Neist Point in Glendale is undisputedly the finest place on the Isle of Skye for watching whales, dolphins, porpoise and basking shark, with pods being resident from May through to September. The peak months are June and July, when sightings of Minke Whales become almost a daily event.
The Minke Whales often approach within 5 to 10 metres of the shore, giving spectacular views and the amazing opportunity to hear them 'blow' as they surface.
To get the best views, choose a day when the sea is flat calm and pick your way carefully to the water's edge between the end of the point and the lighthouse. Find a comfortable rock, with a good view either side, sit and wait... patiently!
Minke Whales often carry distinguishing marks, such as the one in the photograph (top right) that has a red, diagonal scar (\) on its left flank below the dorsal fin. Their commonest colouration is jet black but some individuals, believed to be juveniles, appear blueish with pale flanks.
For the closest views, Neist Point is the best place on Skye. They are also regularly seen off Lower Milovaig and have come inside Loch Pooltiel.
Common Dolphins are regularly seen in the Minch off Lower Milovaig and also off Neist Point during the summer months. They are also seen occasionally in Loch Dunvegan as far up as the Three Chimneys at Colbost.
These are the basic features that distinguish Glendale's commonest cetaceans:
Two distant humpback whales were off Neist Point again today. Initially fluking and breaching off the southern end of North Uist before travelling down to South Uist. There were two harbour porpoises north-west of the lighthouse and two more in Moonen Bay. A pod of around 20 common dolphins were towards South Uist and Benbecula, as viewed from Neist, all day.
There were two distant humpback whales at the northern tip of North Uist, as viewed from Neist Point, at mid-day: blows, fluking and fully body breaches for a few minutes before we lost sight of them behind the curvature of the Earth.
A pod of at least five orcas, including two bulls, at least one female and a calf, were spotted heading north off Neist Point at 2:30pm (Nick Owen & Charlotte Rutherford). The orcas were then seen passing Lower Milovaig at around 3:25pm (Claire Anderson, Andy Stables). They continued around the foot of Dunvegan Head at 3:40pm.
More recent wildlife sightings
Killer whales are occasionally seen off the Neist Point and Milovaig. They have a distinctive large, upright dorsal fin.
Harbour Porpoises are most often seen in the mouth of Loch Pooltiel, off Meanish Pier, with pods of up to 12 being present throughout the Summer. Another fairly good place for them is Moonen Bay, very close inshore, at the point where Loch Mor flows into the sea.
Basking sharks are Britain's largest fish and are totally unrelated to true sharks. They float around with their white, dustbin-like mouths wide open hoovering up plankton.
They are very common in the sheltered coves around Neist, Oisgill and Milovaig during the Summer months.