Scotland’s mountains, islands and sea lochs hold wildlife that is rare or absent elsewhere in Britain: golden and white-tailed eagles, otters, red squirrels, pine martens, puffins and bottlenose dolphins. With good roads and ferries, it is easy to explore in a week or two.
At a glance
| Best time | May to July (seabirds); September to October (red deer rut) |
| Getting there | Fly to Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness |
| Time needed | 7 to 14 days |
| Big draws | Eagles, otters, puffins, dolphins, red deer, red squirrels |
| Good for | Families, road trips, photographers |
Where to go
Isle of Mull
- White-tailed eagles: reintroduced to Scotland from Norway from 1975, they are now common on Mull. Boat trips from Ulva Ferry offer close views as eagles swoop for fish.
- Golden eagles in the mountains, and otters along the shores. See our golden eagle and Eurasian otter profiles.
- Lunga (Treshnish Isles): puffins at close range in summer, by boat from Mull.
- Whales and dolphins: minke whales, dolphins and basking sharks in summer. See our basking shark profile.
The Cairngorms
- Britain’s largest national park, with red squirrels, pine martens (from hides), capercaillies (rare), crested tits, ospreys and mountain hares. See our red squirrel profile.
- Reindeer: a free-ranging herd reintroduced in 1952.
- Beavers have been released in parts of the Highlands.
Chanonry Point (Moray Firth)
One of the best places in Europe to watch bottlenose dolphins from land, as they hunt salmon on the rising tide from about May to September. See our bottlenose dolphin profile.
Seabird colonies
- Isle of May (Firth of Forth): puffins, guillemots and razorbills.
- Bass Rock: the world’s largest northern gannet colony. See our northern gannet profile.
- Handa Island, Fowlsheugh and the Shetland and Orkney islands.
Red deer
Scotland’s largest land mammal is common in the Highlands. The autumn rut, when stags roar and fight, is spectacular on the Isle of Rum, in Glen Etive and elsewhere. See our red deer profile.
When to go
- April to July: breeding seabirds, puffins, ospreys.
- May to September: dolphins at Chanonry Point; whales off the west coast.
- September to October: the red deer rut; salmon leaping; autumn colours.
- Winter: wild geese in huge numbers, mountain hares in white coats.
Tips
- Bring waterproofs and midge repellent (midges are fierce in summer).
- Book boat trips to Lunga and the Treshnish Isles well ahead.
- Stay in hides at dusk for pine martens and badgers.
- Follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to see wildlife in Scotland? The Isle of Mull is often called the best, with eagles, otters, puffins and whales.
When can I see puffins in Scotland? From about late April to early August.
Can I see dolphins from land in Scotland? Yes, at Chanonry Point near Inverness, from about May to September.
Are there still wolves or lynx in Scotland? No. Both were hunted to extinction; lynx reintroduction has been proposed but not approved.
Related guides
- Where to see puffins in Iceland
- Rewilding Europe
- Bear and wolverine watching in Finland
- Animal profiles: Eurasian otter, Golden eagle, Atlantic puffin
Cover photo: Christoph Müller (http://www.christophmueller.org), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons