What are the Best Scottish Islands for Wildlife Lovers?

Sharing is caring!

Scotland’s islands are some of the best places in Britain to watch wildlife: white-tailed eagles over the sea lochs, grey seals hauled out on the rocks, and cliffs packed with nesting puffins and gannets in early summer. From Shetland in the far north to the Small Isles in the west, the wildlife here is the reason to go.

See puffins, seals, red deer, and even orcas on the isles

Scotland’s islands are home to creatures that are much harder to find elsewhere in the UK. From puffins on sea cliffs to red deer on open moorland, here are the islands we’d put first on a wildlife lover’s list.

Isle of Mull – Eagles and Otters

Mull is one of the best places in Scotland to look for white-tailed eagles, the UK’s largest bird of prey. VisitScotland points to otters and harbour seals along the shoreline, and boat trips from the island give you the chance to spot dolphins, porpoises and even minke whales. Tobermory, with its row of brightly painted houses on the harbour, makes a good base.

👉 Is the Isle of Mull worth visiting?

Isle of May – Puffin Paradise

Out in the Firth of Forth, the Isle of May National Nature Reserve is one of the best places in Scotland to see puffins. NatureScot, which runs the reserve, says that at the peak of the breeding season the island supports more than a quarter of a million seabirds, including guillemots, fulmars, terns and puffins. May and June are the best months for breeding seabirds, and grey seals gather around the island in autumn.

Good to know: the May Princess sails from Anstruther in Fife from April to September; check the sailing times before you go.

👉 Isle of May Nature Reserve

Isle of Rum – Red Deer Kingdom

Rum is a National Nature Reserve, and its red deer are famous: NatureScot suggests walking or cycling to Kilmory or Harris to see them. Come in autumn for the rut, when stags roar and fight over the hinds. High on Rum’s mountains is one of the world’s largest colonies of Manx shearwaters, about 30% of the world’s breeding population, and both golden and white-tailed eagles breed on the island. There’s an otter hide too.

👉 Isle of Rum visitor information

Shetland – Orcas and Seabirds

Shetland offers some of the most thrilling wildlife encounters in the UK. VisitScotland says orcas are regularly seen around Yell Sound, Bluemull Sound and the islands’ coasts, and seals and otters live along the shore. The cliffs of Noss and Hermaness are packed with gannets, puffins and kittiwakes in summer. And the famous Shetland ponies are hard to miss.

👉 Is Shetland Worth the Journey?

Orkney – Seals and Seabird Cliffs

Seals haul out on Orkney’s rocky shores and beaches, and in spring puffins return to the seabird cliffs at the Brough of Birsay and the RSPB’s Marwick Head reserve. Over on Hoy, the red sandstone cliffs and the Old Man of Hoy sea stack are worth the ferry crossing. Orkney is also home to the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, so you can pair wildlife spotting with history in a single trip.

👉 Visit Orkney

👉 Read more: Exploring the Wonders of The Orkney Islands When you’re ready to plan your Scotland trip, our Scotland trip planning guide is the place to start.

Why the Isles Are Special

Each island has its own character, but all share Scotland’s deep connection with the wild. From boat trips through the sea spray to quiet cliff walks, you’ll find nature up close. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, which is part of the thrill when they happen.

Some of Scotland’s best treasures are along the coast… Here are Untamed Beaches You’ll Never Forget!

Sharing is caring!

Book Scotland Tours Early

Planning a trip to Scotland? Don’t let sold-out tours or packed attractions dampen your adventure. Iconic experiences like exploring Edinburgh Castle, cruising along Loch Ness, or wandering through the mystical Isle of Skye often fill up fast—especially during peak travel seasons.

Booking in advance holds your place on the popular summer tours, so your day goes on the castle walls and the loch shore, not in a ticket queue. It also leaves time for the quieter places most visitors drive straight past.

Make the most of your journey—start planning today and book the tours you most want to do.