Best Places for Self-Catering Whale Watching Holidays in the UK and Overseas

Our Top 3 Picks for Self-Catering Whale Watching Holidays include:

• Scotland
• England
• South Africa
• Tenerife

Do you love wildlife watching and want to pack in some whale watching on your next self-catering holiday? To help you choose the best locations for whale watching, we’ve come up with a list of places renowned for their whale watching opportunities. 

For inspiration on the experience of whale watching take a look at our short video. We hope it whets your appetite to experience this fantastic activity for yourself.

Do note that some destinations only offer whale watching trips in season. We recommend that you do full research on the times of year that whale watching is available before booking your holiday. Feel free to get in touch with owners or agencies who are well placed to advise you on what is available in season in their location and who can inform you whether whale watching is available near to the accommodation or further afield.

Scotland

Whale watching is possible from various Scottish Islands including the Outer Hebrides and the Orkney Isles. Trips also run from Gairloch in the Scottish Highlands.

Top Places to Whale Watch in Scotland

The best whale watching in Scotland is generally reputed to be available in the Orkney and Shetland Isles followed by the Hebrides.

Orkney is a place where it is possible to whale watch from land in summer time. Boat trips do run though from Kirkwall Harbour for those with a thirst for open waters.

Specific whale watching trips in Shetland can be hard to find although general boat trips which seek to spot a variety of different wildlife such as birds and seals can be found. Finding specialist whale watching boat trips in Shetland though can be a challenge.

Whale watching boat trips are readily available on the Isle of Skye and other Hebridean islands such as the Isle of Lewis. Sightings are not guaranteed though and depending on your luck you may be more likely to see basking sharks, seals and sea birds.

Dolphin Watching

If you are looking to take a self-catering holiday on the Scottish mainland near Inverness, it is worth noting that there is a shoal of dolphins that live in the Moray Firth. Dolphin watching boat trips are available from Cromarty on the Black Isle and Buckie in Moray. Look up Ecoventures for the ultimate experience in wildlife watching on the Moray Firth, boat trips leave from Cromarty on the Black Isle, in the heart of the Moray Firth.

What to See

In the waters around Orkney or Shetland you may be lucky enough to see minke whales, pilot whales and killer whales. Also seen but less commonly around Orkney are blue whales, beluga whales, and sperm whales. Minke whales, basking sharks and seals are sometimes spotted in Hebridean waters.

Hints and Tips on when to go

Although some boat trip operators offer trips all year round, those familiar with the Scottish climate would recommend that summer is the best time to be spending time outdoors and at sea in Scotland. Seas can be rough in Scotland and many enjoy wildlife watching in sunnier weather. Most trips run on a weather permitting basis and you may have luck catching a trip in summer time although in peak season booking ahead is highly recommended to avoid disappointment and ensure you have a place.

Top Places in England to Whale Watch and Dolphin Watch

It's a little known fact that it's possible to go whale watching in Cornwall. Wildlife watching cruises also allow you to take in some stunning scenery along the Cornish coast. 

Whether you're hoping to spot whales, dolphins or sea birds taking a boat trip out to sea can be a rewarding experience.

South Africa for seasonal whale watching

South Africa is an amazing country to visit for any reason with rich natural beauty and landscapes to inspire you. Whale watching though is only available in this amazing country in season. In season this amazing country is reputed to be one of the best places in the world in which to whale watch. With excellent wines, fantastic food and wonderful scenery available in beautiful South Africa, we’d find it hard to disagree.

When to go

The best time of year for whale watching in South Africa is from July to November.

What to See

Huge humpback whales can be seen in South Africa and these magnificent mammals come to South Africa to mate and breed. The waters off South Africa are also home to species of dolphins and sharks including great whites.

Top Spots for Whale Watching

If you have in mind a boat trip for whale watching then you may do best to go to Hermanus, one of the top spots along the garden route. Whale watching boat trips are also available from Simon’s Town in Cape Town.

If you prefer to keep your feet on firm ground, whale watching is possible at various points on land along the Western Cape, which is the coastal area immediately north of Cape Town. Top spots for land based whale watching along the Western Cape include Yzerfontein, the West Coast National Park, Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Strandfontein.

Hints & Tips

If watching from land, be patient, you can’t rush nature and much can depend on luck. If you prefer more of a guarantee why not choose a destination in South Africa that offers boat trips where you can go seek out these amazing creatures? Before booking a boat trip ask whether any guarantees are given of sightings. Some companies offer a free second whale watching boat trip if you don’t see whales on your first trip. 

Tenerife for whale watching all year round

It is a little known fact that Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, is an excellent place for a self-catering whale watching holiday. Many people know of Tenerife as an island for sunshine and good value breaks away but few know that it is a great place for keen whale watchers.

What to See:

With rich marine life, Tenerife can also be a great place to experience whale watching. Many of the trips depart from Los Gigantes on the west coast of the island. Trips on offer vary from 1 hour to 3 hour trips. Dolphin watching and whale watching trips are often offered on a combined basis. Some even regard Tenerife as one of the top destinations in the world to experience watching whales.

Tenerife has a resident population of pilot whales who live in the seas near the island all year round with the added benefit of making whale watching possible at any time of year. On account of this, Tenerife could well be one of the best places to watch these beautiful mammals. There are also various species of dolphins to be found in the waters and other species of whales can also be spotted at times depending on the season.

Where Trips are Available:

Aside from Los Gigantes in the West of Tenerife, other places where whale watching trips are available include Las Galletas in the south of Tenerife and, Los Cristianos and Las Americas in the South West of the Island.

Hints & Tips

The larger boat trips are often the most popular but the smaller boats sometimes offer the benefit of being able to get up close with the whales.