As some dolphins are residents around Scottish shores you can see them all-year-round however, as they prefer the calmer and sunnier sea conditions associated with spring and summer, the best time to see dolphins in Scotland is usually from May to September.

The best time to see dolphins in Scotland—specifically the world-famous resident colony of Bottlenose Dolphins in the Moray Firth—is during the summer months from June to August. While dolphins are present year-round, they are much more active and visible during the summer when they follow migrating salmon into the narrower parts of the firth. Specifically, the hour or two after a rising tide at Chanonry Point (near Inverness) provides a world-class viewing opportunity, as the dolphins often hunt within meters of the shore. The weather in 2026 also makes summer the most practical time for boat-based tours out of Spey Bay or Cromarty. For those visiting the West Coast, particularly the Sea of the Hebrides, the summer brings a higher chance of seeing not just dolphins, but also Minke whales and basking sharks. While "wildlife is never guaranteed," the combination of long daylight hours and the salmon run makes the Scottish summer the "gold standard" for cetacean spotting in the North Atlantic.