moray coast, scotland

Great dolphin watching in Scotland

The Moray Firth is a very special place - home to one of only three resident bottlenose dolphin populations in the United Kingdom. There are thought to be approximately 130 dolphins living in this part of Scotland and they can be seen in the Moray Firth all year round. However, during the winter months, the population is spread out over a wider area - so your best chance of seeing dolphins is from about May to September.

During the summer dolphin watchers can see herds of 15 or more leaping from the water near the shore.

There are many places in the Moray Firth where dolphins can be spotted from land - Chanonry Point (probably one of the best places), North Kessock, Cromarty, Fort George, Nairn, Lossiemouth, Spey Bay, Cullen etc. But don't forget to take warm clothes, waterproofs & sunscreen - the weather can change quickly here in Scotland! Binoculars would also be useful & you do need to be patient! But it is definitely worth the wait.

Alternatively, there are many companies offering dolphin-watching boat trips in the Moray Firth. Choose an operator that is registered with the Dolphin Space Programme - this means that the company has agreed to a code of conduct in order to minimise their impact on the dolphins. There is never a guarantee you will see dolphins on a boat trip - as they range in a very large area, but the coastline is quite spectacular and there is plenty of other wildlife to see.