The end of Septemberand the beginning of October is when the stunning golden and brown landscapes of autumn really start to make their presence known. You will need to pay an entrance fee for the Fort George site its a Historic Scotland site so free for members. Ive watched a photographer ruin his kit as hed not moved it in time! Some Grey Seals having a splash in the cool water of North Ronaldsay in Orkney. There are plenty of sea activities here with multiple ships and yachts sailing by and there were also folks enjoying a kayak here. You are never guaranteed to see the dolphins, but knowing the best places to see them will greatly increase your chances. I knew they were there, I knew you could see them close, but I still expected them to be a dot in the sea! Dolphin. 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. September is an ideal month to venture on a hiking journey in Scotland if you want to absorb the lovely sunlight of the summer, but would rather avoid the heat that comes with the season. Dolphin Scotland sees quite a bit of rain (and wind!) Celebrate St. Andrews Day with the locals. How did I have no idea you can see dolphins in Scotland??? 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. 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. Visiting Scotland in April you will be welcomed with lovely colours of green leaves as the trees are now in bud. You can manage your cookies via browser settings. READ: Scotland road Trip Itinerary for 2 weeks in Scottish Highlands. Keep an eye out for them scrambling up trees or catch a glimpse of red fur high in the branches above you as they elegantly dance through the air. THE 10 BEST Scotland Dolphin & Whale Watching Tours (with This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Indeed, Scotland is more seasonal than many other European destinations, so it pays to consider the best time to visit before your trip. Here's some more info on Scotland's dolphins and particularly those in the Moray Firth colony on the north east coast. WebThe best time to see minke whales in Scotland is from the end of May to September. The best time to see them is when the tide begins to rise again after low tide. Dolphins in Chanonry point appear around the rising tide time and the best time to see them is 1 hour after the low tide time. 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 Questions about Scotland? 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!. When is the Best Time to Hike in Scotland? 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". ), the overall weather just might surprise you. No snow? Look for the low tide time in this area and then aim to get to Chanonry point around 1 hour after. The best time to visit Scotland overall is during the spring and fall, just outside of peak tourism season (summer) and when the weather is most pleasant. Just make sure youre wrapped up warm and have the appropriate gear for walking in wintery weather low down and higher up. There was once a time that it was actually quite rare to see Dolphins swimming in the Hebridean Islands of Scotland, but now they seem to now be much easier to spot in the area. 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. In late October, the days start to become noticeably shorter, with 10-13 hours of daily sunlight. Summer is also a period where our multitude of brightly coloured flowers flourish in the warmth. Killer whales are part of the Dolphin family and are usually seen in the Summer months mainly during June and July although there is a strong possibility to sight these massive mammals during the month of August. Catch some very traditional (and very unique!) The central Lowlands are home to both fertile farmland and almost all of Scotlands larger cities. This is a good way to support the local communities too. Whale Watching UK | Where to see Whales & Dolphins in the You might want to arrive around low tide to give you the best chance of seeing them. 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. 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! In terms of weather, Scotland never gets either super hot or super cold (with the exception of the Highlands, of course), so most activities are available year-round. 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! Expect to encounter stunning wildlife such as the great Cuckoo, Red Squirrels and the elusive Cairngorm Pine Marten. Sightings further out in the Firth of Forth are common. 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. 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. Inverness is a perfect base to plan your dolphin-watching adventure in Scotland. In summer you can spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises, Rissos dolphins, and short-beaked common dolphins. Business members please sign in here to access your membership benefits. 2023 North Coast 500 | Company Number: SC504749 | All Rights Reserved | Design by. Hear the lovely crunch of leaves under your feet by exploring our Autumn Highlands hiking adventure. October really is the greatest month to visit Scotland if you want to hike the landscapes during Scotlands full autumn glory. Kind of like when in Rome When in Scotland, drink as the Scots do! However, remember you can spot dolphins all along the Moray Firth Coast and also take a dolphin boat trip. These are my top 4 spots for trying to spot dolphins in the Moray Firth: This is the best place to see dolphins near Inverness. Scotland does experience a rainy winter, but again, the temperatures are mild enough that its manageable. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). There are wooden benches around the stoney beach to view from. One summery outfit for surprise warm days, especially in September, A quality camera to capture the fall foliage, Edinburgh, for winter festivals and many (free!) Located in Caithness on the NC500, experience Scottish Gin & Vodka, handcrafted with Highland Botanicals. 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. 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. 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 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. People said we had better than normal weather. If you happen to be on the other side of the Moray Firth and exploring Fort George then you can also see them from there, although you might need some binoculars to get a good view. We were there last 2 weeks of Aug, first two weeks of Sept this year. 13th of February 2022, Find out more about Chris on the about page. Best gifts for first time travelers perfect for gap year or first vacations. 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! 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. During August and the last (official) month of summer the hours in the day lessen, but we still bask in 15 16 hours of daylight, so there is still plenty of light to savour whilst hiking the stunning landscapes of Scotland. The dolphins dont know that the lookout is gone though and you can still see them from the shores of North Kessock. Worst Taskmaster Contestants: Here are the 10 most unsuccessful Taskmaster contestants of all time - from Victoria Coren Mitchell to David Baddiel. We used Tesco SIM cards which are cheaper than Airalo. What permits do I need? Tripods will likely be too slow to "get the shot", you could try a monopod but the best way is handheld, give those upper arms a workout! Chase the Jacobite train and live your Harry Potter Dream. Adult Cuckoo birds tend to leave Scotland between June or July and travel an incredible distance of more than 7,000 miles to live in Africa until the springtime. Hi Julia, thanks for the comment. Honestly, Id say it was the best place for seeing dolphins you can see them without disturbing them and quite often too. Free to visit, the centre is based in an 18th century salmon fishing station, and is a haven for wildlife. Dolphins in Scotland apparently a hidden gem in Scotland indeed. Summer brings festivals Edinburghs world-famous one comes to mind and long, light, late nights. Scotland is the birthplace of golf, so experience the sport in its true element by playing a round of golf at one of the countrys 550+ courses! Although they love the salmon in the waters off Moray, they also love eels, shrimp, squid and other fish which they devour whole without chewing. 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!) Theres a car park nearby for those driving. We first roamed around the lighthouse, where you will also see lots of folks reading a book and having brunch. 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. In August, Edinburgh plays host to the Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world! Holidays that you view will be shown here. 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. Inverness city has a lot of Scottish attractions and landmarks that are worth a visit. If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. 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. 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%. It also makes timing your visit a little easier too. WebORCA are helping to raise awareness of the forgotton whales and dolphins within the North East Atlantic. Dolphin watching in Scotland - Responsible Travel Further south, between Moray Firth and Beauly Firth, and just north of Inverness, the shoreline at Kessock Bridge offers excellent dolphin-spotting opportunities. However, dolphins can also be spotted during autumn and spring. Whales, Dolphins and Seals 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. 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. Cuckoos also journey to the rest of the UK when spring arrives, but the majority seem to take residence in Scotland with the Highlands being their favourite part of the country to settle. The Highlands in the north are made up of rugged yet still lush mountainous topography that form some of the most picturesque landscapes in the world. Psst! Out of all the top places listed above, the locations near Inverness are where you can see the dolphins swimming from the land. 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. This is a lovely spot with a wide variety of habitats for different animals. Brave the cold late at night to stargaze and try to spot the Northern Lights when the sky is clear. Best place in the world to see dolphins from the land, so you gotta go again I bet. 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.

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