The Wildcat Centre

The Wildcat Centre is a volunteer-run community information point on Main Street in Newtonmore. It’s the place to pick up the Wildcat Experience pack and get advice about local walks and activities. Think of it as a small base for exploring the village, rather than an indoor wildlife exhibit. Opening times change with the seasons, so check before you go.

The Wildcat Experience is a self-guided treasure hunt through Newtonmore. Since 2010, the village hunt has featured 132 individually painted, named wildcat models, tucked into gardens, roofs and trees. The pack includes a map and pen for marking what you find. Allow a few hours; visitors often take several visits or days to track down more of them. This is a slow-looking game around the village, not a chance to see live wildcats.

The 10 km signposted Wildcat Trail is a different outing: a loop around Newtonmore that starts by the centre. It crosses open moorland and native woodland, and follows two rivers with waterfalls and a gorge; some sections are short and steep. Choose the hunt for a family wander through the village, or the trail for a longer countryside walk.