• Skip to main content
Logo EnezGreen

EnezGreen

Visit islands and green your mind!

  • Home
  • Islands & Archipelagos
  • News
  • About us
  • Contact-us
EnezGreen » Îles & Archipels » Scotland » Cetaceans watching with Gairloch Marine Life Center and Cruises
Scotland

Cetaceans watching with Gairloch Marine Life Center and Cruises

Atlantic Ocean

gairloch-herve-bre-enezgreen-3-copyright-enezgreen

Cetacean and sea bird watching

Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruise is a true pioneer of ecotourism in the region and one of the oldest cetacean watching companies in Europe.

  • Environment

  • Sustainable policy

  • Service quality

A well-established nature discovery tour

Before boarding the Starquest to discover the fauna and flora of Gairloch Bay, a visit of the Marine Life Centre is a must. The centre is accessible free of charge to clients as well as casual visitors. Besides the traditional educational material, the centre has a large bay window for the observation of the wildlife on the shores of the loch. In addition, cameras placed outside above and under the water also enable visitors to observe the wildlife.

After passing through the centre, visitors are impatient to discover ‘for real’ the wonderful animals shown on the posters: seals, dolphins, whales, cormorants, skuas, eagles, otters and basking sharks. The information previously read greatly helps them in identifying these species.

A qualified guide to discover the local natural riches

After welcoming passengers on board, Ian French continues with a comprehensive briefing session on safety and procedures to be followed in the event of any incident.

The skipper launched this marine discovery activity 23 years ago. He fell in love with the region while he was conducting scientific observations of porpoises. This marine biologist and is currently pursuing a PhD. You are thus in the most capable hands to discover the local natural riches.

The outing last approximately two hours, which is not much when in search of a specific species. It is to be noted that it is a nature discovery outing and not a conventional outing devoted to sea mammal observation. Neither the performance of the boat, nor the duration of the tour enable provision of this service unless when coming by chance across a group of cetaceans lingering in the bay or during an exceptional event like a dolphin giving birth.

An outing at sea to observe rare animal species

The major attraction of the activity is the observation of uncommon species such as the wonderful Arctic loon (Gavia Arctica) which nest on the beach. This bird only lives at unpolluted sites in Nordic countries, the Hebrides Islands and the northwestern coast of Scotland.

By the same token, with a little bit of luck, it is possible to catch a sight of the red-throated loon with its beige plumage and red neck towards the end of the season. It is known for its elegant appearance and can stay under the water for a minute and a half in search of food.

The passengers also have good chances of seeing golden eagles (Aquila Chrysaetos) or common buzzards (Buteo Buteo), while some great skuas (Stercorarius Skua) will for sure come and fly around the boat in order to check if there isn’t anything to eat. Some wonderful Northern gannets can also be seen during the outing. The skipper stops the boat in order to admire these birds diving at record speeds. Ian French explains that this bird species has little bags distributed over its body that act like airbags that cushion the impact with the surface of the water at such speed.

Besides the large variety of seabirds present in the bay, it is also possible to observe common seals that reside in various locations of the bay. The observation is easier when the sea is calm. Seals are also present around the port where they wait for the return of fishing boats and for sailors to throw fish in the sea. This fairly widespread practice doesn’t seem most appropriate though as it makes the animals dependent on a feeding system that distracts them from their own fishing techniques.

Along the coasts of Longa Island

After reaching the entrance of the loch, the boat navigates along the coasts of Longa Island, which is situated to the north of Gairloch. The spectacle of the multitude of birds residing on this small and uninhabited islet is a striking one.

Our guide takes this opportunity to provide some explanation on the surrounding geological formations. He shows, amongst others, the areas where Maerl grows, particularly in sea areas influenced by the tides. The area is of prime importance for the development of sea urchins, anemones, and common crab and hermit crab nurseries. Some human activities such as trawl fishing and aquaculture, however, unfortunately disrupt the fragile balance of the ecosystems on many locations.

A commitment to environmental protection

Ian French makes it a point to record and forward all his observations of animals to various scientific bodies. He is also consulted when cetaceans are stranded or dead animal bodies are discovered in the surroundings of Gairloch.

The centre works in collaboration with the WDCS for the collection of acoustic data.

The information gathered from observations with accurate positioning is forwarded to WiseScheme, an organisation that is in charge of the accreditation of leisure craft owners or merchants who commit themselves to comply with a code of conduct during encounters with cetaceans. They are bound to get seriously involved by locating and forwarding quality information in order to establish traffic statistical tools.

The genuineness of the approach of Gairloch Wildlife remained unchallenged during our outing at sea; it was indeed quite the contrary. Besides his professional skills, Ian French shows extreme awareness for the protection of the animals living in the bay. He knows them by heart and really cares about them. During our outing, he spotted a female bottlenose dolphin whose movements at the surface hinted at pregnancy; the skipper put the animal’s safety first and avoided disturbing her by approaching to allow passengers to observe her. This reaction was highly appreciated.

One of the most remarkable natural sites in Scotland

A stopover in Gairloch and its surroundings is a must as this peaceful village offers various activities as well as charming accommodation structures. Navigation on the loch enables the discovery of the breadth and diversity of the landscapes.

The region boasts remarkable biodiversity both in terms of flora and fauna. The diversity of ecosystems that are found around the mountains, seaside, lochs and forests are well worth the visit. It is highly recommended to venture along the various hiking trails available.

Access to Gairloch through Inverness is easy thanks to a highly scenic road that crosses the Scottish Highlands. Don’t underestimate the road from Gairloch to Ullapool, which also offers amazing landscapes.

The Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve

The Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve is located close to Gairloch. It was the first National Reserved set up in the UK in 1951 and has also been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

The reserve houses one of the last pine forests in Scotland as well as various other arboreal species such as yew, oak, holly, rowan trees and silver birch. The landscapes are also made of exposed rocks, rock debris, peatlands, wet grassland and mountain slopes that harmoniously plunge down into Loch Maree.

The reserve was originally intended to be a wildlife sanctuary but it also serves as a site of reference for scientific observation in order to study environmental changes. A team of 14 scientists work there on various themes including the management of ungulate populations, namely fallow deer, as well as the preservation of the forest and rare plants.

Gairloch Marine Life Centre and Cruises

Pricing (from) - 50.00 €

Opening period - The centre is open from the beginning of spring to end September.

Cetacean and sea bird watching, key-features

A remarkable site in the heart of one of the most beautiful regions of Scotland ★★

  • The site: this part of the Hebrides is renowned for being one of the most beautiful of Scotland. Besides being a superb place, Gairloch Bay has the advantage of being well sheltered, thus allowing the organisation of outings at sea in all types of weather. A long time ago, the bay already served as a shelter for Viking ships.
  • The site’s unique feature: the outing at sea takes place on the crystal-clear and emerald-blue waters of the loch with the mountains and hills that surrounding most of the bay in the background. Situated at the entrance to the bay, where freshwater meets the sea, Longa Island provides the bay with ideal protection from the winds and swell surges, thus making sailing more comfortable.

A total commitment to the environment ★★★

  • Presentation: Ian French is a marine biologist since 1995 and has created Gairloch Wildlife in order to share his passion for marine wildlife. He discovered Gairloch Bay while he was conducting scientific research on porpoises. He was so enthralled by the local wildlife that he decided to settle down there and start his marine discovery activity.
  • Environmental policy: Ian French offers naturalist outings without trying to locate – like some other service providers tend to do – the maximum number of sea mammals during the trip. His aim is to make visitors discover the bay’s different ecosystems and observe the resident species while trying to understand their role and behaviour. Ian French has excellent knowledge of the area and his academic skills enhance his explanations on the wildlife that populates the place. Gairloch Wildlife is a true pioneer of ecotourism in the region and one of the oldest cetacean watching companies in Europe. In order to limit the impact of his activity on the marine habitat, Ian French uses an engine running n recovered vegetable oils.
  • Scientific collaboration: all the animal observations undertaken by Ian are passed on to the Sea Watch Foundation, which collects all the data forwarded by professionals and individuals in the UK. Besides being a member of Wild Scotland, the company is in contact with the WDCS, which works on setting up a cetacean reserve in the maritime area that stretches from the northwestern coast of Scotland to the Hebrides Islands, situated opposite the coast.

A quality and secure service ★★

  • The boat: the Starquest is a comfortable 31 ft Colvic Watson passenger vessel which distinguishes itself for providing good handling on the water. The seats ensure good conditions for landscape observation. Binoculars are made available to passengers and small neoprene cushions are even provided to ensure better sitting comfort. A cover also provides shelter during bad weather. A warning device is installed outside to allow Ian to provide commentaries while steering the boat. There is all the necessary equipment on board including life jackets and radio equipment. Visible explanatory notes on the safety equipment are posted in plain view and Ian insists on security on board and actions to be taken in case of emergency during his briefing session. Washrooms are available on board. The board cruises at some 10 knots allowing the discovery of marine life while limiting disturbance. Unlike the high-speed vessels that cruise the waters off the coast in search of attractive cetacean species, Ian French limits the outing to Longa Island but takes the time to scan the coast in search of its residents.
  • The premises: Gairloch Wildlife is the only local service provider to offer a documentation centre on the local wildlife to visitors wandering in the port of Gairloch. A presentation of the local fauna and flora is available through posters, boards, works and slideshows. The premises also serve as reservations office.
Galleries Photos

Scotland, other islanders to discover

You might also be interested in reading this…

  • Gairloch paysage maritime Cruises in Gairloch Bay aboard a glass bottom boat » Protected Marine Area
  • Gearrannan Blackhouses a traditional village in the Hebrides » Eco house, B&B, camping
  • Harris and its extraordinary natural heritage » Protected Marine Area
  • Prehistoric center of Callanish on the Isle of Lewis » Artistic and cultural center
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Handcrafted with by EnezGreen · Copyright © 2023 · Legal Notice

  • Français (French)
  • English