Or not? Summer Solstice takes place inJune and marks the longest day of the year and many people in England celebrate at the famous Stonehenge monument, but in Scotland, we have a few standing stone monuments where you can celebrate the longest day in the amazing Scottish wilderness without the crowds at places such as the Standing Stones of Callanish in the Outer Hebrides, the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney or the three standing stones in Kilmartin Glen. I'm afraid your mobile phone won't cut it in this instance, dolphins are quite a difficult subject to capture. 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. WebBest place to see dolphins in Scotland (Dolphin watching) Chanonry point. If you see any that appear larger than the norm they are likely to be older as they increase in size as the years pass. The best time of year to watch dolphins in Scotland is in July. Clear skies provide jaw-droppingly beautiful views of the night sky and perhaps even a glimpse of the Northern Lights, and theres truly nothing like European Christmas markets! By now the leaves on the trees have turned into a lovely golden brown and Pine forests look spectacular in the distance providing an incredibly unique view. Thats not all! The best dolphin view point in Scotland! - North Coast 500 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. Inverness city has a lot of Scottish attractions and landmarks that are worth a visit. 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. Fish are easy to find here and so its a natural hunting ground for the dolphins. Plan your trip around touring medieval castles, explore the famous Scottish Highlands, or stick to the cities and sample the local whiskey culture. What permits do I need? 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 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. This article contains affiliate links. All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive. Located east of Harris in the Outer Hebrides the Shaint Isles over time has been given various nicknames such as mini St Kilda or little St Kilda, so you know by that naming convention to expect to see a flurry of seabirds populate the area. 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. Hi Julia, thanks for the comment. Croatia: A Completely Honest Travel Guide, Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia: Ultimate Visitors Guide, 20 Cant-Miss Things to Do in Split, Croatia + Travel Guide, Krka National Park Croatia: Ultimate Guide, Edinburgh for festivals, buzzy nightlife, and tons of Medieval history, Glasgow makes a great summertime basecamp for experiencing a little of everything Scotland has to offer, with a location close to both the coast and the Highlands, Chase epic outdoor adventures in Isle of Skye and the Highlands, St. Andrews to play a round of golf at one of the most iconic courses in the world, Stirling offers a great mix of the Lowlands and Highlands culture, Check out The Fringe Festival, held over multiple weeks in August, Get a unique perspective of Scotlands rugged coast with a guided sea kayaking tour (fun fact: Scotland is home to 10% of Europes entire coastline!). You could try swimming with wild dolphins at your own risk, but if they had young they might not like your presence amongst them. 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. Spot whales, otters and eagles on Isle of Mull, Scotland, Ultimate week of wildlife spotting on the Isle of Mull. This site contains affiliate links and as such any purchases or bookings made after clicking may earn me a commission. This vast area, including the islands off the northern coast, encompasses about half of Scotlands total land mass. And dont forget to pick up a guide book! Hear the lovely crunch of leaves under your feet by exploring our Autumn Highlands hiking adventure. Summit Ben Nevis in the Highlands, the highest mountain in all of the UK, or explore some shorter waterfall trails. See our cookie policy for more information. Located at the east side of the mouth of the Spey, the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre is dedicated to whale and dolphin conservation. 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. 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. 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. Its not as easy to figure out the best times here but its a pleasant day out in any case. Its a small natural area on the banks of the Beauly Firth same stretch of water but a different name here! Undoubtedly, the best way to see these wee creatures is to travel to the famous island of St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides which is home to Scotlands largest single colony of seabirds and an incredible estimated 270,000 birds are scattered across the island! I actually saw whales on my boat trip to Loch Coruisk. Minke whales Really, spring and summer are a good to time to go dolphin spotting in the Moray Firth. You can expect a mix of clear blue skies and cloudy grey days during winter in Scotland, with occasional rain, snow and ice. The Pine Marten is an elusive creature but can be found scurrying around the north of Scotland in rich woodland areas. The village of North Kessock lies just north of Inverness, over the Kessock bridge. Eilean Dhubh or the Black Isle as its known is technically not an island as such, but certainly feels like one with an almost Scotland in Miniature thing going on from sandy beaches to high craggy cliffs, thick forest, wide open farmland and wildlifelots of wildlife if you know where to look. They also dont necessarily need good weather. The best time of day to see dolphins at Chanonry Point near Inverness is when the tide is rising. Clicking on the link below will redirect you to the Wilderness England website. 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! Its easy to walk to from Inverness but you can also take public transport which will drop you off at the reserve youll want bus number 3. Whether you witness the sight of just a fin or a full breach, there are many locations throughout Scotland to see any one of the estimated 300 or so dolphins that call the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean home. 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. As winter fades and the warmer weather of spring emerges, the snow begins to melt, animals poke their heads out, and the countryside greens up and comes alive again. Scotland can be divided into three distinct regions: the northern Highlands, the southern Uplands, and the central Lowlands. There are some nice facilities here including a cafe, gift shop and toilet and a superb exhibition. Scotland may be fairly small, but theres no shortage of geographical diversity. Sapphire blue lochs (lakes) and narrow inlets dot the landscape, adding stunning character to the rugged peaks, glacier-carved valleys, and tiny islands. Best time for dolphin watching Brave the cold late at night to stargaze and try to spot the Northern Lights when the sky is clear. In March expect 93 hours of sunshine for the whole month, allowing a good amount of daylight to explore the beauty of the Scottish outdoors each and every day. She cannot stay away from historical sites. 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. 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. 2 miles north of Chanonry Point is the Fairy Glen Falls walk, with two beautiful waterfalls, well worth a visit before or after seeing the dolphins. 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. This means it will change daily. Autumn is also a great opportunity to witness a variety of wildlife that you can see in the summer, but also there is a higher chance of encountering majestic Red Deer in the hills and if you are really lucky maybe you will spot the rare wildcat running around the Cairngorms National Park in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. 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. 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