The name gairloch comes from the gaelic ghearr loch, meaning short loch referring to the relatively short sea loch that runs along the coast here the population is approx. Unfortunately, wester ross isnt the most convenient area to navigate by public transport. Oct 23, 2015 scotland s official number one whale watching tour based in gairloch in the north west highlands. The land is hilly and farming isnt very productive, but creel fishing for shellfish is a traditional occupation. From here the road makes its way past gairloch golf club, where a car park also gives access to a beautiful beach. The north minch is one of scotland s recognized hotspots for whale and dolphin sightings. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by gairloch heritage museum, while those wishing to experience the areas natural beauty can explore gairloch beach and big sand beach. Our skipper for the day was the lovely steve, top skipper anyone visiting gairloch should really try to book on the 4 hour trip if possible. Here youll find address details, telephone number and map location.
Whale cruising whatever the weather hebridean whale. Gairloch is a fantastic place to visit and of course for exploring wester ross and the north west highlands. Gairloch visitor guide accommodation, things to do. Wildlife expert jonathan willet shares his experience and research into how to spot an orca in scotland. Unfortunately the number of boats are in decline, a situation which is not much different from other fishing towns in scotland. Restaurants near hebridean whale cruises, gairloch, scotland. Scotland s access legislation the land reform act 2003. Great savings on hotels in gairloch, united kingdom online. Gairloch is about four and a half hours drive north of edinburgh. Wester ross is one of europes finest areas for watching marine wildlife.
The old inn gairloch is a traditional highland coaching inn overlooking gairloch harbour on the west coast of scotland. So whether you prefer a trip around the island of raasay, or a high speed trip out towards the shiant islands to see puffins or whales on the orca 1, you will have an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. Set within a 26,000 acre estate, the quiet shieldaig lodge is a popular base for hill walking, deer stalking, and fishing. Every year sea watch organises a national whale and dolphin watch week, when.
Walks for all abilities and on all types of terrain in wester ross in the scottish. Bird watching highlights include sea eagles, golden eagles, puffins and a great variety of seabirds. Hebridean whale cruises gairloch 2020 all you need to know. So the weather is out of our control and initially i felt the trip should have been cancelled, however the skipper decided to take us to shant isles to get away from the strong southerly winds coming in as we headed north, great call and we saw our first puffins. When deciding, think about the trip youd like, the time you. Hebridean whale cruises in gairloch scotland youtube. On the west coast of scotland, loch gairloch in wester ross looks out towards the atlantic ocean and the distant outer hebrides. Whale watching and wildlife cruises from gairloch, on scotland s spectacular north west coast. This short but varied walk takes in the stunning gaineamh mhor beach of gairloch before climbing across to the pier at charlestown. We are the most successful whale watching operators in the gairloch area, and have had some fantastic wildlife encounters over the years.
Prices and booking our online booking system is open book here 2020 prices cruise adult child 412yrs shiant islands 3 hours start of season only. The north minch is one of scotlands recognized hotspots for whale and dolphin sightings. Whether in a tent or a camper van, theres simply no more authentic way to experience the highlands than to wild camp north coast 500. Other whale watching tours ive been on that were smaller like this have been really intense boat rides. Restaurants near hebridean whale cruises, gairloch on tripadvisor. For hebridean whale trail conservation charity the hebridean whale and. The 10 best gairloch accommodation of 2020 prices from au. The best places to see whales in scotland the scotsman. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in gairloch, scottish highlands on tripadvisor. Over the past few years sightings have been made of minke, sei, sperm, orca, humpback, pilot and bottlenose whales. On this cruise, we venture out to the whale and dolphin feeding grounds in either, the north minch, inner sound or the sound of raasay depending on where we know or think the animals may be found.
Scotland s official number one whale watching tour based in gairloch in the north west highlands. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in rome2rios travel planner. Activities inverewe gardens wester ross, highlands, scotland. We saw 12 minke whale with one being a very young one which swam with the boat for a short time, great close up view of it. There are 6 ways to get from glasgow to gairloch by train, bus, night train, car or towncar. Situated in a stunning bay, opposite the town of gairloch, the village has a fantastic pub the badachro inn which serves lunches and dinners. Long open roads, vast scenic landscapes, wide meandering country tracks and some of scotlands finest coastal scenery are just a few of the memorable things that await you on the famous north coast 500. Guests can opt for a wee breakfast of cereal, scottish yogurt, fresh fruit, tea and. Humpback whale match between scotland and iceland gbsct lyndsay mcneill, a hairdresser from fife, has matched one of our photos of a humpback whale to photos taken by a. Boat trips, wildlife excursions and more gairloch harbour. The name gairloch comes from the gaelic ghearr loch, meaning short loch referring to the relatively short sea loch that runs along the coast here. Best whale watching trip ever hebridean whale cruises.
Hotels near hebridean whale cruises, gairloch on tripadvisor. Gairloch sands youth hostel sits on the northern shore of loch gairloch with. Ive been fortunate to go out with several whale and dolphin watching operators in the uk hebridean whale cruises is one of the best. The old inn is well known in scotland and beyond for its friendly welcome and relaxed atmosphere whether guests are enjoying the accommodation, the outstanding seafood or the real ales that have won the old inn pub of the. This charming hotel, built in 1872, is just minutes from the beach and boasts stunning views to the western isles from the public areas. Whale watching and wildlife cruises from gairloch, on scotlands spectacular north west coast. Download our pdf of the top things to do in gairloch, melvaig, wester ross and the. Hebridean whale cruises gairloch all you need to know. At our gairloch harbour booking office where to find us. The fortrose bay campsite near inverness is located on the shores of the black isle, overlooking the moray firth near chanory point, which is considered one of the best places in europe to view bottlenose dolphins. Best accommodation near hebridean whale cruises, gairloch. There are several good sandy beaches in the area, such as the brilliantlynamed big sand, and at redpoint, which offers lovely views to raasay, skye and the western isles, an. Where to wild camp north coast 500, scotlands world class. Licensed to youtube by grupa bb media music, kobalt.
Gairloch boat club has a clubhouse at gairloch harbour, the sailing area being the waters of loch gairloch, particularly flowerdale bay. The shiant islands cruise startofseason only, from gairloch during this 3hr cruise we travel directly to the shiant islands, where well cruise around them, looking at the estimated 250,000 atlantic puffins. Bank of scotland gairloch, gairloch in gairloch, phone 01445 252002 with opening times and driving directions. Most of gairloch s shops are found in strath, a short distance along the b8021 from its junction with the main a832. Whale watching trip off gairloch, scotland youtube. Restful, beautiful and brimming with highland hospitality, the tastefully appointed gairloch hotel stands in a superb location. Orcas are magnificent creatures and are the largest members of the dolphin family they have to be seen to be believed.
Please be aware file is large and may take time to download. There is not a hard and fast rule to this as the dolphins are resident in the moray firth and north east scotland and can technically be watched all year round if you know where to go. Crew were really knowledgeable and the rib went pretty quick through the water, a real thrill. Dolphin and whale watching in scotland featured in. Gairloch marine life centre and cruises, likely to see harbour porpoises. Hebridean whale cruises gairloch 2020 all you need to. Sealife adventures wildlife and whale watching boat trips. Sealife adventures run whale search and wildlife watching boat trips from our pontoon on the mainland near oban on the west coast of scotland. Gairloch and the minch provide habitat and migratory feeding grounds for a diverse range of marine life, from marine mammals such as whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals to numerous species of seabirds, and not forgetting ocean sunfish, basking sharks, jellyfish and even the occasional leatherback turtle and walrus. Also sailing from gairloch is the hebridean whale cruise which cruises the waters off the north west coast of scotland, home to a thriving. Did the 4 hour tour last week, there was not much happening until the minke whale appeared and then the dolphins and the white tale eagle. So, strap yourself in and prepare for a road trip of a lifetime.
To get to the whale spouts quickly you need a fast boat so theres no a lot you can do about the bumpiness. Gairloch visitor guide visitscotland scotlands national. There is regular club sailing, the days and times of which are dependent on the tides, and two open events each year. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, gairloch has a golf course, a museum, several hotels, a variety of shops, chinese and fish and chip. Though the most common are minke whales, one might also come across other species including orcas, humpbacks, fins, and sperms. The most southerly is at charlestown where you can find gairloch s harbour. Hebridean whale cruises gairloch 2020 what to know. Golden sandy beaches are only a five minute walk away and boat trips to watch whales and dolphins are available from nearby gairloch.
Scotland s access legislation the land reform act 2003, permits wild camping on most unenclosed land. Located in gairloch, gairloch hotel is near the beach. Europe united kingdom uk scotland scottish highlands. Aug 15, 2017 gairloch is part of wester ross on the northwest coast of scotland, around 70 miles west of inverness. Minke whale, dolphins, orcas and even humpback whales are regular spotted. This cruise targets the areas within 15 to 20 miles radius of gairloch pier. Day trips from gairloch include whale watching expeditions and boat trips to the shiant islands. The area is exceptional for porpoise, minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters and seals. There are fantastic walks and numerous water sport activities as well as tours on the water and whale watching etc.
From gairloch, you can embark on a whale watching cruise. A question that our staff and volunteers are asked hundreds of times a year is the when is the best time to see dolphins. Need to know the opening times for bank of scotland in gairloch. Common, white beaked and rissos dolphins, harbour porpoises, basking sharks. Most visitors only follow the minor road as far as the shops.
Gairloch marine life centre, porpoise, dolphin and whale cruises. Gairloch is a picturesque, secluded beach, set amidst rugged moorland and mountainous scenery, with views out over the minch. Situated on the shore of loch gairloch amongst the aweinspiring scenery of wester ross, gairloch offers a wealth of spectacular scenery and activities for visitors. Glasgow to gairloch 2 ways to travel via train, bus, night.
Whales and dolphins are frequent guests in scottish offshore waters. She is a seagoing rhib rigid hull inflatable boat with the power to travel quickly to whale and dolphin feeding grounds offshore. Times are tough for the travel community right now. Gairloch gairloch is a straggling community along the west coast of ross and cromarty in the scottish highlands. Whale watching and wildlife cruises from gairloch, on scotlands. It is brimming with ideas and links to everything you can think of to doand below is a little taster. We are the first operator in gairloch who will take you offshore out of loch gairloch and into the vast open waters of the north minch, between the mainland and the western isles. How to spot killer whales orcas in scotland wilderness. Gairloch boat club, pier road, gairloch, gairloch 2020. Beinn eighe nature reserve includes all abilities routes download pdf. Guests can also enjoy mountain biking over the rugged landscapes of wester ross or around glen torridon. The best whale watching in europe cetacean habitat. As a settlement, gairloch has a number of separately named and distinct points of focus.
Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by gairloch heritage museum, while those wishing to experience the areas natural beauty can explore gairloch beach and redpoint beach. Licensed to youtube by grupa bb media music, kobalt awal digital limited, merlin liberation music, rebeat. Gairloch harbour fishing was an important way to make a living in earlier times for many people in the area, also for the village of badachro across the loch. We are gairlochs premier wildlife operator dedicated to raising awareness of. Three hot spots are usually found listed as being among the best for whale, porpoise, and dolphin watching and if you are in wester ross, you are in one of them. Badachro is one of scotlands hidden gems, on the north coast 500. Visit wester ross whale watching boat trips and fishing.
Download it for free and help to collect the information needed to understand the marine environment. Your support will go a long way in helping tour operators worldwide get back on their feet down the road. All booked up for a special day whale watching except it was called off after an hour at sea due to sea fog, most disappointed as this was the only bad day in a week of glorious sunshine thats the scottish. Join a community of citizen scientists monitoring whales and dolphins on the west coast of scotland. The beach is situated on the southern outskirts of the village of gairloch, with free parking available beside the golf course. Boat trips, wildlife tours, self drive boats, fishing, glass bottomed boat, sailing and kayaking what to expect and how to choose the trip for you gairloch harbour is the base for several trip operators, and you will be spoiled for choice. Traditionally mull has always been considered the best place in britain for boatbased minke whale watching but for me gairloch and the minch surpasses it. Book here covid19 updatefollowing the governmental guidelines we have currently delayed the start of our. Highly recommend hebridean whale cruises, gairloch. Hebridean whale cruises whale watching and sea cruises.
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