Dolphin and Whale Watching in Scotland 2024

Scotland’s coastal waters are one of the best habitats for marine life in Europe. No wonder whales and dolphins are frequent guests in Scottish offshore waters. The best places to encounter marine mammals are the Inner and the Outer Hebrides, the Shetland Islands, the Orkney Islands, and Moray Firth.

The most common mammals are Minke whales, but it's also possible to spot humpbacks, fins, and sperms, as well as many dolphin species, including orcas. The whale and dolphin watching season runs from April to September, but if you are willing to sail further offshore, you can spot them as late as November.

Dolphin Watching

In Scotland, you can see large pods of bottlenose and common dolphins close to the shore. Farther in the ocean, it's also possible to spot many Risso’s and white-beaked dolphins. Scotland’s West coat: the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Mull, and Moray Firth inlet, especially Chanonry Point, are among the best places to spot bottlenose dolphins. You can watch them near the shore and don't have to take a cruise.

Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcas, also called killer whales, are the largest species in the dolphin family. Orca's size can reach 30 ft (9 m) and weight is up to 10 tons. It's a highly social mammal. Orcas travel in large pods, protecting each other from predators. They feed on other whales and dolphins, hence their name. Orcas also eat seals, turtles, sea birds, and fish. You can spot orcas on a cruise around the Outer Hebrides, where the abundance of fish attracts them. Orcas also appear frequently near Shetland, the Orkney Islands, Small Isles, and Skye. You can see orcas year round; however, in the summer months, chances get higher.

Minke Whales

Minke, the smallest of the whales, are most often spotted around Scotland. Minke whales were named after a Norwegian whaler named Meincke. They can reach 35 ft (10 m) and weigh about 10 tons. It's easy to identify a minke thanks to its torpedo-like shape. Minke's mouths contain about 300 baleen plates made of keratin instead of teeth that they use to filter food out of seawater. They mostly feed on plankton, small fish, and crustaceans. Only a few minke whales stay in Scotland during winter, so the best time to spot them is summer. Minke are most frequently spotted i the Moray Firth and around the Hebrides, known for a large sandeel population.

Humpback Whales

Humpbacks are the most widely spread whales in the world; however, they are spotted quite rarely in Scotland. They mostly migrate through Scotland on the way from warm tropical water to the Arctic. Unlike Minke whales, they are most often observed during February, March, and April. Some operators offer low-season whale-watching cruises at this time or you can always opt for a charter cruise.

Humpbacks are the largest whale species that you can spot in Scotland. They reach up to 60 ft (18 m) in length and weigh about 39 tons. Humpbacks can be identified thanks to their enormous pectoral flippers. Male humpback whales are known for their "songs," which can be heard for miles. These whales travel for thousands of miles every year in search of good feeding grounds and warm waters. They feed on plankton and krill, filtering the water with baleen plates.

Whale-watching cruises

Hebridean Whale Cruises offers sea adventures from Gairloch, on Scotland’s North West coast. Their season starts in May, and the trips focus on spotting common dolphins and Minke whales. Other species include harbor porpoises, Risso’s dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, humpback whales, fin whales, and orcas, as well as basking sharks and sunfish. Boats head to the Shiant Islands (Outer Hebrides) and the North Minch. Three-hour cruises cost £ 75 for adults and £ 60 for children. Four-hour orca cruises are £ 100 for adults and £ 80 for children.

Sealife Adventures offers 4-5 hour whale-watching cruises in the Corryvreckan Gulf to spot Minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In the low season, an adult ticket is £119, and a child ticket is £109. In high season, an adult ticket is £127, child ticket is £117. All trips include the Corryvreckan whirlpool and Ballachuan Hazelwood, a Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve, dramatic sea cliffs, and uninhabited islands.