wildlife watching from the ferry with wild discoVery

From 22 - 24 July 2025, we’re joining award-winning naturalists Rachael and Dan Brown from Wild Discovery on board MV Loch Seaforth's sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway to engage, enthuse and inform passengers about whales, dolphins and seabirds.

Dan and Rachael are a husband and wife team, avid naturalists and professional ecologists who simply love giving people amazing wildlife experiences. They run award-winning  Wild Discovery, a wildlife watching tour company based in the Cairngorms that endeavours to engage as many people as possible with nature as well as supporting conservation projects wherever possible. One of their passions is engaging people with nature and they are thoroughly relishing the opportunity to meet passengers and enthuse about marine life. They will be joined on the MV Loch Seaforth by the HWDT team as well as the  Mammal Society , collecting important data on whale and dolphin distribution using our Whale Track app.

The sailing from Ullapool - Stornoway operates across the Minch which is rapidly becoming a recognised area to spot whales and dolphins in the UK. Over the past few summers, observers on the ferry crossing have witnessed large numbers of species such as the common dolphin and minke whale, together with harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins. Some of the bigger baleen whale species, such as humpback and fin whale, have also started utilising this stretch of water - the latter being the second largest animal to have ever lived on the planet.

The waters of the west coast of Scotland are extremely important for wildlife, with increasing numbers of whales, dolphins and basking sharks being spotted in the Minch. In 2024, despite horrendous weather conditions,

Marine mammal sightings recorded between 06 - 08 August 2024, on board the MV Loch Seaforth

Table shows the species count from the ferry watching event over the three days, in total 14.56 hrs of effort-based data was collected, covering 483 km.

how to join

There is no need to book for this event, just turn up and purchase a ticket for the sailing; either the 10:30am boat from Ullapool to Stornoway or the 2:00pm Stornoway to Ullapool crossing. You can purchase a foot passenger ticket in advance through the Calmac website, or buy one in the ferry terminal on the day.

 

marine and coastal mammals of western scotland

Join Wild Discovery, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and Mammal Society for a free evening of talks at Ullapool Ferry Terminal.

Join us for an enlightening evening dedicated to the wonders of marine mammals! This event brings together three organisations: Wild Discovery, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT), and the Mammal Society, to share their expertise and passion for marine life.

EVENT DETAILS

  • Date: Tuesday 22 July

  • Time: 7:30pm - 9pm

  • Where: Ullapool Ferry Terminal

This event is free and open to all. Whether you’re a marine enthusiast or simply curious about the incredible creatures that inhabit our coastal waters, this evening promises to be both educational and inspiring. We look forward to seeing you there!