Although there are three species of snake in the UK, only one is distributed over the whole of the Scottish mainland: the Adder: Vipera berus. The Grass Snake can only be found south of the border now, and the third species, the smooth snake, is extremely rare and can only be found in the dry heaths of the south coast of England.
The adder is the only venomous snake in the UK, and can be recognised by the zig-zag pattern on its back. It is mainly a heathland and open woodland animal, and can be seen on sunny days from late spring to autumn, basking. Good places in the north-east to see adders are Deeside, especially around Braemar, and upper Donside, in dry heather moorland.