Tour Scotland Photograph Wildcat Cairngorms

Tour Scotland photograph of a wildcat in the Cairngorms of Scotland. The Scottish wildcat is one of the most elusive and enigmatic of our carnivores. It is certainly amongst our rarest, having been persecuted in Britain since the Middle Ages and suffered a steady decrease in its range. The population probably reached its lowest level around 1914, when it was believed to be confined to the north and west of Scotland, where keepering pressure is traditionally less intense than elsewhere. A reduction in persecution following the First World War allowed the species to recolonise former parts of its range. They are now fully protected as a European Protected Species.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Tour Scotland Close Up Photograph Wildcat

Tour Scotland close up photograph of a wildcat in the Cairngorms of Scotland. The Scottish wildcat is one of the most elusive and enigmatic of our carnivores. It is certainly amongst our rarest, having been persecuted in Britain since the Middle Ages and suffered a steady decrease in its range. The population probably reached its lowest level around 1914, when it was believed to be confined to the north and west of Scotland, where keepering pressure is traditionally less intense than elsewhere. A reduction in persecution following the First World War allowed the species to recolonise former parts of its range. They are now fully protected as a European Protected Species.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Photograph Wildcat Highland Scotland

Photograph of a Scottish Wildcat in Highland Scotland. Photographic Print of Scottish Wildcat from RSPCA.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.


The Last Of The Scottish Wildcats. A documentary exploring the imminent extinction of Britain's last native cat. Far back in the history of Scotland, clans formed together under the image of the wildcat and fought wars for independence of the land. Today less than 400 Scottish wildcats remain in the wild and the extinction of Britain's last large mammal predator could come within the next decade. Last of the Scottish Wildcats is the first film to capture rare footage of these unique creatures in their wild habitat and to fully investigate the threats facing their future through interviews with the people dedicated to saving Britain's last wild feline. Whilst the Government is working out what to do about the problem an unexpected mix of film-makers, writers, sculptors and photographers, united by their interest in the species, have started working towards its conservation. "Public awareness is so essential," explains director/producer Steve Piper, "the greatest threat to the wildcat is that very few people outside of the Highlands realise they're even there, and only handfuls of them fully understand the threats to the wildcat or how to help. Fortunately, communication is exactly what creative artists spend their whole life doing." The Last Of The Scottish Wildcats [DVD].