Who knows, maybe youll be lucky enough to spot the real-life Nessie! A mixture of black and yellow common seals enjoying a sunny day on the beach! Scotland may be fairly small, but theres no shortage of geographical diversity. Best time for dolphin watching You are never guaranteed to see the dolphins, but knowing the best places to see them will greatly increase your chances. The species found on the Moray Coast are specially adapted to the environmental conditions and are bigger than normal bottlenose dolphins (4-5 m long) and also have a thicker layer of blubber to insulate them from the cold. In Chanonry Point in Fortrose and in the North Kessock village, you will find lots of photographers and locals waiting for few hours at the beach around the tide time to capture the dolphins. If it's really bright, try 1/1000 to stop that action perfectly. April and May also bring several whiskey festivals to regions across the country. Best Time of Year to Visit Scotland | Top Guide for Visitors Not too far away, Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is a beautiful and quiet green spot to see all kinds of wildlife, including dolphins. This vast area, including the islands off the northern coast, encompasses about half of Scotlands total land mass. The dolphins dont know that the lookout is gone though and you can still see them from the shores of North Kessock. Aberdeens harbour entrance not only welcomes the vast ships that endlessly travel between the Granite City and the North Seas oil rigs, but plays hosts to bottlenose dolphins particularly in the winter months. These dolphins are hence the fattest in the world as they have extra fat to help them survive the cold. Dolphin & Whale Watching in Scottish Highlands, Scotland road Trip Itinerary for 2 weeks in Scottish Highlands. Land watching dolphins is a prime activity here. During spring its still cool, but the shivering coldness of winter fades into distant memory and we can explore the outside world without the need for coordinating a woolly hat, balaclava and glove set although, its best to carry some warm clothing as you never know when the odd cold spell could strike! WebVisit the Black Isle, just across the Moray Firth from Inverness, to experience one of the best places in Europe to shore watch dolphins. Watch dolphins from a respectable distance and they will be happy. There are plenty of sea activities here with multiple ships and yachts sailing by and there were also folks enjoying a kayak here. On duller days try F4 or faster if your lens will allow, 1/250 and ISO400. By now the leaves on the trees have turned into a lovely golden brown and Pine forests look spectacular in the distance providing an incredibly unique view. WebBest time to watch dolphins in Scotland Scotlands summer sunshine presents the best time to watch dolphins in the wild, with weather conditions during May to September This extra fat layer means they can weigh between 300-600 kg / 660-1400 lb. Around 75% of the UKs Red Squirrels can be found in Scotland. Fort George is directly across the water from Chanonry Point and itself built on another peninsula, so gives another ideal place for viewing dolphins. Fort George was the army barracks built after the Battle of Culloden (and as such this makes a great Outlander site for fans) and theres a lot to explore for those interested in a bit of military history. You might see all sorts of wildlife as well as being well placed to see dolphins as they swim upriver. Undoubtedly, the best way to see these wee creatures is to travel to the famous island of St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides which is home to Scotlands largest single colony of seabirds and an incredible estimated 270,000 birds are scattered across the island! 2 miles north of Chanonry Point is the Fairy Glen Falls walk, with two beautiful waterfalls, well worth a visit before or after seeing the dolphins. This article contains affiliate links. In terms of weather, Scotland never gets either super hot or super cold (with the exception of the Highlands, of course), so most activities are available year-round. In August, Edinburgh plays host to the Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world! Galloway Forest Park for top-notch stargazing and hopefully, the Northern Lights! A pod of Killer Whales (Orcas) submerge from the sea during one of our wilderness holidays. There is something quite magical about dolphin watching, you are dealing with an incredibly intelligent animal and the Moray Firth dolphins are bigger than normal bottlenose dolphins making their jumps and playful nature all the more impressive. Plan a couple of days nearChanonry Pointin June to maximise your chances of seeing these awesome creatures in their natural environment. Humpback whales tend to be grey or black in appearance with white markings on their underbelly and can be distinguished from other species of whales by their rather large flippers. He has travelled all over Scotland and experienced all it has to offer. If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. As mentioned before, I have had the pleasure of seeing dolphins from a boat, and it truly is a special experience if they come up close to the boat and say "hello". Best gifts for first time travelers perfect for gap year or first vacations. I actually saw whales on my boat trip to Loch Coruisk. Harbour porpoise and white-beaked dolphins are found in higher densities here, especially around the Inner Hebrides. Catch the cherry blossom bloom in Edinburgh and wildflower season across the entire country by simply walking around or driving without a destination! WebChanonry Point is a popular tourist spot outside of Inverness. Travellers enjoying a lovely summers day hiking in the mountainous Assynt. I'm Kirsty and I like to share my tips for travelling around some of my favourite places in the world - Scotland, England and a few more besides! Generally, the Scottish Highlands are excellent from May through August, when the days are long and warm. The warmer temperatures and smaller crowds make spring a great time to explore while also saving on accommodations. Great info, thanks! THE 10 BEST Scotland Dolphin & Whale Watching Tours (with Another tale involves the ancient standing stone monument at Callanish located on the Isle of Lewis know as the Standing Stones of Callanish. The joy of watching dolphins swim in their natural habitat so close to you is an unbeatable experience not to miss in Scotland. The majority of Red Deer can be found roaming around the mountainsides, hills and glens in the Highlands of Scotland and scattered throughout places such as the jaw-dropping landscapes ofAssynt, but a fair number of these majestic creatures can also be found populating the tranquil Hebridean Islands of Arran, Jura and Rum. All of these businesses are accredited with the "Dolphin Space Programme" which sounds very fancy and futuristic, but all it means is giving the dolphins more space and minimising disturbances to their lives. We put together this overview to help you determine the best time to visit Scotland and what you can expect during each season. People said we had better than normal weather. Boats arent restricted to certain times to see the dolphins as they can find them wherever they are. Winter in Scotland is the low season for tourism, but dont let that dissuade you from visiting. In this blog, we will cover the best places to see dolphins in Scotland plan your Scotland bucket list, alongside my experience of dolphin watching in Inverness Scotland and some top tips to maximize your chances of seeing them. Events are held throughout the country from May through August. The Pine Marten is an elusive creature but can be found scurrying around the north of Scotland in rich woodland areas. WebThe best time to see minke whales in Scotland is from the end of May to September. I once was invited to go out on the Moray Firth in a small catamaran, we encountered seals, a basking shark and dolphins! Just in the same way that you cant clamber aboard a boat and click your fingers or whistle or whatever. Learn more about the great Cuckoo from Wilderness Expert Jonathan Willet. I'm afraid your mobile phone won't cut it in this instance, dolphins are quite a difficult subject to capture. See our cookie policy for more information. We visited here a few years ago after seeing absolutely stunning photos of jumping dolphins unfortunately we must have visited at a bad time and saw nothing, we will plan better next time we go. Killer whales (or Orcas) have a very distinctive black and white appearance and are very large creatures in fact, they are the largest member of the Dolphin family. She is on a mission to road trip the planet and learn more about the cultures around the world. Sign up for the mailing list and receive this free travel itinerary. Chanonry Point has a lighthouse and is popular for lots of sea activities for example kayaking, sailing, etc. While she is busy with her full time job as a computer technologist, she is an active explorer during her spare time. When summer comes around its time to celebrate the longer days and the sunnier months by replacing your spring clothing with thinner layers to deal with the hotter weather although if you plan to hike the hills of Scotland always pack for different seasons and keep warmer clothes in your backpack as there is always the possibility of a change in weather especially if you find yourself climbing high peaks. Best You might like to arrive early or do what we do which is park in Rosemarkie, visit the village shops and walk along the beach to the point. Moving further along the cost to the Bay of Nigg also offers spectacular views of the dolphins as well as a sea unspoilt by the bustle of the harbour. Temperatures are definitely a little colder, but not unbearable by any meansusually between 35-45F (1-7C) in the cities and lower elevation areas. WebThen there are a number of locations where dolphins are fairly regularly spotted, these are at the Inverness Kessock Bridge area and Fort George near Inverness, and in Moray at Burghead, Hopeman and Spey Bay. Learn more. The end of September is when autumn starts in Scotland, but really thanks to the glorious weather it stills feel like summer, although this month is when it starts to cool in temperature with an average temperature of 14C/58F. Explore the many stunning lochs. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "acf2f96a382fe896d761bf31a857c670" );document.getElementById("cd1d15c3cb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi there! com. You can see dolphins out during the tidal times as the salmon fish gets caught in tide and dolphins pods come to catch them. Similar to Killer whales Summer is an amazing time to look for Minke Whales, although, Spring is can also be a good time to see them but chances of a sighting lessen slightly. It is perfect for families to take kids and pets here and they can play at the beach, watch the sea and ships while waiting for the dolphins. The Isles truly are an incredible sight to behold and there is nothing quite like witnessing the bird colony in person. This annual holiday honors the Patron Saint of Scotland with mega celebrations of all things Scottish. Check the map out for some of my favourite spots to see dolphins around the Inverness area: The dolphins are seen year round on the coast of Scotland near Inverness but there are certain times of the year where they are easier to spot and more frequently seen. Autumn is also a great opportunity to witness a variety of wildlife that you can see in the summer, but also there is a higher chance of encountering majestic Red Deer in the hills and if you are really lucky maybe you will spot the rare wildcat running around the Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. For a detailed look on how best to spot Killer Whales check out this article, Wilderness Walking The Knoydart Peninsula, Wilderness Walking England Coast to Coast, Wilderness Walking Arran: Scotland in Miniature, Wilderness Walking National Parks of the UK, Wilderness Walking The Coast of Cornwall, Wilderness Walking Northumberland and TheLakeDistrict, Wilderness Walking High Points of the Lake District, Wilderness Walking High Points of the OuterHebrides, Wilderness Walking Outer Hebrides: Uists, Barra & Mingulay, Wilderness Walking Glencoe and the Highlands, Wilderness Walking Cairngorms National Park & Royal Deeside, Wilderness Walking Autumn in Perthshire, Wilderness Walking Outer Hebrides and Skye, Road Cycling TheNorthCoast500: Highlights, Wildlife Adventures Autumn Wildlife Islay, Wildlife Adventures The Scottish Highlands, Wildlife Adventures Mull, Staffa & Iona, Wildlife Adventures A Rewilding Journey in the Cairngorms, Wildlife Adventures Outer Hebrides & St Kilda, Photography Skye and the West Highlands, Sailing and Walking Knoydart, Skye and TheSmallIsles, Self Catering Family Adventure Outer Hebrides, The Great Family Adventure Treasure Highlands, Self Guided + Cycling Skye and the Inner Hebrides, Self Guided+ Cycling The Outer Hebrides, Self Drive Collection Highland Perthshire, Self Drive Collection Ben Nevis & The West, Self Drive Winter Highland Explorations, Self-Drive Winter Highland CosyCairngorms, Low Carbon Adventure Scottish Highlands, Road Cycling TheNorthCoast500: Classic, Guided In The Footsteps of RabbieBurns, Guided Scottish Highlands Multi-Activity Adventure, Multi-Location;Outer Hebrides and St Kilda, Learn more about the great Cuckoo from Wilderness Expert Jonathan Willet, Top 8 Reasons to travel to Scotland in Spring, 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Scotland in April, Top 5 Reasons to Visit Scotland in Autumn. Summer is also a period where our multitude of brightly coloured flowers flourish in the warmth. Indeed, Scotland is more seasonal than many other European destinations, so it pays to consider the best time to visit before your trip. Given the popularity of the North Coast 500, it's good there is a great area for spotting dolphins a Dolphins in Scotland, where to see Moray Firth Dolphins! Required fields are marked *. It is something that has been on my bucket list forever! December is usually the mildest month, with average temperatures of around 4C/39F. Clicking on the link below will redirect you to the Wilderness England website.
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