Experience Scotland's wildlife

Take a walk on the wild side in Scotland. Our coasts and countryside, our islands and seas, and our miles upon square miles of beautiful landscapes are the perfect setting for wonderful wildlife.

 

You can enjoy Scotland's natural wonders all year round, so get out in the fresh air, keep your eyes peeled, and you never know what wildlife you might discover. From rutting red deer to leaping dolphins, white swans to red kites, cute red squirrels to secretive otters, furry seal pups, wild geese, and a whole lot more.

 

We've picked just a few highlights from the many wild things you can see, these are experiences you'll cherish forever.

 

• Discover Scotland’s remarkable marine wildlife

  

  The nutrient rich coastal waters of Scotland are an excellent place for whale and marine wildlife watching.

• Enjoy great bird watching in Scotland

  

  Scotland is a birdwatcher’s paradise and home to a surprising array of rich environments from mountains and lochs to forests and marsh.

• Experience night time wildlife trips

  

  A fantastic time to discover Scotland’s wildlife and endangered species is during late evening or dawn

• Explore Britain's largest National Park

  

  Discover the wonderful wildlife which inhabits the towering mountains, pine forests and sparkling lochs of the Cairngorms National Park.

• Return of the Puffins

  

  Scotland is the ideal place to view the iconic puffin as over a million of these gorgeous birds descend on the Scottish coast in early spring.

• See endangered species in Dumfries & Galloway

  

  A fifth of the Scottish population of red squirrels thrive in Dumfries & Galloway’s quiet forests meaning you are more likely to see them here than anywhere else.

• Spot a surprising number of ospreys this summer

  

  After their arrival back in Scotland in the 1950s, ospreys now return every year and you can see them during the summer at several locations.

• Take a trip to Handa Island

  

  Managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) as a nature reserve, the beautiful Handa Island is one of largest seabird breeding colonies in Europe

• Scottish Seabird Centre

  Scottish Borders

  The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 4SS

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• Isle of May

  Edinburgh & The Lothians

  During the summer months, between April and September, you can take a boat trip to the Isle of May to witness more than 200,000 seabirds including puffins.

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• St Kilda

  Outer Hebrides

  St Kilda World Heritage Site and National Nature Reserve, stone tools found on Hirta (the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago) suggest that Bronze Age travellers may have visited St Kilda some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago

  Read more 57.8172 -8.5767

• Handa Island

  The Highlands

  Managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) as a nature reserve, the beautiful Handa Island is one of largest seabird breeding colonies in Europe

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• Searchlight Safaris

  The Highlands

  Spend an evening in search of night creatures with Searchlight Safaris.

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• Speyside wildlife

  The Highlands

  Spend an evening in a comfortable wildlife hide in The Cairngorms National Park.

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• Bird of Prey Trail

  Argyll, the Isles. Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Trossachs

  The Trossachs Bird of Prey Trail is designed to be driven, and can be visited at any time of the year, though the wildlife will constantly change throughout the seasons

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• Queen Elizabeth Forest Park

  Argyll, the Isles. Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Trossachs

  Look out for squirrel, badgers, hedgehogs, bats, red and roe deer.

  Read more 56.191115 -4.388192

• Argyll Forest Park

  Argyll, the Isles. Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Trossachs

  A wide range of habitats provide a home for an abundance of species.

  Read more 56.111597 -4.872283

• Galloway Forest Park

  Dumfries & Galloway

  Galloway Forest Park, Over 300 square miles of mixed landscape is yours to explore. As well as a wealth of wildlife, the Forest Park has some of the best dark skies in Europe - ideal for star gazing!

  Read more 54.9526294 -4.4195158

• Loch Garten reserve

  The Highlands

  you can see the ospreys here at the reserve from April until August and staff are always on hand to help, with telescopes and binoculars.

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• Wigtown

  Dumfries & Galloway

  Wigtown, for the last four years, visitors here have had an excellent view of the local ospreys, which have been nesting here.

  Read more 54.86853192699359 4.441437721252441

• Kailzie Gardens

  Scottish Borders

  Kailzie Gardens, as well as pan, tilt and zoom cameras, there is also live sound on the CCTV images so you can hear the ospreys as well as see them.

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• Glentress Peel

  Dumfries & Galloway

  Glentress Peel, Part of Tweed Valley Forest Park, this area has world-class mountain biking as well as a wealth of wildlife.

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• Chanonry Point

  The Highlands

  Chanonry Point lies at the end of Chanonry Ness, a spit of land extending into the Moray Firth between Fortrose and Rosemarkie on the Black Isle and is widely is the best place in Britain for dolphin-watching.

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• Cairngorms National Park

  The Highlands

  Cairngorms National Park Is the largest National Park in Britain, covering 3,800 kilometres of beautiful and unspoilt countryside.

  Read more 57.332030 -3.607426

• Tollie Reserve

  The Highlands

  With stunning views across Easter Ross to Ben Wyvis, Tollie Red Kites provides close-up views of our most graceful bird of prey. Tollie Red Kites is a partnership between RSPB Scotland and the Brahan Estate.

  Read more 57.572713 -4.485542