I was so fortunate to experience dolphin watching at Chanonry point Inverness during a road trip in Scotland. Chase the Jacobite train and live your Harry Potter Dream. More info in our. Still, there are certain times of year youll want to plan your trip around (and some youll want to avoid!) A large number of them can be seen around the coast of Scotland, but the best areas to find them are places such as the Hebridean Islands, West Coast Scotland, Shetland and the Orkney Isles. Chanonry Point is a great place to hang out in Scotland with lots of water sports activities ongoing and a stunning lighthouse. There are a few different places where you can do dolphin watching near Inverness they are seen around the Moray Firth which is the river estuary leading out to the North Sea. Young Cuckoo birds stay in Scotland until Autumn before following their elders to the African continent and settle for Winter before returning to Scotland in springtime. There are wooden benches around the stoney beach to view from. Want to know more about us? I knew they were there, I knew you could see them close, but I still expected them to be a dot in the sea! Enter your email address below and we will send you all of our latest news, events and offers straight to your inbox. All Rights Reserved. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. In fact, nearly 90% of the countrys population resides in the Lowlands. Out of all the top places listed above, the locations near Inverness are where you can see the dolphins swimming from the land. 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. Located at the east side of the mouth of the Spey, the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre is dedicated to whale and dolphin conservation. Now I need to go back *w*, Great discovery isnt it? you can keep an eye out for dolphins from the ramparts of the fort. It is not only very budget-friendly but purely an extraordinary experience. There are healthy populations of both bottlenose and common dolphins in Scotland, and they are quite easy to spot, particularly from small islands on the west coast. The Moray Firth Try the beach below the lighthouse at Chanonry Point on the north shore, or the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre on the south shore 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. If you manage to catch them at these feeding grounds you are in for a treat and many photo opportunities. 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. Keep yourself warm by sampling some of the finest Scotch (Scottish whiskey) at a distillery, Hit the slopes at Cairngorm National Park for some skiing or snowboarding, Make a stop to visit and interact with the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, a free-roaming herd of about 150 animals, When you need rainy-day activities, enjoy the museums (many of which are totally free!) Although rare, surprise spring snow storms do sneak in occasionally, so pack and dress accordingly, prepared for a bit of fresh powder. There are still plenty of activities to do and places to explore before the last of the warm weather says goodbye for winter, so fall is one of the best times to visit Scotland. Fort George is an 18th-century fortress near Ardersier and Inverness. Yes you should be able to theres the beach to walk along and its dog friendly as well as a footpath. Catch some very traditional (and very unique!) Its possible to spot dolphins all along the east coast, particularly in the Cromarty and Moray Firths. 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. 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. The joy of watching dolphins swim in their natural habitat so close to you is an unbeatable experience not to miss in Scotland. Wildcats are a very rare creature and difficult to spot, born in early spring they usually can be best spotted in the Cairngorms during winter when they work their hardest hunting to survive, but it is possible to see them in earlier months with autumn being your best bet. Islands where you can see dolphins include Isle of Mull and Isle of Skye. National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Something unique to consider when youre deciding on the best time to visit Scotland is daylight hours. You might see all sorts of wildlife as well as being well placed to see dolphins as they swim upriver. Check out one of several literary festivals that take place around the country. Chris founded this website to show off the best of Scotland to the rest of the world. Try F6-8, 1/500, ISO100 on a well lit day and alter your settings from there. This site contains affiliate links and as such any purchases or bookings made after clicking may earn me a commission. In September the air is still warm enough to feel like summer, but cool enough not to be too chillingly cold. Glasgow and Edinburgh both host amazing ones, and Edinburghs is one of the largest in the UK! 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. The central Lowlands are home to both fertile farmland and almost all of Scotlands larger cities. Youll see temperatures around the low 60s (16-18C) throughout most of fall, so its a perfect time to get outside and enjoy this countrys spectacular nature. This is a lovely spot with a wide variety of habitats for different animals. The best dolphin view point in Scotland! - North Coast 500 Winter in Scotland is the low season for tourism, but dont let that dissuade you from visiting. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "acf2f96a382fe896d761bf31a857c670" );document.getElementById("cd1d15c3cb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi there! See our cookie policy for more information. The activity map is also available. For nature lovers and those wanting to spot dolphins (which I assume is you since youre reading this post!) Interesting fact: until the 1950s people believed that they were actually man-eaters they somewhat gained mythical legendary status similar to Bigfoot or the Sasquatch of North America.. On duller days try F4 or faster if your lens will allow, 1/250 and ISO400. Dolphin watching holidays in the Azores, as scores of these beautiful and intelligent creatures swim around you, is not an experience to be quickly forgotten. 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. Beautiful blue skies on Scotlands west coast. You can also spot them in the Minch (a narrow passage of water separating the North West Highlands and the North Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides) when travelling by Ferry from Inverness to Stornoway during a Wilderness Scotland adventure journeying to the Outer Hebrides. Dolphin watching in Scotland takes time, patience, and an awful lot of luck and local knowhow. Even in the height of summer, it rarely exceeds 80F (27C) in most Scotland cities. 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. When is the Best Time to Hike in Scotland? They also dont necessarily need good weather. I cant wait to visit and (hopefully!) We used Tesco SIM cards which are cheaper than Airalo. 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. On average there are 38 days of snow in Scotland, with 26 days of settled snow on the ground. The Western Isles, Scotland The Western Isles of Scotland is another great place for Whale Watching. Thinking about your answers to these questions is going to help you start to determine when to visit Scotland. As May is at the tail end of spring, expect to see a glimpse of summer with warmer temperatures averaging 12C/55F. The best time of day to see dolphins at Chanonry Point near Inverness is when the tide is rising. They were swimming close by for over 1 hour while we were there and we had to leave to see other attractions but trust me, I wished I could just watch them all day. Mostly we are the bottlenose dolphin pods are seen most of the year round! 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. during the fall, particularly in October and November, but that also means the many amazing waterfalls are at their peak flow. Travellers enjoying a lovely summers day hiking in the mountainous Assynt. Both the capital city of Edinburgh and the largest city, Glasgow, are located here, along with several others. If you ever find yourself exploring the incredible Callanish stones during a visit to the Outer Hebrides listen closely for the sound of a Cuckoo as you just may catch a rare glimpse of the legendary shining one you never know! While it often gets overshadowed by neighboring countries from a tourism standpoint, Scotland is one place you should have on your bucket list! 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! Ardnamurchan Point, Mull, and Red Point, south of Gairloch often have white-beaked and Rissos dolphins in their waters. You might want to arrive around low tide to give you the best chance of seeing them. Despite the name, Red deer are actually coloured dark brown with a tint of reddish-orange painted onto their fur so nearly red, but not quite 100%. Grey seals can be identified by their larger size than common seals and are normally grey coloured with darker spots. In summer you can spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, Rissos dolphins, and short-beaked common dolphins. Rare NC500 Bumblebees need your help, 5 spectacular waterfalls to visit along the NC500. What are Cloud Inversions and Why Are They So Beautiful? Dose up on motion sickness medication before your boat trip, I felt very unwell. You cant just rock up along the coast and expect to see troupes of dancing dolphins skipping about offshore. Some trails are manageable in the wintertime, some are best in the summer. From there you can take an overnight car ferry north to Shetland. So, if you decided to book a trip with us remember to keep some coins in your pocket as you could be much richer after your holiday! If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. There are around 200 Bottlenose dolphins that live all year in the chilly waters of the Moray Firth and around the East Coast of Scotland and half this population are seen regularly along the Black Isle coastline, especially in the spring and summer months. //-->//>
