Meet our Head Ranger, Ollie Mackay

If you’ve visited us in the last few months, you may recognise our new Head Ranger, Ollie Mackay, who took over the role in June. In 2019 Ollie was on student placement here from Harper Adams University in Shropshire where he was completing a countryside and environmental management degree.

Ollie grew up in a small village outside Wakefield but already feels quite settled in the Highlands – “It’s not too different from home – just a bit more mountainous!”. He reports that the quirks of the Scottish language and Rothiemurchus place names have been the only real challenge so far. He’s had to swap his Yorkshire “taties” for Scottish “tatties” – and names like Achnahatnich and Achnagoichan have taken a bit of practise to perfect!

But he’s already had plenty of pronunciation practise on the Land Rover tours – his favourite part of the ranger role. With so many first-time visitors to Rothiemurchus this summer, Ollie enjoyed showing them how the different parts of the estate fit together and work in harmony.

Very much part of the Rothiemurchus family now, Ollie competed in the Loch Ness Beast Race in August alongside keen runners Shona and Janet from the Farm Shop. They ran the 10km obstacle course race in aid of Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland. Well done Team Rothie!