The ULTIMATE Places for Spotting Wildlife in Scotland

Nov 24

Scotland is well known for its unique and diverse wildlife and dynamic habitats, our natural landscapes are thriving with life, so it’s very likely you will spot some of our friendly fauna on your travels! For those who are extra keen to spot some of the beautiful creatures that live here, there are a few specific places across the country that will almost guarantee to deliver!

Cairngorms National Park

Home to over 25% of the UK’s rare and threatened species, the Cairngorms National Park is a fantastic place in Scotland for wildlife enthusiasts! Here you will find red squirrels, the Scottish wildcat, birds of prey, and so many more. These amazing creatures are all part of the diverse eco-system present in the national park, there is mountains, forests and wetlands, which means there is a lot of areas to explore and chances of seeing some of these animals.
The Cainrgorms National Park is full of protected reserves, 9 of them in total, giving the species the best opportunities to thrive and flourish, and allow visitors to explore safely, on the specific trails and routes that are maintained and looked after.

Throughout the year, the dramatic changing of the weather and seasons means there is different types of wildlife more present, so whenever you visit you will experience a different variety of species.

The Outer Hebrides

The Outer Hebrides is an amazing area of Scotland for wildlife, with many completely untouched landscapes, the environment up there is bursting with activity and different species, and there is far less pollution or human disruption affecting them.
The rich selection of biodiversity is due to the big mixture of coastal, moorland, and grassland habitats that present on the islands. Across the archipelago you will encounter birds of prey, red deer, highland coos and an abundance of marine life.
Whale watching is a very popular part of a trip to the Hebrides, even on the commute to get there in the first place you may spot porpoises, basking sharks and dolphins!

The Moray Firth

The Moray first is a triangular inlet of the North Sea Just north east of Inverness, and is well known for being one of the best marine wildlife watching spots in all of the UK. Here you are very likely to spot bottlenose dolphins and porpoises, salmon, seals, otters, basking sharks, and a whole lot of bird life! There is actually a group of resident bottlenose dolphins, around 130-200 of them, making it very likely for a sighting!
The rich feeding grounds of the Moray firth explain why so many amazing species can be found here, and why visitors can spot them so close to the shore. There are many points along the coastline that are easily accessible by foot!

Staffa

Staffa is an island west of the Isle of Mull, that is renowned for its magnificent puffin population. During April to July, thousands of these incredible birds come to the island to lay their eggs and rear the young. Many people take boat trips from Iona and Mull to the island, where visiting Fingal’s cave and seeing the puffins is the main attraction!
The waters surrounding this special island are full of life too, you may also see seals, dolphins and Minke or Fin whales during the summer time. This is a healthy and clean environment, which is why it is a great spot for wild life enthusiasts to explore if they can!

Bass Rock

Bass Rock is an island in the Firth and Forth, and is home to the largest northern gannet colony in the world! There is around 150,000 of these birds nesting on the island throughout the summer, so it's no surprise that this location is a favourite for those who enjoy bird watching and photography.
Visitors can take a boat trip out to Bass Rock, and observe the birds up close, watch as they plunge into the sea for fish and socialise with each other.
You may also see puffins, cormorants and kittiwakes on Bass Rock, and combining this with the stunning backdrop and scenery, makes it a great place to visit.

Because we have such an array of eco-systems here in Scotland, the wildlife is vast and unique, and spotting some on your trip around Scotland can make for a really special memory. Different kinds of wildlife can be seen throughout the entire year, many coming and going with the seasons, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled, cause you might just catch a glimpse of some of our amazing species!