Travellers enjoying a lovely summers day hiking in the mountainous Assynt. You might see all sorts of wildlife as well as being well placed to see dolphins as they swim upriver. This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Chanonry Point is a great place to hang out in Scotland with lots of water sports activities ongoing and a stunning lighthouse. Although rare, surprise spring snow storms do sneak in occasionally, so pack and dress accordingly, prepared for a bit of fresh powder. When is the Best Time to Hike in Scotland? Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "acf2f96a382fe896d761bf31a857c670" );document.getElementById("cd1d15c3cb").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Hi there! For a detailed look on how best to spot Killer Whales check out this article. 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. In the event of a zombie apocalypse, Fort George would be ideal, keep that in mind just in case. However, dolphins can also be spotted during autumn and spring. Explore the countrys many castles and ruins, Visit the botanical gardens in either Glasgow or Edinburgh to experience the gorgeous spring bloom, Try out (or watch!) 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. 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. Thinking about your answers to these questions is going to help you start to determine when to visit Scotland. Winter is still a good time for some low level walking in the Highlands. This area is primarily rural and agricultural, defined by picture-perfect gently rolling green hills. 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. The village of North Kessock lies just north of Inverness, over the Kessock bridge. Fort George is directly across the water from Chanonry Point and itself built on another peninsula, so gives another ideal place for viewing dolphins. 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! Summit Ben Nevis in the Highlands, the highest mountain in all of the UK, or explore some shorter waterfall trails. You can see Chris's personal photography portfolio on flickr.com/colourjam. 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! Dolphin & Whale Watching in Scottish Highlands, Scotland road Trip Itinerary for 2 weeks in Scottish Highlands. Thanks, Your email address will not be published. Rosemarkie is also a good place to stay if you want to be close by to dolphin spotting, perhaps if youre a photographer wanting to visit often. They came right up to the side of the boat, I looked one right in the eye, it was looking me up and down, definitely a clever and inquisitive animal, a cut above anything else swimming in the sea. 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. Psst! Daylight hours are short in Scotland during winter, with just 7-8 hours of daily sunlight. This is where the River Spey terminates into the North Sea and is a popular feeding ground with dolphins and seals for salmon hunting. If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. Summer may be the best time to visit Scotland if youre after the warmest months or want to experience one of the many outdoor festivals like The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. Hike to some waterfalls and enjoy the fall foliage. Ive only passed by Inverness once and that was on the way to Skye, so I had no idea you could see dolphins here! From there you can take an overnight car ferry north to Shetland. Two Wandering Soles Copyright 2023. Dolphin watching in Scotland - Responsible Travel Really, spring and summer are a good to time to go dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth. 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! Join us on the mission of hopping the planet! The Western Isles, Scotland The Western Isles of Scotland is another great place for Whale Watching. October really is the greatest month to visit Scotland if you want to hike the landscapes during Scotlands full autumn glory. Both Dolphins can be found around the world - from the warm waters of the Ionian Sea off Greece to the chillier climes of the Azores and Scotland. Questions about Scotland? We were there last 2 weeks of Aug, first two weeks of Sept this year. Anstruther, Fifes coastal community, has experienced a rise in dolphin sightings around the Firth of Forth. The best time to see minke whales off the coast of the Isle of Skye is between May and October. Built to stop any further Jacobite rebellions, it was never used after the decisive victory at Culloden. How to see dolphins near Inverness in Scotland: plus when the The most exciting sight is to see the dolphins throw the fish in the water. Land watching dolphins is a prime activity here. Imagine seeing all of them in one day! On average there are 38 days of snow in Scotland, with 26 days of settled snow on the ground. 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". I didnt realize dolphins were so prominent in Scotland. Free to visit, the centre is based in an 18th century salmon fishing station, and is a haven for wildlife. Their impressive size enables them to swim through the sea in a similar way to a submarine in essence, they are an organic submarine, although they are not fitted with the traditional submarine periscopes weve all seen in classic movies of yesteryear! This could possibly be because they migrate from Iceland and Norway in the summer and set sail to the coasts of North-West Africa in the winter and would have to pass Scotland to reach their destination. 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. Things to Do in Aberdeenshire Itinerary | VisitScotland The North sea area of Scotland is filled with Salmon. Wildcats resemble the domesticated household cat in appearance but tend to be fearful of humans and they will keep their distance. How did I have no idea you can see dolphins in Scotland??? Call toll free. There are a few places in Lerwick, on Shetland, where you can take a boat out and look for dolphins, although these are usually more inclined towards bird watching. Check out this video below: Read more about what to wear for summer hiking in Scotland. Spring and fall offer the opportunity for a more affordable trip with fewer crowds, but with access to many of the same experiences. Oh my I had no idea we could see dolphins in Scotland! Below youll find a break down of the average temps and rainfall in Scotland by month: Psst! Indeed, Scotland is more seasonal than many other European destinations, so it pays to consider the best time to visit before your trip. What time of year is best to see whales in Scotland? I cant wait to visit and (hopefully!) 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. in the summer and often doesnt set until 11:00 p.m. Keep in mind these long, warmer days also coincide with one of the countrys wettest seasons it may be warm and sunny, but also pouring rain! Fantastic morning out with North 58 along the Moray Coast, lucky enough to see Dolphins and Seals along with some gan 2022 7. Both the capital city of Edinburgh and the largest city, Glasgow, are located here, along with several others. Bring your binoculars and tripods during your trip. 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. in the major cities without any crowds, Layers, particularly wool base layers, to help regulate your temperature, Warm, waterproof boots (the taller the better!) 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. During Autumn the Scottish climate begins to cool, the days shorten, and the leaves turn into a lovely golden brown colour. One of the industry leaders in small guided tours that offer a great tour of the NC500, Buzzing? There are healthy populations of both For nature lovers and those wanting to spot dolphins (which I assume is you since youre reading this post!) Even in the height of summer, it rarely exceeds 80F (27C) in most Scotland cities. Spring is somewhat similar to fall in terms of weather and crowds, making it what some consider the best time to visit Scotland. Not too far away, Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is a beautiful and quiet green spot to see all kinds of wildlife, including dolphins. Ardnamurchan Point, Mull, and Red Point, south of Gairloch often have white-beaked and Rissos dolphins in their waters. 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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. 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. Some destinations are far more suited than others for family dolphin watching holidays. Pine Martins, historically were spread throughout the UK, but unfortunately due to deforestation in the 19th and 20th centuries, they faced near extinction. 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! Gestation is quite long at 12 months and females give birth to a single fully formed calf every 3 to 6 years. But keep in mind that there is truly plenty to enjoy year-round in this stunning, welcoming country. A young wildcat in the Highland Wildlife Park. 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! The spit of land by Chanonry Point lighthouse is ever changing with the tides so, especially if you arrive when the tide is coming in, watch your belongings and your feet. Really, spring and summer are a good to time to go dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth. 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. Learn more about the great Cuckoo from Wilderness Expert Jonathan Willet. This means that if you buy or book after clicking, I may get a commission. Located between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, south of Cromarty, the narrow peninsula of Chanonry Point is well known as the best place to see pods of dolphins in Scotland. Best Time to Visit Scotland: When to Go & When to Avoid! Compared to common seals they can appear to be much more sociable among their kind as out of the water they all lay close to one another no doubt discussing the events of the day such as their successes in catching fish! I didnt imagine Id be able to see them so close that I could look them in the eye! Your email address will not be published. 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