ideas about best place for dolphins, whales etc in scotland?

[shelsco]

My husband and eldest son desperately want to see dolphins, killer whales etc and have heard that the west coast of Scotland is the place to go. I don't want something toooo remote but fancy a log cabin or perhaps a caravan in a park. we have 4 boys,(eldest 11) the youngest will only be 18 months next summer when we want to go. Any ideas for places where we would get a few decent days out for young kids as well as good sight seeing of wildlife. Started googling but got completely overwhelmed with info!Hope someone can give us some recommendations. Tbh i wasn't mad keen on the idea of Scotland, although I don't really know why!

[displayuntiltwelfthnight]

west coast of Scotland is simply beautiful.
Lots of seals off the Isle of Arran and check
this for dolphin sites - you can fill in what wildlife you are hoping to see and then find locations.
I am

[TheTwelveDAISYofChristmas]

We just had a week in Fife and spent ages watching a pod of porpoises frolicking in the Forth Estuary, about 200yds off shore. Cottage was in a village called West Wemyss and was lovely. Probably not big enough for your family though, but there are lots of lovely fishing villages along the Fife coast.

Have also seen dolphins off the coast of Skye, and lots of the tourist centres like Oban and Fort William offer whale watching boat trips.

Scotland is gorgeous, especially if the weather gods are being kind, although if you are averse to biting insects, the West Coast in summer is NOT the place to be...the midgies are legendary!!!

[cornsilklikeshumous]

Cork in Ireland supposed to be excellent for whale watching. Can get cheap flights.

[shelsco]

what a great website - thanks display. DH and DS will have a field day with it. Will have a look at isle of Arran. think it may be the weather that puts me off. Have only been to Scotland on holiday once and it did tank down!!
Twelvedays- Never thought of fife funnily enough because I do have relatives there. Never really thought of it as a tourist place for kids but forth estuary does sound good. where did you get your info from before you decided to go? Was it online?

[shelsco]

Hadn't heard that about Cork. Do quite fancy a trip to Ireland.

[cornsilklikeshumous]

try googling whale watching cork

[cornsilklikeshumous]

I read once that it's the best place in Europe to see whales

[TheTwelveDAISYofChristmas]

I'm from Fife originally, so have local knowledge

There is a large seal colony at Seafield in Kirkcaldy as well as other places along the coast there. St Andrews good for a place to stay; there is a sealife/seal sanctuary, bird watching boat trips out to the bass rock and May Island (lots of puffins) and there are lots of lovely parks and attractions as well; Deer Farms (one with captive wolves), a cold war bunker that is now open for visitors and pretty interesting and there is the coastal path which goes from the Forth to the Tay Bridge, and Dundee has some good attractions as well, including a replica of the Discovery that took Scott to the Antarctic.

Google the East Neuk for information.

ooooh, feeling all homesick and nostalgic now

[midnightexpress]

I've seen whales and dolphins off the coast of Skye/Kintail, but the Moray Firth is probably a safer bet tbh. Spey Bay worth a look. The part nearer to Inverness/Nairn is nicer than the end closer to Aberdeen (IMO).

Another place you might consider is Mull, which seems to kind of specialise in wildlife stuff. It's also absolutely gorgeous: white sand beaches, lovely cliff scenery, and you can take trips to visit Iona/Fingal's Cave/Ulva. In fact, we stayed here in Sept (possibly a bit bush for you, though a lovely house and slap bang next to the beach) and the lady who owns it runs the whale and dolphin trust that runs out of Tobermory. Most of the main tourist places on the west coast have seal/dolphin trips: Tobermory (on Mull) does, Oban does, and Kyle of Lochalsh and Plockton, that I can think of, and I'm sure there will be others.

Arran is fantastically easy and seals practically come up and shake your hand, also red squirrels and loads of deer. I haven't seen whales/dolphins there though.

Midgies worst in Jul/Aug, as soon as it cools down they bugger off so Sept usually not too bad.

[nuttysquirrel]

oooh no offence to Fifers, but don't bother with the Firth of Forth, after years of living in Scotland and I think that the west coast is the most stunning place to visit in what is a fab country.

The best weather in the highlands is usually May/early June, not sure why, usually dry and sunny unlike most of July/Aug/Sept (keep telling my folks but they don't believe me). Just seems to be more stable dryer weather and the advantage of much fewer midges as they haven't really get going.

www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usmapindexes/argyll.html

[shelsco]

Well i'm back. Got side tracked by school plays etc.
Thanks folks. Mull did seem to keep popping up when I looked on the net. Think we may go for that. Last link v handy by the way. Gives good idea of placesto look out for once we're there.