Whale watching in Scotland

For many, experiencing the presence of a whale is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; people travel all over the globe seeking out a sighting of a blue whale’s tail, an orca’s playful leap, or a humpback’s enormous ‘blow’. Whilst there are world-class locations for whale watching including Canada, Iceland, South Africa and Sri Lanka, Scotland's coastlines should not be overlooked as equally fantastic destinations.

Did you know that Scotland is one of the best places in the world to get a sighting of whales? It is indeed a popular haunt for a few different breeds of the elegant cetacean including minke whales, fin whales, killer whales, pilot whales and the largest of all, the blue whale.

Whilst you can seek out these fascinating creatures by partaking in organised boat trips or nature cruises across Scotland, there are many peninsulas and promontories from which you might catch a glimpse of them with your feet on dry land. Pack the binoculars, a picnic and a whole lot of patience, and head to the sea for a chance to spot your first whale fin cutting the surface. Read on to discover the best locations for spotting whales across Scotland. 

Skip to:

• Which whales can you find in Scotland?
• Which is the best month to see whales?
• Can you see minke whales in Scotland?
• Can you see blue whales in Scotland?
• Where to spot fin whales in Scotland
• Where to see orcas in Scotland
• Whale watching experiences in Scotland

Which whales can you find in Scotland?

There are varying species of whales that can be seen off the Scottish shores and these include the minke whale, the orca, the humpback whale, the fin whale, the pilot whale and on rare occasions, the blue whale. The most commonly seen whales in Scotland are minke whales, lone travellers of the ocean, and the orca.

Which is the best month to see whales?

The best time of year to see whales in Scotland is from June to September. These months are classed as the most optimum as the waters are at their warmest and the whales’ prey is at its most abundant.

Can you see minke whales in Scotland? 

Yes, the most commonly seen whale in Scotland is the minke whale. Minke whales can reach up to 35 feet in length, can live for up to 50 years and can weigh up to 20,000 pounds. 

To determine whether you are seeing a minke whale or not, there are a few characteristics you can look out for; they have a small, curved dorsal fin which is set quite far back on its body, they have a narrow and pointed snout, and they are a dark grey/brown colour with a pale underside. They also have a white band on each pectoral flipper. 

Best time to see minke whales in Scotland

Although minke whales can be seen in Scotland at any time between May and October, the prime time to spot them is between July and September.

Best place to see minke whales in Scotland

Minke whales tend to like cruising around the Small Isles of Scotland. These are the isles of Canna, Rum, Muck and Eigg which are situated between the Isle of Skye and Mull. Minkes have also been spotted around Gairloch on the West Coast, the Moray Firth, which is also a great spot for dolphins, and the Islands of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. 

All of these locations are utterly beautiful and there are many companies that can take you on wildlife tours in the hope of a sighting. Junior minke whales are particularly curious and inquisitive and have been known to approach boats, so keep your fingers crossed if you happen to hop on a nature cruise – you could get lucky. 

Can you see blue whales in Scotland?

Most people don’t know that you can see blue whales in Scotland. You have to go very far north to find them, all the way up to Shetland in fact, and sightings are very rare. There is a sea channel connecting the Faroe Islands to Shetland which encompasses Rockall Trough, a 50-mile-long sea trench which is perfect for deep-diving whales, and blue whales have been known to swim in this territory.

Blue whales were hunted almost to extinction before the whaling ban in 1966, so to get a sighting of one is an absolute privilege. Blue whales can grow to more than 100 feet long, they can weigh up to 300,000 pounds and they have the largest hearts of all mammals, weighing in at around 400 pounds.

Best time to see blue whales in Scotland 

Like most whale sightings, the best months are between May and October, with July to September being the optimum time. But a sighting of a blue whale is far from guaranteed, as they are extremely rare in Scotland.  

Best place to see blue whales in Scotland

The best places to find blue whales in Scotland are in the waters to the North and West Coast in the North Sea.

Where to spot fin whales in Scotland

Although incredibly rare in British waters, we are proud of the fact that the fin whale, the second largest after the blue whale, has been seen off the North Coast of Scotland. They are known to migrate through British and Irish waters each summer and this is when you may be lucky enough to get a sighting. 

The fin whale gets its name from its obvious and easy-to-spot fin on its back, which sits close to its tail. They also have a distinct ridge along their back. They can grow up to 20 metres long, with some females reaching 24 metres, and can be as heavy as 80,000 kilograms! 

Best time to see fin whales in Scotland

The best time to spot a fin whale in Scotland is between the months of May and October, with July to September being the optimum time for sightings. 

Best place to see fin whales in Scotland

The Atlantic Sea channel between the Outer Hebrides and the Northwest Highlands, known as the Minch, is one of the best places to see fin whales in Scotland. This location is best for sighting rarer whales including humpback, sei and pilot whales. 

There is a ferry that sails from Ullapool on the mainland to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, and quite often visitors and locals alike will spot whales and dolphins during the crossing. Whilst it is hard to know exactly which whale you are seeing, there is usually someone on board who will be able to help!

Where to see orcas in Scotland

Orcas, also known as ‘killer whales’, are most commonly seen off the North and West Coasts of Scotland. They are part of the whale family, but also the dolphin family, which makes them a bit of a hybrid. 

Orcas travel in pods, and the pods that swim around the West Coast are well-recognised by experts and locals, who track and report on their movements which works towards building up a better understanding of how often they frequent our waters. There is a small pod known to reside all year round on the West Coast, but this has decreased down to a pod of two male whales that have been given the names John Coe and Aquarius.

Orcas are black and white, they can grow up to 10 metres long and can weigh up to 5,500 kilograms. They also have a lifespan similar to humans and can reach 90 years old in some cases. They are also, after humans, the most widely distributed mammal due to their amazing ability to adapt to most habitats. To top all that off, they can swim up to 34 miles per hour! 

Best time to see orcas in Scotland 

The best time to see Orcas in Scotland is between May and September with July and August being good months for clarity in the weather and warmer waters. To increase your chances of a sighting, you could always arrange your trip around Orca Watch which happens every year. The dates may change year-to-year so keep an eye on the website for more information. 

Best place to see killer whales in Scotland

Some of the best locations to spot killer whales on the West Coast are the Isle of Skye, Gairloch, the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Mull.

Another great place to see killer whales is the North Coast and the Orkney Islands. To get to Orkney you can catch a ferry from John O’Groats on the North Coast, lasting around 40 minutes. This is a wildlife adventure in itself, with dolphins, porpoises, puffins, seals, egrets and whales all being spotted from the deck. There are daily ferries through the months of May to September. 

Like the minke whale, orcas are frequently seen between the Isle of Skye and Mull, circling the Small Isles and also around Shetland between May and August when they come inshore to hunt seals. 

Whale watching experiences in Scotland

Whilst looking for whales from the shore can be a lovely way to spend the day, getting out on the water is the best way to get up close and personal with marine life. There are many guided tours led by experts and professionals in the field who love taking you out for the chance to spot a whale from the deck. 

Here are some great whale watching experiences to try when visiting Scotland.

Hebridean Whale Cruises 

This fantastic wildlife company operates from the coastal village of Gairloch and aims to give you a wonderful experience filled with all sorts of marine life. Taking you out on the waters of the North Minch, you will be surrounded by stunning scenery as well as thousands of seabirds including puffins, guillemots and white-tailed eagles. 

From mid-May, they offer two whale watching tours that run on a daily basis and offer a good chance of spotting whales whilst taking you close to their feeding grounds.

Sealife Adventures 

This wildlife tour company is based just outside Oban on the West Coast of Scotland and aims to take you on a wonderful coastal adventure to see whales and dolphins amongst other amazing sea life. As well as being exceptional for spotting minke whales and porpoises, there is a high chance you will experience sightings of seals, basking sharks, otters, sea eagles, puffins and more. 

All of their tours take you to one of the most highly protected marine areas in Britain – the Firth of Lorne. This is a Special Area of Conservation and a Marine Protected Area – meaning it is a hotspot for whale sightings due to its rich feeding grounds! 

Skye Seafari Experience  

Head to Portree on the Isle of Skye and hop on an impressive speed boat with an experienced guide and enjoy amazing scenery, imposing cliffs, sea life, bird life and a good dose of local history. With recorded sightings of minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks and sea eagles, you are bound to be blown away by this family-run tour. 

This is also a lovely way to see the rugged landscape of the Isle of Skye from a different perspective, and if you are lucky, a minke whale will come and say hello. 

Book a place to stay for your whale watching holiday in Scotland

If we have inspired you to come and spot whales for yourselves, why not make a trip of it and stay in one of our self-catering cottages? With handpicked cottages ranging from cosy coastal boltholes for two to home-from-homes for the whole family, we have something to suit everyone.