You can expect a mix of clear blue skies and cloudy grey days during winter in Scotland, with occasional rain, snow and ice. To increase your chances of a sighting, the best time to visit is between May and September, although the whales are present all year round. Wildcats are a very rare creature and difficult to spot, born in early spring they usually can be best spotted in the Cairngorms during winter when they work their hardest hunting to survive, but it is possible to see them in earlier months with autumn being your best bet. Found inside – Page 138So I got up in the dark and drove to the airport, only to see that my flight was cancelled. There wasn't another flight ... 10 He had a great time there. The dolphins are present in the area all year round – however they can be harder to spot outside summer months as they may range over a wider area and look further out to sea for their food. The appearance of branching antlers sprouting from their heads is a staggering (sorry, about the pun) sight to behold! Throughout the year, Scotland is a great place to watch wildlife. Today I’m filling you in on what to expect if you head there and tips to maximise your dolphin spotting experience. Wildlife Watching Calendar. When is the Best Time to Hike in Scotland? Autumn is the deer breeding season (or rut) and it is during this time that there is a higher chance to see a male Stag wandering around the mountainsides roaring at the top of his lungs. This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Around 75% of the UK’s Red Squirrels can be found in Scotland. October really is the greatest month to visit Scotland if you want to hike the landscapes during Scotland’s full autumn glory.                 High season: Adult: £65 Child: £49,         Whale Search & Corryvreckan Wildlife Cruise. If you see a Killer Whale report your sighting on the Killer Whale Hotline 07500 380 524. Found insideAbout half the world's population (6,000 pairs) of great skuas, ... center has leaflets that outline a walk; mid-May to mid-July is the best time to visit. over a year ago. Basically, avoid rough seas and crowded destinations, particularly around the school holidays. These animals usually give birth around late November. Pine Martins, historically were spread throughout the UK, but unfortunately due to deforestation in the 19th and 20th centuries, they faced near extinction. The warmest months of Summer in Scotland are likely to be July and August where we enjoy an average temperature of 19º C/66ºF each year. On average there are 38 days of snow in Scotland, with 26 days of settled snow on the ground. Compared to common seals they can appear to be much more sociable among their kind as out of the water they all lay close to one another – no doubt discussing the events of the day such as their successes in catching fish! You could celebrate Christmas in a loch-side lodge, toast Hogmanay (the New Year) in January in … They are similar in size to a dove, but they are coloured blue-grey in appearance and have dark stripes drawn across their tummy. 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! The end of September and the beginning of October is when the stunning golden and brown landscapes of autumn really start to make their presence known. What is the best time to see dolphins at Chanonry Point? Found inside – Page 293WHERE TO LOOK/OBSERVATION TIPS Easy to see throughout the year at certain ... Other good sites include the Shannon Estuary, south-west Scotland, ... Found insideAlso, the porpoises being targeted in Scotland were not quite fully grown: between just ... Scientists' best guess at the moment is that these dolphins are ... The weather is changeable this time of year, but rarely extreme. Atlantic Puffins, the smallest of the Puffin family, can be seen around the coasts of Scotland inhabiting high clifftop colonies. We hope that the recovery here will lead to further protection from these nets. Just when is the best time to hike in Scotland? As some dolphins are residents around Scottish shores you can see them all-year-round however, as they prefer the calmer and sunnier sea conditions associated with spring and summer, the best time to see dolphins in Scotland is usually from May to September. Be sure to listen out for the roar of the deer as it sounds remarkably otherworldly – should you be in its vicinity you’ll hear an incredible bellowing sound dominating the hills. People often ask me on the ferries what the best time of year to see whales and dolphins is. You can see dolphins in Namibia’s Walvis Bay pretty much all year round, while the best time for dolphin conservation holidays in Greece is definitely between June and September. Wildlife Watching Seal. By this time the Fraserburgh Harbour minke whale had been given the nickname Marvin. The summer months are best with New Quay being the hottest spot (June-October). The Moray Firth supports the North Sea’s only known resident population of bottlenose dolphins. The good thing is, the weather can be very changeable, so don’t be too disheartened if you are greeted by clouds on arrival. According to the Met Office, the average highest temperature for the month of March in Scotland can be around 7°C/45ºF. As the temperatures soared in Scotland during July this year, so too have the whale and dolphin sightings on board CalMac Ferries! A pod of Killer Whales (Orcas) submerge from the sea during one of our wilderness holidays. July and August are usually great months to see them due to … Found inside – Page 183Scotland: Dundee Broughty Ferry As many as 50 Bottlenose Dolphins from the Moray Firth population enter the Firth of Tay at any one time. The best place to ... It is thought that the warming of the water around the Hebrides is what is now attracting dolphins to the area. 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! An adorable Red squirrel enjoying a nice rest in the Cairngorms National Park. Our local area is one of the best areas in Scotland for porpoise and we see them on the vast majority of summer trips. 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. You can also spot them in the ‘Minch’ (a narrow passage of water separating the North West Highlands and the North Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides) when travelling by Ferry from Inverness to Stornoway during a Wilderness Scotland adventure journeying to the Outer Hebrides. I’m sure you want to know just when the warmest month in Scotland actually is – you may discover that a number of Scottish locals joke that our sunny summer weather lasts only around a few days, or maybe as long as a week! The Isle of Mull in the west is also known for having quite dolphin-rich waters. Scotland’s winter wildlife – How to See Them. When March approaches the temperature in Scotland begins to rise and the cold winter chill fades away. Do not take this to be fact! Our trips occasionally come across Orcas by boat, while sea kayaking or just viewing from the shore. One summer, I remember walking the dogs at Spey Bay on the Moray Firth coast, between Buckie and Lossiemouth in the north of Scotland. The survey, conducted every summer by volunteers for the Sea Watch Foundation, records the … North of Fraserburgh and Lossiemouth sits the Moray Firth, where minke whales have been spotted in the past. but the best time to seethem is usually on a rising tide. Spring weather is mild, but the days are lengthening and consistently drier. ©JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. ‘Interesting fact: until the 1950s people believed that they were actually man-eaters – they somewhat gained mythical legendary status similar to Bigfoot or the Sasquatch of North America.’. Witness some of Scotland’s most exciting wildlife spectacles and taste flavours unique to our autumn months. Found inside – Page 12The best places to see bottlenose dolphins are at Cromarty and Chanonry Point,both on the Moray Firth.Othergood places to catch glimpses ofbottlenose and ... 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. 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. 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. Similar to common seals they dwell in the Hebridean Islands, the West Coast, Shetland and the Orkney Isles. A … Autumn is a time of colourful landscapes and glowing skies. We are currently experiencing issues with our phones, click here to get in touch. Found inside – Page 267More than 100 Bottlenose Dolphins live in the Moray Firth, and Culbin is a good place to see them – summer is probably the best time to look. our woodlands are a sanctuary for these cute little critters and a place when they can thrive in the wild as nature intended. 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 Scotland’s largest single colony of seabirds and an incredible estimated 270,000 birds are scattered across the island! Summer promises long days, pleasant temperatures, and festivals galore. Found inside – Page 2423 THE GREAT GLEN Inverness and around The dolphins of the Moray Firth The Moray ... the hour or so before high tide is the most likely time to see them . Known affectionately by some Scot as the ‘clowns of the sea’, puffins typically arrive in Scotland in late March or early April. A Puffin watching the horizon on a high clifftop in the beautiful Shetland Isles. ]]> As spring approaches it’s time to celebrate the warmer weather as the sun becomes stronger and we bid a fond farewell to the magnificent snow that covers our Highland mountains and the streets below in the winter months. On the west coast of Scotland, Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross looks out towards the Atlantic Ocean and the distant Outer Hebrides. People are looking to see and hear these majestic creatures on the West Coast of Scotland. In September the air is still warm enough to feel like summer, but cool enough not to be too chillingly cold. Travellers enjoying a lovely summers day hiking in the mountainous Assynt. For more videos click on these links to see whales, dolphins and porpoises! Other good spots include off the coast of Aberdeen, the West Coast around Mull, … The average temperature for this month tends to be a baking 17ºC/64ºF – remember to bring a good amount of water during the summer to avoid dehydration while hiking the hills! The best time to take a dolphin cruise is any time you’re in Pensacola Beach, FL! Found insideOne of the best places in Scotland, if not in Europe, to look for them is ... thus the dolphins close to shore; a rising tide is the most likely time to see ... Whales, Dolphins & Porpoise. The best time to see minke whales in Scotland is from the end of May to September. Dolphins and porpoise are here all year round. Our local area is one of the best areas in Scotland for porpoise and we see them on the vast majority of summer trips. Grey seals can be identified by their larger size than common seals and are normally grey coloured with darker spots. Where To See Dolphins In The Moray Firth. Another tale involves the ancient standing stone monument at Callanish located on the Isle of Lewis know as the Standing Stones of Callanish. Found inside – Page 112The Best of the Rest Places to Eat and Drink A Moonfish Café dish AREA. 1 Moray Firth Dolphins MAP D4 • Info Centre: (01343) 820339 • Boat trips from ... A large number of them can be seen around the coast of Scotland, but the best areas to find them are places such as the Hebridean Islands, West Coast Scotland, Shetland and the Orkney Isles. Dolphins jumping the wake of a boat during a dolphin cruise departing from Pensacola Beach . The best time to see the northern lights in Scotland is December through February, the darkest months of the year. These fish eating mammals dive to a depth of 300 metres, and will usually stay submerged for between 10 seconds and two minutes, however they are capable of staying underwater for anything up to eight minutes, before returning to the surface to breath. Scotland is an exceptional place for observing wildlife. Humpback whales tend to be grey or black in appearance with white markings on their underbelly and can be distinguished from other species of whales by their rather large flippers. Winter is also a great time for nighttime walking. The Pine Marten is an elusive creature but can be found scurrying around the north of Scotland in rich woodland areas. 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. The countryside transitions from vibrant green to breath-taking purple as the heather blooms. Head out and immerse yourself in Scotland’s landscape when it is blanketed in snow and sparkly. 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. It used to be believed that porpoise had power over the winds, and would predict storms by gambolling about. Red Deer are Scotland’s largest land mammal and are also the biggest of the deer family – they are a huge icon of Scotland and the Stag has become a symbol of the Highland’s famous Speyside Glenfiddich Whisky. Best time of the day to see dolphins are in the low tide time in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Minke whales are easily seen on boat excursions here between April and October. Drive down and park near the lighthouse and trundle around the corner and you can watch from the beach. Even though August is the last month of summer the average temperature stays the same as June and July – so in August you can still look forward to many hours of daylight and a fantastically warm sun shining over the hills and the Glens. The old sailors’ expression used to be “When the sea-hog (porpoise) jumps, man the pumps”! The Moray coast is not only famous for bottlenose dolphins, but also harbour porpoises and even whales, especially the Minke whale. “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!”. 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. I had no camera. 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. Weighing in at eight tons, this gentle giant of West Coast waters is very regularly seen during our summer and autumn boat trips. To sum up, Chanonry Point, Spey Bay and Inverness up in the north of Scotland are our top recommendations for spotting Scottish dolphins, with Chanonry Point the far and away winner. Sometimes Killer whales are mentioned by their original name – Orcas, which comes from the Latin phrase ‘Orcinus orca.’ The Latin phrase translated means ‘the whale of the kingdom of the dead.’ The name ‘Killer Whale’ comes from the fact that they also hunt other types of whales as well as prey on fish and seals. With its very large dorsal fin, and white and black patterning, this is perhaps the most distinctive cetacean encountered on our trips. “For the time of year we went, which was mid-October, make sure you have got warm thermal clothing. The area between Cardigan Island in the south and Aberporth in the north is a great viewing spot to see bottlenose dolphins between June and September. The best time to see minke whales in Scotland is from the end of May to September. //-->//>