MORAY FIRTH WILDLIFE

The Moray coast is one of the world’s outstanding coastlines, says the National Geographic. Not just for its natural beauty with plentiful wildlife – there are dolphins, seals, puffins and other seabirds in abundance

The resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth is one of the most northern colonies on Earth. As if that wasn’t enough, these dolphins are some of the largest in the world, measuring a whopping average of almost 4 m (13 ft) in length while specimens in other parts of the world are roughly 2.5 m (8.2 ft)! The difference in size is due to the higher percentage of blubber in Moray Firth’s dolphins to help combat the colder temperatures of the North Sea.

There are a small selection of boat charters and wildlife cruises which offer the chance to see these playful creatures up close for a truly memorable experience. You might catch a glimpse of the world’s second largest fish, the basking shark, or spot one of our frequent visitors such as the minke whale or pilot whale which are more commonly seen during the summer months.