One of only two resident populations of bottlenose dolphins in Britain lives in the Moray Firth, and they are unusually approachable. The dolphins feed on salmon heading upstream and are most active from spring through autumn. Chanonry Point on the Black Isle, accessible by road from Inverness, is the best land-based watching spot — the underwater ledge there funnels fish and dolphins together at certain tides. Arrive an hour before high water for the best chance of a sighting.
Boat trips depart from Buckie, Lossiemouth, and other harbours along the Moray coast. Several operators offer wildlife-focused cruises, and sightings are frequent enough that most trips encounter dolphins. The wider Moray Firth also holds grey seals, harbour porpoises, minke whales, and — less frequently — orcas.