You may be surprised to know that there are plenty of places to see dolphins in the UK. As an island, the UK is surrounded by waters that are home to a wide variety of dolphins. Although the sea creatures aren’t as abundant as on other shores, you can still see them if you’re lucky and in the right place.
Dolphins are most common off the south and west coasts of the UK, meaning that to see dolphins, you’ll want to ensure that you’re in this region.
The most common dolphins you can spot offshore from the UK are bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Here are some of the best locations to find them.
The Best Time to See Dolphins in the UK
There is a resident population of dolphins here in the UK, meaning it is possible to see these animals all year round. The numbers are slim, and you may find them elusive if you visit in winter or colder months.
During the summer, our local dolphins are joined by transient pods of other species, meaning that the number of dolphins in the UK swells during June and September.
This means that those months are the best time, as you’ll have the best likelihood of having an encounter with a pod of dolphins, which can be a magical experience. Plus, with the summer months being much warmer, you’re also going to have a much more comfortable experience than if you went in the winter.
For the best chances of seeing dolphins, plan your trip during the summer, with August being the best time to come.
Best Places to See Dolphins in the UK
Cardigan Bay, Wales
Cardigan Bay is one of the rare locations in the UK with a permanent dolphin population. These dolphins can come close to the shoreline, meaning they are visible from the beaches and cliffs in the area.
Taking a dolphin spotting trip is one of the top activities in Cardigan and a great way to get up close and personal with these magical creatures.
The tour I recommend is provided by A Bay To Remember who run multiple tours each day during peak season. They’ll take you on a RIB boat out into the bay where dolphins will swim right next to the boat and an experienced guide will give you lots of information and answer any questions.
You’ll also explore caves and spot other wildlife too such as seals and even puffins during summer.
Durlston Head, Dorset
Durlston Head has a unique sea and underwater ecosystem, drawing in bottlenose dolphins for many years. The population here ebbs and flows over the year, but you’ll still have a good chance of seeing some if you visit during the summer months.
Although bottlenose dolphins are curious and friendly and are likely to approach boats, the local people are worried that this may be detrimental to the population of dolphins here. To combat this, the local town of Swanage has set up Dolphin Watch locations, which are spots and vantage points located in the Durlston Country Park, where you are most likely to see shoals of dolphins and other animals.
Prawle Point, Devon
Prawle Point is on a coastline at the southernmost point of Devon, home to dramatic rugged cliffs. Here you can spot dolphins and other animals, although they are a bit rarer here than in other locations.
If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to spot not only dolphins but also seals and the occasional basking shark. The area is more known as a bird watchers’ paradise, as you’ll be able to spot buzzards, ravens, hawks, and even peregrine falcons.
Porthgwarra, Cornwall
Porthgwarra is one of the best places for sea watching in Cornwall. It’s considered the best place to spot dolphins and porpoises and is a beautiful area that provides a stunning backdrop as you search for these creatures.
Porthgwarra is one of the best locations in Cornwall for dolphins because of its western location. It’s one of the most western points of the country, and its coastline is a prime location for dolphins.
Gower Peninsula, Wales
Located extremely close to Swansea in the south of Wales, the Gower Peninsula was the first area in the UK to be recognised as an area of outstanding natural beauty. In addition to the mesmerising beaches, cliffs, and unique marchland, Gower is also a great location to spot dolphins.
Although you’ll struggle to find any bottlenose, this area is known for being home to their smaller cousins, the harbour porpoises. These cute little dolphins are most common in the summer months, although they are pretty shy, so they can only be seen on calm days. You can access tours from Gower Bay, such as the excellent Gower Coast Adventures that not only take you in search of the dolphins but also give you an exclusive view of the stunning area.
New Quay, Wales
If you’re not adventurous and don’t fancy getting on a boat to see any dolphins, then your other option is to visit New Quay, a town found within Cardigan Bay. This is considered dolphin ground zero in the UK and has the largest local population in the country.
When exploring New Quay, you have a high chance of spotting dolphins from the harbour wall, particularly in the summer. The area is teeming with beautiful aquatic wildlife, and you can learn more about them at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre that’s located in the town.
Channonry Point, Scotland
One of the most reliable places to see bottlenose dolphins is Channonry point. This small peninsula juts out into the Moray Firth, filled with dolphins that are best seen 2 hours before high tide.
You can get multiple boats trips from Troup Head, which will take you into the waters and allow you to get nice and close to the dolphins.
Labrador Bay, Devon
If you’re bored of bottlenose dolphins, you could head to Labrador Bay to spot some much rarer yet more interesting white-beaked dolphins. These varieties are known to put on a show and can be seen leaping out of the water and performing other acrobatics.
Located on the Jurassic coastline, an area of the UK famous for harbouring many fossils and relics, the views from this location are incredible and can add to a spectacular experience if you do spot some dolphins.
Isle of Man
For a unique experience looking for dolphins, you could always get off the mainland and search for dolphins in the waters surrounding the Isle of Man.
Here you’re more likely to spot the dopey-looking, stocky-headed Risso’s dolphins, particularly if you’re searching over the summer months.
As a result of the shallow waters around the Isle of Man, you can spot them really close to shore in areas such as Port St Mary or Langness.
Related Questions
- How common are dolphins in the UK? Around 700 permanent bottlenose dolphins are living in four groups in the UK.
- What time of day is best for dolphin tours? Morning and noon is the best time to look for dolphins, as the waters will likely be calmer. It’s also good to go two hours before high tide.
- Where do UK dolphins go in winter? During the winter, some UK dolphins travel north. Contrary to popular belief, dolphins do not migrate to warmer waters but instead move to where there is more food.
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What a cool experience! I had no idea you could see dolphins in their area! Totally adding it to my list!
How interesting! I never imagined that there would be dolphins in this area. I always tend to think of them as warm water lovers!
That is so awesome! I didn’t realise that there was a dolphin watching spot literally a 20 minute drive from me! Thanks so much for the info
This is such a nice detailed post on the dolphin spotting locations in the waters around UK. The pictures look amazing too.
I can’t wait to share this with my client! They’re visiting the UK this summer and this would be such a fun experience for them.
You occasionally see them up near Mallaig and around there way too.
I didn’t know there were so many places. Interesting!
You gotta be kiddin’ me: There are dolphins in the waters around the UK? Who would have guessed?! I always thought that the waters there are pretty much like the sea in northern Germany or the Netherlands. But judging from your pix, you really get a great view of them! By the way, the coastline of Labrador Bay looks amazing – do you have a post on that, too?
We live near Whitby and sometimes see Dolphins, its more common along North East Coast of UK to see seals! Also the occasional walrus! It seems they are more common to spot down south.
Even though I have actually seen dolphins in the UK (Dundee to be exact) I have never paid any attention to it and didn’t consider the country as dolphin destination. It’s absolutely interesting to actually discover such attraction and curiosities all around, if you actually look for it. Thank you for telling me so much about the dolphin variety in the UK.