Courtesy of Martin Webb
Courtesy of Martin Webb Dolphins, kites, sealsCourtesy and of Richard Waller even a monster!*
Arrive in Inverness, the capital A trip to Inverness could not The Moray Firth is home to Today, head east along the On your final day head inland of the Highlands, which be without a visit to Loch the world’s most northerly A96 towards Aberdeen where to the rich Caledonian pine will act as a base for your Ness. The loch itself is so population of bottlenose your first stop is at Culbin forests in Glen Affric. Take holiday. From here there are deep and murky that there dolphins. Join one of the Sands. Walk through the the A862 from Inverness a number of day trips which is often little wildlife about Wild Scotland boat trips from forest (stopping at the viewing towards Beauly and before will offer some spectacular (except for the monster of Cromarty or Lossiemouth or tower along the way) to the you reach the village, turn wildlife-watching. In the city course!). For the best views Buckie for a great chance of golden beach and a chance left onto the A831 towards itself, there are lovely walks of the loch, take the B862 seeing these wild animals. to spot seals and seabirds. Cannich (signposted Glen along the River Ness and from Inverness along the A great spot to watch the Continue east along the coast Affric). There are some lovely the Caledonian Canal where south side of the loch where dolphins is from Channonry to Elgin and onto the B9104 way-marked walks as well as you should watch out for the there’s a lovely beach at Point on the Black Isle, just to Spey Bay. Visit the Whale & some serious mountains for occasionalDay seal1 or goosander. Dores.Day From Dores,2 head up northDay of Inverness. 3 The DolphinDay Conservation 4 Society munro-baggers.Day 5 If you are To make the most of your towards Essich and visit Loch Black Isle is a great place visitor centre, café and shop, lucky you may see a pine time, join a wildlife watching Ruthven. This RSPB nature for wildlife, as well as the located at the mouth of the marten, red squirrel or even a trip such as Red Kite Tours. reserve is home to Slavonian dolphins keep an eye out for river Spey - good place to spot golden eagle. grebes with their brilliant red kites, otters, pine marten dolphins and other wildlife from plumage from April to June. and even Scottish wildcat. the shore. Ospreys fish in the Stop at Udale Bay on the estuary in summer. If there’s Black Isle’s north coast for time on the way back, stop plenty of wading birds. at Findhorn near Forres. This pretty village offers a lovely beach walk and great pub food.
Wildlife Highlights Jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sept oct nov dec
1 Bottlenose dolphin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Osprey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Common seal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4 Red squirrel ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Red kite ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Pine marten ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7 Otter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8 Slavonian grebe ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Scottish wildcat all year, but difficult to spot ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10 Loch Ness Monster extremely rare * * * * * * * * * * * *
Inverness & the Moray Firth Dolphins, kites, seals and even a monster! www.wild-scotland.co.uk SCOTLAND
Inverness & the 5 Moray Firth spey bay 4 2 3 8 9 aberdeen 6 Dolphins,7 kites,inverness seals and even a monster! Courtesy of Craignish Cruises
LOCH NESS
fort william edinburgh
Organisations not shown on the map are either regional initiatives or run holidays to the area, but are based elsewhere.
1 the dolphin space programme 5 moray diving 9 Wild at Heart ecoholidays Conservation programme and accreditation scheme Wildlife watching boat trips and diving Wildlife, activity and eco/ethical holidays. supporting dolphin watch boats in the Moray Firth. expeditions from Lossiemouth. Special family short breaks. Tel: 07961 106144 Tel: 07775 802963 Tel: 01309 674768 www.dolphinspace.org www.moraydiving.com www.wildatheart-ecoholidays.com
2 ecoventures 6 red kite tours Accommodation Wildlife watching boat trips from Wildlife tours throughout the Highlands The Bird Watching and Wildlife Club Cromarty on the Moray Firth. with wildlife guide, Jonathan Willet. Tel: 01479 872526 www.bwwc.co.uk Tel: 01381 600323 Tel: 07740 216595 The Pitsligo Arms www.ecoventures.co.uk www.redkitetours.co.uk Tel: 01771 653208 www.thepitsligoarms.co.uk
3 Gemini marine charters 7 The wdcs dolphin & seal centre Holiday companies Marine wildlife and dolphin watching from Small visitor centre at N. Kessock. run by the Whale & Caledonian Discovery Buckie on the Moray Firth. Dolphin Conservation Society. Open: Easter to Sept. Tel: 01397 772167 www.fingal-cruising.co.uk Tel: 07747 626280 Tel: 01463 731866 Speyside Wildlife www.geminimarinecharters.com www.wdcs.org Tel: 01479 812498 www.speysidewildlife.co.uk Heatherlea 4 puffin cruises 8 the wdcs wildlife centre, spey bay Tel: 01479 821248 www.heatherlea.co.uk Wildlife watching boat trips from Macduff harbour. Wildlife visitor centre, café and shop run by the ROUTE STATISTICS Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society. Length 5 days / 4 nights Tel: 01542 832560 Tel: 01343 820339 Mode of transport Car www.puffincruises.com www.wdcs.org Start/finish Inverness
Inverness & the Moray Firth Dolphins, kites, seals and even a monster! www.wild-scotland.co.uk