See surprising seals in the beautiful southern Hebrides

Winter offers a great chance to see grey seal pups - one of the top highlights of the Scottish nature calendar.

 

Grey seals can be seen throughout the year around Scotland's coasts. You'll either see them as they pop their heads above water in between fishing expeditions, or as they lounge on the shoreline or on rocks offshore. But when nature calls, female seals head to their pupping areas on isolated coasts and islands to give birth.

 

Colonsay is an age-old faithful pupping ground. The best place to see pups without disturbing them is between Colonsay and its semi-detached neighbour Oronsay on 'the Strand', which links the two islands at low tide, and especially on the rocks of Eilean nan Ròn (known as 'Seal Island', of course).

 

Colonsay holds many other attractions for wildlife enthusiasts, such as otters that live around the coasts, golden eagles that soar overhead, and even wild goats - said to be descended from the survivors of the Spanish Armada ships wrecked here in 1588. There are many other reasons to visit the island than its wildlife. The scenery, including possibly the finest beach in the Hebrides (and there's some stiff competition), is stunning.