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. Commons Seals are a rather diverse bunch and vary in colour from blond to black, but in general, they are normally grey coloured with dark spots. Inverness is a perfect base to plan your dolphin-watching adventure in Scotland. Dose up on motion sickness medication before your boat trip, I felt very unwell. 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. Anstruther, Fifes coastal community, has experienced a rise in dolphin sightings around the Firth of Forth. 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. You should not miss the perfect chance to see the dolphins here One of the Free Scottish Wildlife Experience. 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. The Isle of Mull gives the opportunity to see Risso's dolphins, which is amazing as they normally don't come this far to land and prefer deeper water. Im sure you want to know just when the warmest month in Scotland actually is you may discover that a number of Scottish locals joke that our sunny summer weather lasts only around a few days, or maybe as long as a week! We have lots of resources on travel in Scotland and destinations throughout the country. Yes, they can sometimes be seen in the water off Portobello Beach, north Edinburgh. Where is the best place to see orca whales? Best Time to Visit Japan: When to Go & When to Avoid! Minke Whales can be seen around the coast of Scotland, but they mostly congregate around the small Isles (Rum, Eigg and Muck) and on the west coast between the Isles of Skye and Mull. ), were all taken by me or James while at Chanonry Point. The rugged southern Uplands form Scotlands 110-mile-long border with England. I founded Planet Hopper Girl aiming to promote traveling as a lifestyle, the ultimate way to discover yourself and find freedom. During the warmer months, a variety of different sea life can appear be on the lookout for Dolphins, Killer whales, Minke whales and maybe even catch a rare glimpse of Humpback whales! Dolphins are incredibly intelligent, delightfully playful and able to inspire happiness in anyone who sees or swims with them. Bottlenose dolphins are larger than common dolphins and mainly grey, with lighter, whiter underbellies. Comment. Neil has enjoyed a stint in city life but that flirtation soon ended and he's returned to the Highlands of Scotland for the peace, tranquility and closeness to nature that he loves., Ross Keddie | More By This Author Published: Apr 12, 2023, Ross Keddie | More By This Author Published: Apr 05, 2023, Meike Burgess | More By This Author Published: Mar 31, 2023. The sea around the Black Isle is nowadays world famous for its dolphin spotting possibilities yes, you heard right dolphins! Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatas in the family of Delphinidae) are the local dolphin species found in the Moray Firth, they are marine mammals that travel in groups called "Pods". Most of the land watching spots for dolphins are located in this area. But keep in mind that there is truly plenty to enjoy year-round in this stunning, welcoming country. Glasgow and Edinburgh both host amazing ones, and Edinburghs is one of the largest in the UK! Croatia: A Completely Honest Travel Guide, Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia: Ultimate Visitors Guide, 20 Cant-Miss Things to Do in Split, Croatia + Travel Guide, Krka National Park Croatia: Ultimate Guide, Edinburgh for festivals, buzzy nightlife, and tons of Medieval history, Glasgow makes a great summertime basecamp for experiencing a little of everything Scotland has to offer, with a location close to both the coast and the Highlands, Chase epic outdoor adventures in Isle of Skye and the Highlands, St. Andrews to play a round of golf at one of the most iconic courses in the world, Stirling offers a great mix of the Lowlands and Highlands culture, Check out The Fringe Festival, held over multiple weeks in August, Get a unique perspective of Scotlands rugged coast with a guided sea kayaking tour (fun fact: Scotland is home to 10% of Europes entire coastline!). And cooler temperatures also mercifully drive away the infamous midges and other biting insects that tend to swarm during the warmer months. If you have time to discover more of the country, dont miss these epic places to visit in Scotland. Top Tip: Go early to secure a parking spot, this is a free experience in demand. You can see dolphins in Namibias Walvis Bay pretty much all year round, Dolphin watching in Scotland takes time, patience, and an awful lot of luck and local knowhow. All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive. 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! And you can see all that just from the land in some of these spots. It is a great idea to grab a bite here by the sea. Although it is possible to see them from most headlands, many sightings are reported from Neist Point. Similar to common seals they dwell in the Hebridean Islands, the West Coast, Shetland and the Orkney Isles. Learn about what a Scottish summer is like. Be sure to listen out for the roar of the deer as it sounds remarkably otherworldly should you be in its vicinity youll hear an incredible bellowing sound dominating the hills. Built to stop any further Jacobite rebellions, it was never used after the decisive victory at Culloden. Do not take this to be fact! If you dont want to be bothered about parking or are not visiting by car, or dont want to walk far, you can take a Dolphin shuttle bus to Chanonry point. Enjoy thousands upon thousands of stars in our dark skies, and spy our nocturnal winter beasties like hedgehogs, bats, and badgers. The best place to go on a dolphin watching holiday depends as much on the other activities you want to enjoy as on the dolphins themselves. Scotland can be divided into three distinct regions: the northern Highlands, the southern Uplands, and the central Lowlands. While it often gets overshadowed by neighboring countries from a tourism standpoint, Scotland is one place you should have on your bucket list! especially if you have time to hang around. Similar to March, the month of April offers welcome dry spells as the climate becomes increasingly warmer across the country from the North to the South of Scotland. Harbour porpoise and white-beaked dolphins are found in higher densities here, especially around the Inner Hebrides. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a7b89d31be7b40aaf2080cbd04a1868b" );document.getElementById("f2220b332c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I knew they were there, I knew you could see them close, but I still expected them to be a dot in the sea! Whale Minke whales can be seen every year between May and October. Our local area is one of the best areas in Scotland for porpoise and we see them on the vast majority of summer trips. Now I need to go back *w*, Great discovery isnt it? The best time to see minke whales off the coast of the Isle of Skye is between May and October. Just in the same way that you cant clamber aboard a boat and click your fingers or whistle or whatever. A pod of Killer Whales (Orcas) submerge from the sea during one of our wilderness holidays. I find it hard to put in words sometimes how amazing it was to see dolphins quite so close up as I did in Scotland once. Due to Scotlands far northern latitude, summer days have up to 18 hours of daylight, but in the winter, that number drops to just seven or eight. Celebrate St. Andrews Day with the locals. Good luck! She cannot stay away from historical sites. For a detailed look on how best to spot Killer Whales check out this article. 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! Best bit you dont have to go on a boat (although you can do that too). 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. Killer whales, on the other hand, can be spotted around Orkney and Shetland islands during the summer. If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. It is not only very budget-friendly but purely an extraordinary experience. Puffins are sometimes described as The clowns of the sea, because they look like they have a whale of a time clowning around in the water it really has to be seen to be believed!. A pair of Dolphins stopping by the boat to say hello to Wilderness Scotland travellers. A Puffin watching the horizon on a high clifftop in the beautiful Shetland Isles. They are similar in size to a dove, but they are coloured blue-grey in appearance and have dark stripes drawn across their tummy. 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. Though the water is cold here and dolphins usually prefer warm water, they are here for the Scottish Atlantic salmon. The dolphins dont know that the lookout is gone though and you can still see them from the shores of North Kessock. You might want to arrive around low tide to give you the best chance of seeing them. Great info, thanks! However, summer is a fantastic time to go Dolphin watching along the Moray Firth as youll benefit from the lovely sunny days with hours of daylight stretching throughout the hours. 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. This trip is operated by our England team. And, of course, we have some of the worlds most incredible beaches in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides which look very tropical in the summer with beautiful green and blue-tinted waters filling the scenery. 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. What are Cloud Inversions and Why Are They So Beautiful? Orcas are unmissable, although dont expect to see much more of these giant black and white beasts other than a fin or tail. Plan a couple of days nearChanonry Pointin June to maximise your chances of seeing these awesome creatures in their natural environment. There is a legend of the shining one, an entity that walks among the stones during an early mid-summer morning, whose arrival is signalled by the call of a Cuckoo. You could try swimming with wild dolphins at your own risk, but if they had young they might not like your presence amongst them. Coronation Street actress Barbara Young dies aged 92, Nurses strike continues: Major disruption for NHS services in England, Additional flight to evacuate Britons from Sudan today, Ryanair cancels 220 flights over May 1 bank holiday due to strikes, Hardcore coronation fans already camped outside Buckingham Palace, One dead and seven injured in Cornwall nightclub knife attack. Interestingly, and unlike many other destinations, spring is one of Scotlands driest seasons. Just when is the best time to hike in Scotland? The Moray Firth is another popular cetacean-spotting location thanks to the residency of nearly 130 of the same bottlenose species. There are healthy populations of both They can be seen throughout the year, although they may be more visible in the spring and summer when the sea is calm. Hi, I am Jumana, a technologist and a road trip expert traveling the world in my spare time. If you are interested in Scottish wildlife, why not check out my articles on bears, wolves,adders, newts, pine martensand highland cows. Since the 1980s they have been protected by UK law and ever since they have been gradually rising in numbers. Sign up for the mailing list and receive this free travel itinerary. WebAberdeenshire is a vast and scenic region, featuring many pretty towns, friendly communities, places to explore and fascinating attractions to visit. Summer and winter in Scotland bring the most rainfall, while the spring and fall are surprisingly the driest seasons. Thanks, Your email address will not be published. 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. This extra fat layer means they can weigh between 300-600 kg / 660-1400 lb. Below youll find a break down of the average temps and rainfall in Scotland by month: Psst! This is where the River Spey terminates into the North Sea and is a popular feeding ground with dolphins and seals for salmon hunting. These animals, famous for travelling in large groups known as pods, tend to be the most well-sighted due to their sociable nature and likelihood of being near the shore to hunt for food. Scotland sees quite a bit of rain (and wind!) 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. Just make sure youre wrapped up warm and have the appropriate gear for walking in wintery weather low down and higher up. Add listings to your favourites by clicking the heart icon as you navigate the website. Sightings further out in the Firth of Forth are common. 1-866-821-6866 . Call toll free. //-->//>