Five Places to Go Whale Watching in The United Kingdom
By Anonymous
Maybe you have never thought of the UK as a place to go to watch whales. However, there are over 20 species to be seen around the long and varied coastline of these islands, which can be seen close to the shore. They can even been seen in Wales!
If you are lucky you may see a member of the cetacean (whale) family almost anywhere around the coast, however, commercial holiday trips are centred on the following locations and species:
- Western Scotland and Minke Whales
- Eastern Scotland and Bottlenose Dolphin
- Wales and Bottlenose Dolphins
- South West England and Porpoises
- Northern Ireland and Porpoises.
Western Scotland and Minke Whales
The minke whale is a small baleen species, but none the less delightful to watch.
If you travel in the western coast and islands of Scotland look out for local
trips offered from a number of harbours for the minke from time to time. One
of the most popular is the excursion service which sails from the harbor at
Tobermory, on the Island of Mull.
Boat trips are available on an almost daily basis from the Isle of Mull, and cruises explore the wonderfully scenic inner hebridean waters, which are breathtakingly unspoilt and beautiful: Surely worth the visit even without the whales! There is a claimed 98% success rate for sightings made by one operator, and you may see in addition to the minke whale, the porpoise, basking sharks, common dolphins, Risso's dolphins, the orca sometimes (killer whale), plus common and grey seals often.
Eastern Scotland and Bottlenose Dolphins
Bottlenose dolphin viewing trips are centered on Scotland's Moray Firth, however,
they do populate the entire coast. Although the Moray population is only small
at 110 to 125 animals they do make a marvelous sight. The name bottlenose comes
from their bulging forehead.
This, the shape which gives them their name, houses an organ called the melon, which comprises a body of fat and oily tissue.This amazing organ allows dolphins to echo locate their food and to communicate with each other as they swim in 'schools'.They can be seen from the shore at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society center at Spey Bay, and regular boat trips leave from Buckie.
Wales and Bottlenose Dolphins
Cardigan Bay in Wales is home to a larger group of bottlenose dolphins of about
200 individuals. This group is less regularly watched, but trips do regularly
make sightings, departing from New Quay harbor. Information about recent sightings
can be obtained at The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife site.
South West England and Porpoises
There are opportunities for sightings on the coast of the south west of England
including from the cliffs of Devon and Dorset especially to walk with the warden
on the cliffs of Exmoor National Park, in Devon and be shown whales at sea.
Porpoises will be your most likely sightings, until you reach the south western
tip of the south west peninsula. Here, close to Land's End, whale watching boat
trips embark from Penzance, Cornwall, throughout the year and these do allow
you to see more species.
Please note that Whereas trips are seasonal in Scotland, winters are sufficiently warmer in Cornwall that sailings can take place all year round. Nevertheless, we recommend that visitors do choose the warmer and calmer days to make the sailing during winter. Not only do the trippers from Penzance see porpoises regularly, they also reportedly see bottlenose dolphins in the spring and summer months, and in the winter common dolphins, plus Risso's dolphins. Larger whale species are at times spotted, such as minke whales. Basking sharks are also frequent visitors seen.
Northern Ireland and Porpoises
There is less tourist viewing activity in Northern Ireland, but that is not
due to a sparsity of cetacean's, and it is more likely due to a less well developed
tourist market. Harbor porpoises are again, the most often seen. Visitors may
be able to find whale watching trips at a number of locations in the summer
season.
Whale watching caution: While it is essential that as many people as possible get to see cetacean's in their natural state in the wild to appreciate these wonderful animals, there is also grave concern that by watching them we may also unintentionally harm them.One body which has realized this and has set out to do something about it throughout the UK, is the WiSe (short for Wildlife Safe) organization. They have written a code of good practice for all private whale watchers, and the employees of organizations, running commercial trips to comply with, within a voluntary scheme.
The idea is that by complying, all boats will keep a good distance away from the animals at all times, collisions which have on rare occasions caused injury to the animals, will be avoided, and the animals will not be stressed by the intrusive presence of watchers. So far uptake of this code has been good, so there is reason for optimism.
Planned research into the possible negative effects of whale watching will also help us to understand the special risks of commercial watching to their breeding success. For those planning to take a whale watching trip we do ask you to look for commercial services that have undertaken to train all of their employees to comply with the code.
However, with cetacean's now enjoying conservation status there has been general stability in numbers, if not in some areas a possible small increase in numbers. So, at least for now, their future around UK shores, would appear reasonably secure. Whale watching can be a 'never forgotten' experience for many people.
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