather and grass. We slowly took our cameras out and began to take some photographs.
After a few minutes the hare looked up at us. But again, rather than going further away, she decided to move towards us. I couldn’t believe it! This hasn’t happened to me in many years.
After a short distance she paused and sitting on its haunches studied us for a while…
…and then came even closer! At one point I really did think she might come right up to us but fortunately she stopped about 3 metres away.
All I can think is that this hare is one of the winter hares we’ve all sat with and so she is not frightened by people. But still, so very unexpected! The hare then did some more grazing before settling back down.
Truth-be-told I was delighted just to be there in her presence. It was so relaxing being on the hill without the stress of competing with other guides / photographers to locate hares and just to sit enjoying the sounds of the birds whilst watching a hare so beautifully chilled and active. It brought back so many memories of the first few years I visited when I could become completely lost in the hares and the joy and excitement I’d feel being with one. In recent years with numbers low and the hares mostly surrounded by grass and doing very little I’ve lost that buzz and I’ve missed it. This beautiful animal reignited the flame… for now at least!
We returned the following week and I was delighted to find her sitting in the same form. The light was fairly harsh at times, but being with her again was wonderful. She’d cycle between snoozing, grooming, yawning and shaking with great regularity, a welcome change from the winter hares who do virtually nothing. A joy.
We found one other hare who was less welcoming and just glared at us, so we left that one be and returned to our favourite. Good to know there are a few about though. Of course the first encounter when she approached us was the highlight for so many reasons, but I’d happily spend time with her regardless of where she sits. I every crossed she’ll stay here for a while at least and I can hang with her again before the winter season kicks in.
Talking of winter, I do still have a couple of winter wildlife tours available. You never know this wonderful hare may still be showing well… I really hope so! There’s a possibility I might be able to offer hare guiding in mid-late October too, please contact me to discuss.
