You can see dolphins out during the tidal times as the salmon fish gets caught in tide and dolphins pods come to catch them. 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. Located in the starting point of the famous North Coast 500 route, this town has a lot of attractions to offer like the Inverness castle and many scenic drives including around Loch Ness. This article contains affiliate links. I recommend the land experience if you dont want to spend money on a boat tour. ), the overall weather just might surprise you. 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. Since its the other side of Chanonry Point keep an eye on tide times around low tide and an hour after could be good. Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to hear about trip news, blogs and offers. Expect to encounter stunning wildlife such as the great Cuckoo, Red Squirrels and the elusive Cairngorm Pine Marten. The cool waters surrounding Scotland are the perfect habitat for the sleek marine mammal, with bottlenose, white-beaked and common dolphins all playing near our coastlines. In March, temperatures generally hover in the 40s and low 50s (4-15C), but by May, upper 70s (23+C) arent uncommon! Its a great time to witness incredibly diverse wildlife that gives such bold life to the jaw-dropping landscapes of the Highlands as many creatures make their presence known and others migrate back to Scotland as the climate warms up after winter. Fall in Scotland brings a drop in both temperatures and the number of tourists. Events are held throughout the country from May through August. The Pine Marten is an elusive creature but can be found scurrying around the north of Scotland in rich woodland areas. 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. Dolphins in Scotland apparently a hidden gem in Scotland indeed. As well as bottlenose dolphins, you may well catch sight of ospreys, grey and common seals, the occasional otter and many coastal birds here. I suggest heading into the village and parking up looking over the water. Check out ourScotland Travel Homepagefor everything you need to know, or read some of our favorite articles below. Chris founded this website to show off the best of Scotland to the rest of the world. Fewer travellers mean fewer people on the trails and in the hills, providing an even more remote experience of the glorious scenic landscapes. 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. Winter in Scotland is the low season for tourism, but dont let that dissuade you from visiting. Dolphins and porpoise are here all year round. 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. 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. This extra fat layer means they can weigh between 300-600 kg / 660-1400 lb. Not too far away, Merkinch Local Nature Reserve is a beautiful and quiet green spot to see all kinds of wildlife, including dolphins. The most common and well known place is Chanonry Point near the village of Rosemarkie on the Black Isle (not an island you can drive there!). Bottlenose dolphins are larger than common dolphins and mainly grey, with lighter, whiter underbellies. If you want to test out the Cuckoo superstitions in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland then youll have until Autumn at the latest to test your theories! Lets get right into it and break down the best time to visit Scotland and what you can expect during your trip. They can be found chilling out around sheltered shores relaxing in a curved position or in water they can be located near the mouth of a large river where the tide meets the stream (estuaries). They are wild animals and probably wouldn't take kindly to human interference. Beautiful blue skies on Scotlands west coast. Chris is also a keen photographer and has had work published on the BBC news website and local news outlets. 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. December is usually the mildest month, with average temperatures of around 4C/39F. Hike to some waterfalls and enjoy the fall foliage. 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. Imagine seeing all of them in one day! Charlie and his wife Susan also own an art studio and gift shop in the village of North Kessock. If you have time to discover more of the country, dont miss these epic places to visit in Scotland. Published 26th Apr 2023, 13:02 BST. READ: Scotland road Trip Itinerary for 2 weeks in Scottish Highlands. There are plenty of sea activities here with multiple ships and yachts sailing by and there were also folks enjoying a kayak here. 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. 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. 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! Spring is an excellent time to spot Red Squirrels in Scotland. Honestly, Id say it was the best place for seeing dolphins you can see them without disturbing them and quite often too. If youre hoping to spot dolphins in their natural environment, here are the best places to visit. The activity map is also available. In the Azores, pods tend to be largest in these months, and you may also see a few cute calves. Learn about what a Scottish summer is like. The best time to see them is when the tide begins to rise again after low tide. This is where the River Spey terminates into the North Sea and is a popular feeding ground with dolphins and seals for salmon hunting. Click on one of the links below to find out more: Hiking the remote location of Knoydart during the month of Spring. Further south, between Moray Firth and Beauly Firth, and just north of Inverness, the shoreline at Kessock Bridge offers excellent dolphin-spotting opportunities. Winter is also a great time for nighttime walking. WebORCA are helping to raise awareness of the forgotton whales and dolphins within the North East Atlantic. Some of my top recommendations include: Inverness is also a major location for those who are aiming for their ultimate Scottish highland experience, seeing as many lochs, driving the scenic NC500 route, or even chasing some of the top Harry Potter destinations. When March approaches the temperature in Scotland begins to rise and the cold winter chill fades away. Ive only passed by Inverness once and that was on the way to Skye, so I had no idea you could see dolphins here! Business members please sign in here to access your membership benefits. 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. She has been exploring states of India since she was 15 and then around the world since she moved to the west in her 20s. We compiled some handy resources of information about hiking in Scotland covering the different seasons of the year, so you can find out what travelling in Scotland is like during different months. 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 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! Things get chillier as winter progresses and the best months for snow are January and February which is great with the lengthening days to maximise your opportunity to enjoy the wintery countryside. Met Gala 2023: What time does the Met Gala start in the UK and where can you watch it? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Two Wandering Soles are participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Experts agree that the more responsible dolphin watching is, the more enjoyable it Is. Find out more about Chris on the about page. While this can make it feel like youre racing against time to cram everything in, the shorter days offer more time to enjoy the night sky, plus potentially even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Sea Life Surveys 385 Boat Tell us in the comments section. Its possible to spot dolphins all along the east coast, particularly in the Cromarty and Moray Firths. Grey seals can be identified by their larger size than common seals and are normally grey coloured with darker spots. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The rugged southern Uplands form Scotlands 110-mile-long border with England. Located in Caithness on the NC500, experience Scottish Gin & Vodka, handcrafted with Highland Botanicals. If you prefer to spot Minke Whales during the warmest time of the year then it is recommended to travel to Scotland during the Summer, but if you enjoy the cooler weather then spring is a great season for a Scottish holiday adventure. And cooler temperatures also mercifully drive away the infamous midges and other biting insects that tend to swarm during the warmer months. Learn more about the great Cuckoo from Wilderness Expert Jonathan Willet. Celebrate St. Andrews Day with the locals. ), Layers to stay comfortable in temperatures between 40-60F (4-15C), Waterproof shoes or boots to protect your feet from melting snow, Trekking poles to help with stability and traction on muddy hiking trails. While those are still nice long days, it gets a little easier to keep a normal sleep schedule without losing out on any exploration time. 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! Bottlenose and common varieties tend to be seen with more frequency, whereas the other types of dolphin prefer to swim and hunt in deeper waters. This vast area, including the islands off the northern coast, encompasses about half of Scotlands total land mass. Fantastic morning out with North 58 along the Moray Coast, lucky enough to see Dolphins and Seals along with some gan 2022 7. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Dolphin watching holidays in Greece tend to focus closely on conservation research when you travel with responsible providers there are several species in these waters and they face a wide range of threats. An ideal destination for nature lovers, history buffs, fans of amazing architecture, whiskey enthusiasts and foodies alike, there are many, many reasons to visit Scotland. The warmer temperatures and smaller crowds make spring a great time to explore while also saving on accommodations. Typically, Minke whales have a blue or greyish-black appearance with a white underside and in contrast to Killer whales, they are smaller in size measuring around 5.5 meters in length whereas Killer whales are around 6 8 meters in length. This wildlife travel guide is meant to be like a trailer for the new Attenborough series. Best bit you dont have to go on a boat (although you can do that too). Important Note: One thing to be aware of when visiting Scotland in the fall is that many popular tourist attractions shut down for the winter season in early November. Humpback whales are not a species commonly seen in Scotland, but it is possible you may spot some swimming the seas around the north of Scotland and Shetland in the heart of the summer season. Check out this video below: Read more about what to wear for summer hiking in Scotland. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). 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.
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