But I feel obliged to share it with you. Dolphins leaping around, right at the mouth of the River Spey. The best time to see whales and dolphins.Bottlenose dolphins are present in the Moray Firth throughout the year although there are more sightings during the summer months as the dolphins spend more time close to the shore feeding on salmon coming in and out of the rivers. Harbour porpoise are also present all year round. Dolphin watching in Scotland. There are toilets at the Tourist Information office next door and other facilities are just a short walk away in North Kessock village. And the smallish mountain is Morven, looking big because of the telephoto. The best-known of our cetaceans are the bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth colony. The Moray Firth is home to around 200 dolphins, which can often be seen at very close quarters here as they fish and play in the turbulent waters off the point. That’s part of the fun. All buses are operated by Stagecoach/Bluebird and timetables can be found on the Stagecoach website at www.stagecoachbus.com/bluebird. Best time. That’s the, uhmm, charm of dolphin watching. Check out their ‘latest sightings’ board. (Pictured here) With all of the Moray Firth to play in, the local dolphins can turn up anywhere – and in flat calm days they can be spotted, ooh, miles and miles out. This allows the dolphins to concentrate on – for example – avoiding moronic jet skiers, a phrase which some may consider tautology. Scottish bottlenosed dolphins are the largest in the world which helps them to cope with the chilly waters of the North Sea. This pic was taken from a high point west of Covesea lighthouse, Lossiemouth. Here’s my confession about dolphins in Scotland. So I went back the next day and they were still there, only a bit further out. The best places to see whales in Scotland They're some of the most majestic creatures in the world, and nothing compares to seeing whales in their … Or perhaps I mean taking a breath close inshore. I used to try countermanding this by yelling ‘Stop, stop, you haven’t been in the gift shop yet!’ But no, there was this mad stampede of exiting visitors every time. Harbour porpoise are also present all year round. One summer, I remember walking the dogs at Spey Bay on the Moray Firth coast, between Buckie and Lossiemouth in the north of Scotland. In the water around Skye a pod of dolphins can be a common sight to see. Best time for dolphin watching vacations. See a playful bunch of bottlenose dolphins near Inverness. Minke whales, common dolphins and porpoise can all be seen off the Scottish coast. Bottom line is that, unlike seals, say, you can’t guarantee a sighting of dolphins in Scotland. Actually, I exaggerate. Like some of the locals, they have an extra layer of insulating blubber. Local author Elizabeth Sutherland describes the feelings on encountering the animals as ‘the sightings of these gentle sociable mammals are rare and joyful’. The Moray Firth supports the North Sea’s only known resident population of bottlenose dolphins. (Treat that as good advice if you plan to swim here yourself.). This is mainly because Chanonry Point sticks out into the Firth and that there is comparatively deep water close inshore. Spey Bay is a short drive from Elgin, east of Lossiemouth. Royal Yacht Britannia – Scotland’s best attraction? Although dolphin sightings at Chanonry Point are a regular occurrence, the best time to catch a sighting is usually on a rising tide. Common Dolphin Featured in. Just sayin…). Yes, I agree, it’s pathetic. With panoramic views of the harbour mouth and North Sea, you may also enjoy spectacular sightings of marine wildlife such as seabirds, seals, otters and whales. This means if you know tide times for a particular day, you can work out the best time to see dolphins at Chanonry Point. There is nothing more magical then seeing Dolphins in the wild. The last time I was in Aberdeen, I managed to stalk a dolphin that was hanging about the old quad at Marischal College. This guide names some of the best dolphin spotting locations along the Moray Firth Coast to try and spot them but if you don’t see them you’ll find some wonderful fishing villages, places and beaches. The Moray Firth colony are just part of the ambience of the Firth – seen often enough to be kind of reassuring that all is well out there on the water (possibly). If you are thinking of taking a boat trip to see the dolphins please try and book with a company that is a member of the Dolphin Space Programme accreditation scheme who will ensure that you get the best possible views of whales and dolphins without causing any disturbance. No. Fortrose Cathedral, Fortrose: "When is the best time to see the Dolphins from..." | Check out answers, plus see 92 reviews, articles, and 72 photos of Fortrose Cathedral, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 5 attractions in Fortrose. Moreover, they particularly like playing in the waves or researching boats' vessels. However, as with everything to do with where to see dolphins in Scotland, it isn’t that simple and predictable. Known as the ‘Dolphin Coast’, Banffshire and the Moray coast are a mecca for anyone wanting to see bottlenose dolphins in their natural environment. Scotland’s coastline juts and jags like jigsaw pieces to create swathes of sand, pebbles and sentinel-like sea stacks that line one of the best environments for marine wildlife watching in Europe. Moray Firth, Scotland. Dolphin cruises and the Dolphin Space Programme. If you are lucky you might also spot Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, common dolphin, bottle-nosed dolphin, harbor porpoise and the whale-sized Risso's dolphin. Naturally, I had no camera. In fact, there are other places, especially in the west, where dolphins of various species put in an appearance. Scotland has the biggest bottle-nosed dolphins in the world. Enjoy beautiful walks along the tumultuous River Spey, spot a seal or osprey, and discover Spey Bay’s fishing heritage during a tour of the historic Tugnet icehouse. Dolphins at Chanonry Point can be seen at anytime (and not at all!) Top Scotland Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities: See reviews and photos of dolphin & whale watching in Scotland, United Kingdom on Tripadvisor. Otherwise, while waiting for the cetaceans to show, you’ll find yourself wandering by the lighthouse (private) and sheltering from the sea-breezes (euphemism) while regretting not wearing an extra wind-proof layer. This page is about where to see dolphins in Scotland. Finally, just in case you have been given the impression that the Moray Firth has exclusive rights to cuddly cetaceans, another place to see dolphins and their ilk is the Isle of Mull. Anyway, back in the real world, I’ve lost count of the number of times over the years I’ve had to write about these dolphins – in important symbol of wildlife in Scotland. When to see them: All year round. Entry to the Centre is FREE. There was a kind of gasping exhalation – which I knew right away wasn’t me – and I turned round to find a few of them breathtakingly close inshore. Find out more on whale and dolphin conservation right here. He was a kind of Nostradamus of the Highlands who came to a sticky end. Naah. Besides Chanonry Point on the north side of the Firth by Fortrose, as mentioned above, the Kessock Bridge at Inverness is said to be worthwhile…then going eastwards, it’s Nairn, Burghead and, well, it seems they can pop upanywhere. (I mean for your dolphin encounters.). They are amazing. No matter, the point is you’re never sure where you’ll see your next dolphin. Where to See the Northern Lights in Scotland. There are some fantastic images of dolphins by Charlie Phillips. I mean, how do they know? Even the city of Aberdeen claims that it’s the best place for dolphin-spotting – and it isn’t even on the Moray Firth. Considered the best spot in the county to see dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and sometimes even whales. You can check out the tide forecast ahead of time online (for free) to plan your trip, or purchase a tide forecast and dolphin-watching guide from Moray Dolphins. For tide times  look at the bottom of this BBC Tides link for Cromarty Tide details. However, as with everything to do with where to see dolphins in Scotland, it isn’t that simple and predictable. ?. Company no: SC576670. You might find the plaque that commemorates the death of the Brahan Seer here. but the best time to see them is usually on a rising tide. Top Scotland Dolphin & Whale Watching Activities: See reviews and photos of dolphin & whale watching in Scotland, United Kingdom on Tripadvisor. They can often be seen in front of the large ships in the harbour. The Moray Firth, south shore, actually has a kind climate. The viewing area is wheelchair accessible. Discover more about visiting Moray. Local wisdom says the resident dolphins come here to fish on a rising tide – so, obviously, that’s the best time to see them. And those dots are dolphins. The Moray Firth is one of the best places in the UK to see dolphins, and the chances of seeing them up close are greatly improved with taking to the water. The Firth is that big bite or sea inlet up near the top of Scotland. The best time to see the northern lights in Scotland is December through February, the darkest months of the year. It’s half a dolphin – the back half. They have all the expertise to need to point you towards the most up-to-date sightings. Porthgwarra, Cornwall. Still, you may ask, why bother when the local branch of Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) have a Field Officer who manages to nail them on regular occasions? (That’s a good place – they hunt salmon there. There are a few different species that visit our waters, but the most regular are the ‘Bottle Nosed’ and the ‘Common’. Find out what a dolphin watching holiday in Scotland will entail with information on how to identify the different dolphins, where best to view them, the best time to go and more. The Dolphin Space Programme website is at http://www.dolphinspace.org/ for all the contact details of responsible boat operators and information about the type of trips they provide. Regular buses run from Inverness city centre to North Kessock. Seen around the coasts of Scotland they are sometimes visible from good shoreline vantage points. The best time to see dolphins out and about is generally when the tide starts to rise again after low tide; they are usually quite active in the area around an hour after this point. Yet they are also seen infrequently enough to make each viewing one to be enjoyed, appreciated, or later remarked upon…’Saw the dolphins today’….’oh, well done – lucky you!’. The point is without doubt the best place to watch the Bottlenose Dolphins. May — September. From around 1 hour after low tide, the tide turns and dolphins start to chase fish in. Bottlenose dolphin at Chanonry Point . They have an exhibition centre and a cafe too, for a warming bowl of soup, perhaps. (‘Firth’ and Norwegian ‘fjord’ are linguistic cousins, by the way.). Chanory Point is situated East of Fortrose off the A832. There are lots of seagoing types based around the Moray Firth who will take you out in their boats to see them. (I didn’t on my last visit!) europe. With the fish on the move, the dolphins are not far behind. Some of the largest bottlenose dolphins in the world live here. I think the dorsal fin isn’t ‘blunt’enough. Visit the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre for the chance to see the amazing bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth. These cheeky and charming creatures have primarily claimed the north east coast of … (A surprise in itself.). They can be seen close inshore on both the east and west coasts, but are spotted less often on the north coast and in the Northern Isles. If you want to avoid crowds, fall or spring might be best, although you won't see as many dolphins. The Bottlenose Dolphins are particularly visible on an incoming tide so if you really want to see them you need to plan ahead. Actually…unforgettable. These distant pics were taken at Inverie, Knoydart, near Mallaig, while we were enjoying lunch outside the local pub. Torry Battery is a fantastic spot to see dolphins all year round. The dolphins you are mostly likely to see are bottlenose, rissos and the common dolphin, although you might see others as well. August–December. See? For more detail read on in our dolphin watching in Scotland guide. You might see them very close to where you stand on the shoreline. The short answer is probably to go to view the resident dolphins of the Moray Firth. I expect dolphins turn up at river mouths, such as the Spey, to waylay inbound salmon. All rights reserved. Look, she’s even got two horns, wouldn’t you say? You can also call the Dolphin Space Programme project officer on 07921 106144. And a close viewing is unforgettable, especially if it’s from the shore. Trust me. Dolphin Centre at North Kessock – The nearby Dolphin and Seal Centre at North Kessock also offers dolphin watching opportunities during the summer.
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