best time to see dolphins in scotland

Theres also the Fairy Glen waterfall too to enjoy. Keep an eye out for eagles, seals, and puffins. See our cookie policy for more information. Watch dolphins from a respectable distance and they will be happy. Now I need to go back *w*, Great discovery isnt it? ), the overall weather just might surprise you. Business members please sign in here to access your membership benefits. Atlantic white-sided, white-beaked, common, bottlenose and Rissos dolphins, along with the most distinctive and largest variety of dolphin, orcas, can all be seen swimming in Scottish waters. However, wed avoid visiting Scotland during the month of August if you are not planning to attend the Fringe Festival as accommodation will be booked well in advance and prices sky-rocket! October, as well as September, is a time when fewer people travel to Scotland, as spring and summer are seen as the time to travel by many, but autumn should never be underestimated you will see some amazing sights that only autumn can provide! Land watching for Bottlenose dolphins is great from the seafront at the village of North Kessock, just across the water from Inverness and the dolphins are regularly seen in the fast tide right in front of the gift shop and art studio where you can also get wildlife watching advice such as tide times (very important for dolphin watching) and the sharp eyed amongst you might also spot local Seals, Otters, Red Kites and even Ospreys as well as dolphins at certain times of the year. October really is the greatest month to visit Scotland if you want to hike the landscapes during Scotlands full autumn glory. I would recommend getting there early to make sure to get a parking spot, we were so lucky to have gotten the last spot. Puffins make great swimmers so expect a multitude of them and other seabirds gracefully riding the waves beside your boat. Some of the popular Dolphin species to see in Scotland include: Bottlenose dolphins are the most popular native wild animals to see in Scotland, these are almost 5 meters in length and are grey in color. Check out one of several literary festivals that take place around the country. Spring and fall offer the opportunity for a more affordable trip with fewer crowds, but with access to many of the same experiences. Choose an area to see article indexes from other parts of Scotland. So the best time to visit for you largely depends on what you want to see and do. and more of the coast between Inverness and Aberdeen. 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! Or not? Summit Ben Nevis in the Highlands, the highest mountain in all of the UK, or explore some shorter waterfall trails. Great info, thanks! Temperatures are definitely a little colder, but not unbearable by any meansusually between 35-45F (1-7C) in the cities and lower elevation areas. The average lifespan can be as low as 17 years old, but some have been known to live for 40 years, and those in captivity have lived as long as 51 years. Look out across the Moray Firth just as the tide starts to rise, and you are highly likely to spot dolphins as they swim in-land to feed. And you can see all that just from the land in some of these spots. The sea around the Black Isle is nowadays world famous for its dolphin spotting possibilities yes, you heard right dolphins! Islands where you can see dolphins include Isle of Mull and Isle of Skye. However, summer is a fantastic time to go Dolphin watching along the Get yourself some food from one of the local establishments theres a cafe, fish and chips and a small shop too and park yourself on a bench to see if you can find any dolphins! We put together this overview to help you determine the best time to visit Scotland and what you can expect during each season. There is also a high chance that they will make an appearance during May at the end of Spring, but Summer is really the best time to sight them. Our dolphin watching holiday companies have shared their top dolphin watching advice to help you plan your trip. The Isles truly are an incredible sight to behold and there is nothing quite like witnessing the bird colony in person. Harbour porpoise and white-beaked dolphins are found in higher densities here, especially around the Inner Hebrides. The activity map is also available. Thanks, Your email address will not be published. Scotland can be divided into three distinct regions: the northern Highlands, the southern Uplands, and the central Lowlands. Pine Martins, historically were spread throughout the UK, but unfortunately due to deforestation in the 19th and 20th centuries, they faced near extinction. 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. WebBest place to see dolphins in Scotland (Dolphin watching) Chanonry point. Have you ever been to Scotland before? Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "acf2f96a382fe896d761bf31a857c670" );document.getElementById("cd1d15c3cb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi there! We used Tesco SIM cards which are cheaper than Airalo. Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Here are some dolphin spotting boat trips near Inverness to check out: Check flights: SkyscannerBook Car Rental: DiscoverCarsBook hotels: Booking.comBook Vacation Rentals: VRBO.com. My favourite travel style is On the Road and I have perfected the art of road trip planning, covering multiple scenic and undiscovered routes around Europe, UK and USA. Jump down to see our personal advice for the best time to visit Scotland. July and Augusttend to be the sunniest months in Scotland, but really even as early as spring, we can enjoy beautiful sunny weather, although it can be somewhat cooler in spring compared to summer. This means that you have to get further away from the mainland to see them as theyre more likely to be closer to the open ocean. Given the popularity of the North Coast 500, it's good there is a great area for spotting dolphins a The appearance of branching antlers sprouting from their heads is a staggering (sorry, about the pun) sight to behold! If you'd like any help, Wildlife holiday in the Isle of Mull, Scotland, Call us for the best time to go on a Dolphin watching Holiday. I didnt imagine Id be able to see them so close that I could look them in the eye! Generally, the Scottish Highlands are excellent from May through August, when the days are long and warm. National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. The shortest day of the year in Scotland is usually the 21st of December, with as little as 6-7 daylight hours depending on where you are. The cool waters surrounding Scotland are the perfect habitat for the sleek marine mammal, with bottlenose, white-beaked and common dolphins all playing near our coastlines. If youd prefer to scan the crest of an Atlantic wave patiently from a headland in Shetland or join a responsible small ship safari around the Hebrides then welcome. If you would like to get hold of a map of Inverness, you can download it from the 4umaps. Fish are easy to find here and so its a natural hunting ground for the dolphins. As winter fades and the warmer weather of spring emerges, the snow begins to melt, animals poke their heads out, and the countryside greens up and comes alive again. The warmest months of Summer in Scotland are likely to be July and August where we enjoy an average temperature of 19 C/66F each year. If you prefer to spot Minke Whales during the warmest time of the year then it is recommended to travel to Scotland during the Summer, but if you enjoy the cooler weather then spring is a great season for a Scottish holiday adventure. Thinking about your answers to these questions is going to help you start to determine when to visit Scotland. A Pine Marten scurries along a tree in the Cairngorms they are incredible climbers! 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. 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. I suggest heading into the village and parking up looking over the water. Pods often travel up this way after visiting Chanonry Point, and Kessock Bridge has the added benefit of being much more peaceful than that more famous viewing spot. However no boat tour can guarantee that you will see the dolphins, and at around 150 for a family of four, it's quite expensive if you don't get to see what you want. April tends to be a warmer month than March as the average temperature rises to approximately 10C/50F. Duchess of Buccleuch dies after short illness following operation, family says, Italy's 'land without animals' reveals something sinister behind its famously passionate relationship with food Philip Lymbery. Some destinations are far more suited than others for family dolphin watching holidays. They also dont necessarily need good weather. Keep up the Great work! All our trips support communities and preserve nature - which helps you get closer to both. While she is busy with her full time job as a computer technologist, she is an active explorer during her spare time. Head out and immerse yourself in Scotlands landscape when it is blanketed in snow and sparkly. The predominance of bottlenose dolphins is also a feature of the waters on the west coast, with over 60 members of the species living in the Sound of Barra and the Hebrides. While it often gets overshadowed by neighboring countries from a tourism standpoint, Scotland is one place you should have on your bucket list! If you fancy driving to Chanonry Point from Fort George, it will take you 45 minutes via the Kessock Bridge, Inverness. Best gifts for first time travelers perfect for gap year or first vacations. Learn more. that will keep your feet warm in the snow, Heavy-duty cold-weather gear for cold fronts, such as a coat, wool socks, scarf, beanie, and winter gloves, Packable emergency thermal blankets, just in case you run into inclement weather and get stuck somewhere while youre out and about, The city of Inverness, where the North Coast 500 begins, Enjoy some unreal wildlife in the Shetland Isles, Glasgow and Edinburgh have notably smaller crowds than during the peak months, Experience the wonder of the cherry blossom bloom in Edinburgh, The north coast Scottish isles, where you can experience dolphin- and whale-watching. Carry on up the A832 to the historic town of Cromarty and near the harbour there is EcoVentures, a superb 5 star Dolphin and wildlife watching boat trip that can whisk you out into the Cromarty Firth and beyond on their two Rigid Inflatable Craft where dolphins, seabird colonies and possibly a whale or two could be enjoyed! For a detailed look on how best to spot Killer Whales check out this article. 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. If you want to test out the Cuckoo superstitions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland then youll have until Autumn at the latest to test your theories! Add listings to your favourites by clicking the heart icon as you navigate the website. The rugged southern Uplands form Scotlands 110-mile-long border with England. WebORCA are helping to raise awareness of the forgotton whales and dolphins within the North East Atlantic. It is a great idea to grab a bite here by the sea. However, dolphins can also be spotted during autumn and spring. You could try swimming with wild dolphins at your own risk, but if they had young they might not like your presence amongst them. A pod of Killer Whales (Orcas) submerge from the sea during one of our wilderness holidays. To the east of Fort George is Spey Bay, another dolphin-watching hot spot. The images on this page, while not professional by any means (!!! Toggle navigation. Fort George is an 18th-century fortress near Ardersier and Inverness. Best time of the day to see dolphins are in the low tide time in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Just when is the best time to hike in Scotland? Chris founded this website to show off the best of Scotland to the rest of the world. Even though August is the last month of summer the average temperature stays the same as June and July so in August you can still look forward to many hours of daylight and a fantastically warm sun shining over the hills and the Glens. We use cookies on our website, by using the site your are consenting to essential cookies. The central Lowlands are home to both fertile farmland and almost all of Scotlands larger cities. The average temperature for this month tends to be a baking 17C/64F remember to bring a good amount of water during the summer to avoid dehydration while hiking the hills! A Puffin watching the horizon on a high clifftop in the beautiful Shetland Isles. Dolphins can be seen from the Scotland mainland as well as by taking boat tours both in Moray Firth and in the islands of Scotland. A young wildcat in the Highland Wildlife Park. 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. The summer months are the peak times to see them and if you want to see them close up like I did at Chanonry Point then its also worth checking the tide times for a specific time of day to see them. A mixture of black and yellow common seals enjoying a sunny day on the beach! You can walk over to theSpey Viaductfrom Spey Bay, and over to Garmouth, a really nice walk on a sunny day and a great place to also see Ospreys hunting. Latest species sightings This is a map of all cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) sightings recorded in the North East Atlantic by our ORCA Marine Mammal surveyors over the last decade. 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 Dolphins prefer calmer and sunnier days and seem the most active then, however, you can see dolphins in Scotland at all times of the year. The dolphins heading for Chanonry Point have to travel past Fort George, so its a great viewing point if you want to see these magnificent creatures in action. Hope you go see them one day. Met Gala 2023: What time does the Met Gala start in the UK and where can you watch it? Hear the lovely crunch of leaves under your feet by exploring our Autumn Highlands hiking adventure. The Black Isle sea around Moray Firth, the east coast of Scotland, has lots of bottlenose dolphins, where you can watch the dolphins swimming and playing just from the shore, 10 meters in front of you. She has been exploring states of India since she was 15 and then around the world since she moved to the west in her 20s. One can check the tide time for a given day on WillyWeather and time your visit to 1 hour afterward. 1 hour after low tide is a good reference point to aim for. 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