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. Your best bet is to go with a guide and look out for dolphins from the headland or take one of the regular ferries out to the surrounding islands. Published 26th Apr 2023, 13:02 BST. Oh my I had no idea we could see dolphins in Scotland! 1 hour after low tide is a good reference point to aim for. After waiting for almost two hours, we started to see dolphins appear. Chanonry Point may be one of the best places in Scotland to see dolphins, the land juts out into the Moray Firth forming a natural peninsula and creates the perfect spot to see them feed (and play if you're lucky). Keep up the Great work! No problem. Accommodations are slightly cheaper compared to summer and the swarms of midges are much less prevalent. 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. Keep an eye out for eagles, seals, and puffins. To the east of Fort George is Spey Bay, another dolphin-watching hot spot. Summer is definitely the high season in Scotland. Call toll free. Look for the low tide time in this area and then aim to get to Chanonry point around 1 hour after. However, dolphins can also be spotted during autumn and spring. The most exciting sight is to see the dolphins throw the fish in the water. Land watching dolphins is a prime activity here. There is something immensely heartening about watching a vast animal protrude from the surface of the water before disappearing back into the blue. If you fancy driving to Chanonry Point from Fort George, it will take you 45 minutes via the Kessock Bridge, Inverness. However you will be a bit further away from the action, but still, you could visit Fort George which is a great day out in itself, and try and view the dolphins from the elevated battlements. She cannot stay away from historical sites. I founded Planet Hopper Girl aiming to promote traveling as a lifestyle, the ultimate way to discover yourself and find freedom. There are opportunities for skiing and snowboarding, the traditional holiday markets are not to be missed, and in our opinion, winter is the best, liveliest time to explore Scotlands cities. Hike to some waterfalls and enjoy the fall foliage. This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. For those who cannot drive, here are some of the top guided tours in this area: Jumana is a travel writer and technologist living in the United Kingdom, born and brought up in India. Fantastic morning out with North 58 along the Moray Coast, lucky enough to see Dolphins and Seals along with some gan 2022 7. 2023 North Coast 500 | Company Number: SC504749 | All Rights Reserved | Design by. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Autumn is a time of colourful landscapes and glowing skies. You might see all sorts of wildlife as well as being well placed to see dolphins as they swim upriver. sports at the famous Highland Games. Rare NC500 Bumblebees need your help, 5 spectacular waterfalls to visit along the NC500. This area is also a spectacular place to spot dolphins if you are lucky enough the speedboat will stop and let you see these lovely creatures up close. A pair of Dolphins stopping by the boat to say hello to Wilderness Scotland travellers. Watching dolphins in Scotland is a privilege, not a right. The best time of year to watch dolphins in Scotland is in July. Head out and immerse yourself in Scotlands landscape when it is blanketed in snow and sparkly. Summer is also a period where our multitude of brightly coloured flowers flourish in the warmth. All Rights Reserved. Daylight hours are short in Scotland during winter, with just 7-8 hours of daily sunlight. July continues with long days of Scottish daylight in the Highlands, we are blessed with an incredible 16 to 17 hours of light in the summer months where it may be as late as 11 pm before the light starts to dim. I once was invited to go out on the Moray Firth in a small catamaran, we encountered seals, a basking shark and dolphins! It is true when people say that there can be many seasons in one Scottish day but that should not be taken as a negative as there are moments where you could confuse a Scottish spring day as the middle of summer with the sun shining all across the land. Best Castles near LondonVisiting the D-Day beaches of NormandyDay trips from York1 day in York, EnglandVisiting Stonehenge. Killer whales, on the other hand, can be spotted around Orkney and Shetland islands during the summer. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. 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. But keep in mind that there is truly plenty to enjoy year-round in this stunning, welcoming country. This site contains affiliate links and as such any purchases or bookings made after clicking may earn me a commission. Dolphin. kitesurfing on the eastern coast. Scotland Camping: Essential Tips + Best Campsites. Unsurprisingly, many tourists who visit Scotland want to see some dolphins, probably due to their prevalence in some foreign marine parks and the 1964 Flipper TV show that we all grew up with. Check out this video below: Read more about what to wear for summer hiking in Scotland. WebScotlands summer sunshine presents the best time to watch dolphins in the wild, with weather conditions during May to September presenting peak viewing potential from land and at sea. Whale. Theres also the Fairy Glen waterfall too to enjoy. Ultimate Fall Foliage Road Trip in Vermont: A Complete Itinerary, An EPIC Arizona to California Road Trip Itinerary, Spring Road Trip in Netherlands: Giethoorn & Flevoland Tulip Fields, 100 Best Road Trip Quotes: Funny, Thought Provoking and Inspiring, An Epic Las Vegas to Hoover Dam Road Trip: Lake Mead + Boulder City, The Ultimate Road Trip Packing List: Things to Bring on a Road Trip Check List, Winter Bucket List for Travellers: 20 Fun Outdoor Activities in Winter, Ultimate Guide to Dolphin Watching in Inverness Scotland (Chanonry Point), The ULTIMATE Guide to Chasing Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, 13 Top Spring Break Destinations Around the World: Spring Bucket List for Travellers, Cromarty Firth- watch from the Cromarty bridge. I recommend the land experience if you dont want to spend money on a boat tour. Tell us in the comments section. Divers can see them while scuba divingin many of Scotland's coastal areas, but it is rare. Further onto the Black Isle, coming off the A9 trunk road at the B9161 Munlochy road then onto the A832 you come through the towns of Avoch and then Fortrose, Fortrose has a mile long peninsula jutting out into the sea from the town itself called Chanonry Point, and from the beach in front of the Lighthouse you can often see the local dolphins hunting salmon a few metres away in the fast, deep and turbulent water around the very tip of the Point on a rising or flooding tide its amazing. They can be seen throughout the year, although they may be more visible in the spring and summer when the sea is calm. Theres also a cafe to get some food while youre watching. Broughty Ferry Castle, at the entrance to the Firth of Tay, also gives an elevated perspective for potential observations. Some trails are manageable in the wintertime, some are best in the summer. Summer promises long days, pleasant temperatures, and festivals galore. I suggest heading into the village and parking up looking over the water. It is thought that the warming of the water around the Hebrides is what is now attracting dolphins to the area. //-->//>