Home to rare birds and hairy coos!
Wildlife
In the far north of Scotland, Caithness and Sutherland are one of the UK’s last true wilderness areas. An expansive, untamed landscape where nature thrives. From sweeping peatlands and rugged mountains to windswept moors and coastal cliffs, this region is a sanctuary for Scottish wildlife.
Here, you’ll find the Flow Country, one of the largest blanket bog systems in Europe, designated as a Special Area of Conservation and proposed as a World Heritage Site. These vast peatlands support species like otters, pine martens, and many migrating bird populations, while also playing a vital role in carbon storage and climate regulation.
Caithness and Sutherland are home to 142 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 8 National Nature Reserves, and 4 National Scenic Areas. The low-intensity land management, through crofting, farming, and sporting estates, has helped preserve habitats for land mammals such as red deer which roam freely across glens and hillsides.
Image by Caithness Seacoast Tours
Marine WIldlife
The North Highlands are home to an incredible variety of freshwater and marine wildlife, offering unforgettable encounters throughout the year.
Along the northern coastline, visitors may be lucky enough to spot orca pods in summer, each pod with its own distinctive markings. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are also regular visitors, sometimes putting on spectacular acrobatic displays. Joining a wildlife tour is one of the best ways to see them while learning more from expert guides. Each species has its own preferred seasons, so checking resources such as the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust can help plan your visit.
Bird Watching
Birdwatching in the North Highlands is a truly remarkable experience, offering so many species and ever-changing spectacles throughout the seasons. More than 300 bird species have been recorded naturally in the far north, thanks to its wide diversity of habitats and its favourable location for both resident and migratory birds.
Along the dramatic coastline in summer, towering cliffs and sea stacks host thriving seabird colonies. Keen eyes may spot the bright-beaked puffins during the breeding season on Handa Island or Dunnet Head, a highlight for many visitors. As the year turns, sheltered bays become vital havens for migrating and wintering ducks, while the long beaches provide feeding grounds for countless waders. Seabird passage, especially along the East Coast, can be nothing short of spectacular.
Inland, undisturbed moorlands and flows support rare breeding species such as Greenshanks, Black-throated Divers, and Common Scoters. Birds of prey are also abundant here, from the once-vanished Osprey to elegant Red Kites and the majestic Golden Eagle, ruler of Highland skies.
the falls of shin
Falls of Shin is one of the best places in Scotland to witness the spectacular sight of salmon leaping as they make their way back up the river to spawn.
Just 19 miles from Dornoch, between Bonar Bridge and Lairg, the thundering falls and ancient woodlands offer a wonderful starting point for a range of trails through beautiful mixed woodland and along the rocky banks of the River Shin.
The journey of the wild salmon is epic, traveling hundreds of miles home and launching itself up this powerful waterfall to spawn in its home stream. Guided by its sense of smell, it finds the exact gravel bank where it was born. Exhausted from the effort, the salmon often dies shortly after completing this final, heroic act.
Handa Island
Just off the northwest coast of Sutherland lies Handa Island, a remote haven for wildlife and one of the UK’s most important seabird breeding grounds. Accessible by ferry from Tarbet, this rugged island welcomes tens of thousands of seabirds each spring.
The towering Torridonian sandstone cliffs rise dramatically from the Atlantic, providing nesting sites for species such as guillemots, razorbills, and the formidable great skua. These birds spend the summer months raising their young and feeding in the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island.
Visitors are treated to breathtaking coastal views and the chance to spot some of Scotland’s larger marine life. Keep an eye out for minke whales, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins, grey seals, and occasionally even orcas or basking sharks.
RSPB Forsinard
Forsinard Flows, part of Flow Country, is one of Scotland’s national treasures. This reserve teems with an incredible variety of wildlife, from lizards and bird species to rare plants adapted to the peatland environment.
As you wander along the trails, keep an eye out for Golden Plovers, Dunlins, Greenshanks, Hen Harriers, Skylarks, and Meadow Pipits gracing the skies and moorland. Lizards often bask near the boardwalk edges, while swallows make their homes in the Flows Lookout Tower. Around the pools, dragonflies dance through the air, and beneath the water’s surface, frogs and aquatic insects find refuge. Scattered across the bog are carnivorous plants like Sundew and Butterwort, tiny yet fierce, luring unsuspecting insects into their sticky snares.
Wildlife Tours & Experiences
Make your North Highlands adventure truly unforgettable by booking guided walks, birdwatching tours, and marine wildlife excursions with expert local guides. These local experts know Caithness and Sutherland inside-out, from diverse habitats to hidden gems, and will help you experience the very best of what the North Highlands has to offer.
Nature and wildlife are at the heart of the North Highlands and exploring with a guide enhances your chances of spotting rare species and ensures your visit is as low-impact as possible, while you connect with the region’s rich natural heritage.
Farm Holidays in Caithness & Sutherland
For a truly rural Highland experience, why not stay where the wildlife roams? Farm stays and agritourism holidays in Caithness and Sutherland offer visitors the chance to connect with nature while enjoying warm local hospitality.
Wake up to the sight of Highland cows grazing in nearby fields, or take part in seasonal farm activities such as lambing, shearing, or harvesting. With luxury lodges on working farms, traditional croft houses tucked into the hills, and cosy glamping pods offering fresh air and a touch of comfort, you’ll enjoy a front-row seat to the region’s animals and wildlife.
North Coast Watersports
Wildlife can be seen year-round, but certain species are more visible during specific seasons:
- Spring and early summer (April–July) is best for birdwatching, with nesting seabirds, displaying raptors, and migratory species returning. This is also a good time for spotting puffins, terns, and breeding waders.
- Autumn (Sept–Oct) is rutting season for red deer, a dramatic time to observe stags competing for mates. The seal pupping season also begins in autumn.
- Winter (Nov–Feb) offers views of mountain hares in their white coats, whooper swans, and geese on lochs and estuaries.
Whales, dolphins and other cetaceans can be seen throughout the year but are often most active in summer, passing along our coastlines.
It’s possible to see many species of wildlife and birds around the North Highlands. Here are some popular locations to inspire your wildlife watching adventure!
- Handa Island is accessible by ferry in summer. It hosts thousands of seabirds including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills.
- The Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve near Golspie is an excellent place for waders, ospreys, seals, and wintering wildfowl.
- At Cape Wrath and along the Durness coast, take to the coastline for sightings of seabirds and cetaceans.
- At the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, near Scourie, spot lizards sunbathing close to the paths while kestrels and buzzards circle this mountainous region.
- Forsinard Flows is part of the Flow Country, central Caithness and Sutherland is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a vast and unique peatland habitat for insects, reptiles, mammals and birds.
- The north and east coastlines of North and East Caithness are home to annual Orca Watch sites at the end of May/beginning of June.
- St Johns Pool Nature Reserve near Dunnet is a unique bird reserve with hides available to book via the St John’s Pool Bird Photography Facebook page.
Respect for wildlife and habitats is essential. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code recommends the following principles when exploring to avoid disturbing wildlife:
- Keep your distance: Use binoculars or a zoom lens; don’t approach nesting birds, seal pups, or deer during rutting season.
- Be quiet and discreet: Loud noises or sudden movement can scare animals or disrupt feeding or breeding.
- Avoid blocking paths or access tracks: Park considerately and leave gates as you found them.
- Stick to paths where possible: Especially during the bird nesting season (April–July) to avoid disturbing ground-nesting birds.
- Never feed wildlife: It changes natural behaviour and can be harmful.
- Control dogs: Keep them on a lead during lambing season and around wildlife, especially birds, deer, and seals.
In addition to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, there are other codes of conduct and good practice guides available:
Yes, and it’s often the best way to have a rewarding and responsible wildlife encounter. Many local operators in the North Highlands offer guided walks, birdwatching tours, and marine wildlife boat trips. These guides are familiar with the area, habitats, and best practices for low-impact observation. Tours will operate under codes of conduct to minimise disturbance. Booking a tour with a guide improves your chances of seeing rare species safely and without disturbing them.