The Isle of Mull is an island off the west coast of Scotland. It’s one of the best places in the UK for a wildlife-watching holiday. With puffins, minke whales, otters and eagles, it really is a wildlife-lovers paradise. Here’s my guide to the top 10 best wildlife experiences on the Isle of Mull, Scotland and how to see them.
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The Isle of Mull is a must-visit destination in the UK for wildlife. It’s one of the best places to see some of the UK’s most iconic wildlife, on land and in the sea. You can book wildlife watching tours and boat trips, or you can spend time hiking in the beautiful landscape and see what you spot. But you won’t be disappointed with the wildlife on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
My guide to the wildlife on the Isle of Mull will show you the species you can hope to spot, and also give you tips on some of the best places to see them.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed when you’re wildlife watching. You need to have good luck to be able to spot everything. And good weather definitely helps as well. I recommend spending at least a few days on the Isle of Mull if you’re serious about wanting to see lots of wildlife. The longer you spend, the higher your chances of having good weather days to be out exploring, and the higher chance you’ll have of seeing the wildlife.
Of course, to get to the top wildlife spots on the Isle of Mull, you’ll need a car. If you’d rather not drive, I recommend taking this tour of the Isle of Mull through Get Your Guide (affiliate). You can also take this small group tour from Edinburgh (affiliate), or this small group tour from Glasgow (affiliate). These amazing small group tours will show you the best of the Isle of Mull, and Mull’s iconic wildlife, without needing to drive yourself.
Or, if you want to drive yourself and just want to join a group for a day, you can do this guided walk on Mull (affiliate). And check out the best places to stay on the Isle of Mull on Booking.com here (affiliate).
Keep reading for my guide to wildlife on the Isle of Mull, with some of the best animals to look for and where to spot them.
1. Puffins
The Isle of Mull is the best place to see puffins in Scotland. Puffins are one of the most popular birds in the UK, and for good reason. They are so characterful, and so cute. And, on the Isle of Mull, you’re able to get really close to puffins during their nesting season.
The best time of year to see puffins on the Isle of Mull is during their nesting season, which runs from roughly May until August. At this time of year, the puffins come onto the islands surrounding Mull to breed. You can take a boat trip from Tobermory on Mull to the Treshnish Isles, including Lunga and Staffa. And these islands are home to literally thousands of puffins in the breeding season.
As long as the weather is ok, you can get off the boat on the island of Lunga and walk to the puffin breeding colonies. It’s just a short walk – although the island of Lunga is completely wild, so don’t expect any footpaths or facilities. Depending on which company you choose, you’ll generally have a couple of hours on land on Lunga to see the puffins. It’s amazing to be able to get close to them and watch them.
There are other nesting seabirds on these islands as well, including razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, and more.
This tour of Mull (affiliate) or this tour through Viator (affiliate) will take you to the amazing puffins on Lunga, off the coast of Mull.
2. Minke whales
Another wildlife highlight of my trip to the Isle of Mull was seeing a minke whale. Minke whales can be seen around Mull in the summer months, with the peak months being July and August. You can book a whale watching boat trip around Mull.
For the best chance to see minke whales around the Isle of Mull, choose a day for a boat trip that is as calm as possible, with very little wind. This means the sea will be flat. And as well as making a boat trip more comfortable, a flat sea with very smalls makes it a lot easier to see the dorsal fin of a minke whale as they come to the surface.
Minke whales are one of the smallest baleen whales. But they’re still fairly big, so you can see them from a distance. They often stay near the surface for a while, in a similar area, which means you have a good chance of being able to take a photo. Seeing a minke whale off the Isle of Mull in Scotland is up there with my top wildlife watching moments. It was magical.
3. Harbour porpoises
Another animal you might be able to spot on a whale watching boat trip is harbour porpoises. Again, like with minke whales, you have the best chance of spotting harbour porpoises on a calm day when the sea is flat.
Porpoises are smaller than dolphins, and much more shy. So you’re most likely to spot them from a distance, and maybe only get a couple of glimpses of them before they disappear. They’re not going to come up to the boat like dolphins do. So it can be hard to take a photo – but not impossible if the sea is flat enough to make their dorsal fins show up easily in the water. There are loads in the water around Mull, so keep your eyes peeled when you’re out on the water.
4. White tailed eagles
Back on land, another wildlife highlight on the Isle of Mull are the white tailed eagles. They’re one of the animals that Mull is most famous for. There are lots of white tailed eagles around the Isle of Mull. And you have a good chance of spotting them wherever you are.
Some of the best places on Mull to spot white tailed eagles include Loch Na Keal, where you can often see them flying down the loch. Other places include Calgary Bay, and Lochbuie. But you can honestly see them anywhere. Make sure you’ve always got binoculars with you, and then head out on one of Mull’s many beautiful hiking trails. And there’s a good chance you’ll spot one. They are such beautiful, huge majestic birds.
5. Otters
Another of the highlights of Mull’s wildlife are otters. There are lots of otters around the coast of the Isle of Mull. I’ll be honest – I haven’t had much luck spotting otters on Mull. But, from talking to locals and other visitors on Mull, many people had seen them. So it definitely is possible.
You can see otters at any point along the coastline of the Isle of Mull. Some top spots include Loch Na Keal, Lochbuie, and Croggan. But someone on the island once told me they saw one really clearly while waiting for the car ferry at Craignure. So there really is a chance to see them anywhere.
You can take a wildlife watching tour on Mull to maximise your chances of seeing an otter. This tour of the Isle of Mull through Get Your Guide (affiliate), or this small group tour from Edinburgh (affiliate), or this small group tour from Glasgow (affiliate) will all give you a great chance of seeing an otter with your guide. Or, you can go for a walk along the coast, and keep a look out. You’ll need to use binoculars, as otters are superbly camouflaged in the rocks and the seaweed. You have the best chance to spot them a few hours either side of low tide, when they come to the edge of the beaches to hunt in the seaweed. They’re such cute creatures, so it’s definitely worth taking some time to look.
6. Lapwings
Another great wildlife sighting on the Isle of Mull are lapwings. These ground-nesting birds are quite endangered in the UK, but you can see them on the Isle of Mull. They’re really fun, characterful birds. You’ll often hear them before you see them – they have a very loud call!
The best place to spot lapwings on the Isle of Mull is around Loch Ba. You can do a lovely walk on Mull from Knock, and walk on the footpath along the edge of Loch Ba. There are lots of lapwings that nest here in the spring and summer, so you have a good chance of spotting one. You can see (and hear!) them flying around, and also on the ground as well.
7. Basking Sharks
Back in the water, another of the top wildlife sightings on the Isle of Mull are basking sharks. You have the best chance of seeing them in the water around Mull in the summer, when their migration path takes them down the coast of the UK. And, again, you have the best chance of seeing them when the water is flat. Warm, sunny days are best as well, as this encourages them to come to the surface and ‘bask’. Warm, sunny and windless days are fairly rare in Scotland – but they do happen! And when you’re lucky to get a day with weather like this, you absolutely have to make the most of it and get out on the water.
If you’re lucky enough to spot a basking shark when it’s at the surface, you might be able to spend a while with it. They can sometimes remain at the surface for a while, and you’ll be able to see the dorsal fin and also part of the tail sticking up out of the water. Although these sharks are huge, they’re not at all dangerous to humans. They feed on plankton, and they move really slowly through the water. They’re beautiful animals, and another highlight around Mull.
8. Golden eagles
Golden eagles are another of Mull’s most famous birds of prey. Like the white tailed eagles that also live around here, golden eagles are huge birds that can be found almost anywhere on the island. Go for walks and keep a look out, and see what you can spot.
Some of the best places to spot golden eagles include Loch Ba, the Three Lochs Viewpoint, and Calgary Bay. But again, these birds can be seen all over the island. I got one of the best sightings of these beautiful birds while driving from Calgary on the small, narrow roads. They’re so graceful when they soar high above you, and their size is so impressive.
9. Common and bottlenose dolphins
Dolphins are also commonly sighted in the waters around the Isle of Mull. You can see both bottlenose and common dolphins here. Dolphins can often be easier to spot that porpoises. They tend to travel in larger groups, and can be a lot more active. They’re also a lot more likely to approach boats, and sometimes even interact with the boats and enjoy swimming alongside.
If you’re lucky enough to have a close encounter with a dolphin, it’s a special moment that will stay with you forever. I got lucky on one trip to Scotland and managed to see a common dolphin, who swam right up to the boat. I remember looking down, and literally feeling like I was looking right into the eyes of the dolphin. She literally turned her head slightly in the water to look right up, and it looked like she was smiling. The locals knew her as one of the friendly dolphins in the area, who would often come up to boats to say hello. To have such a close encounter with a wild dolphin – to literally feel like our eyes met and we smiled at each other – was just beyond incredible.
10. Oystercatchers and other wading birds
The last animals in my guide to the best wildlife on the Isle of Mull are oystercatchers, and also other wading birds. There are lots around Mull. I’ve seen a lot on the beaches around Mull while looking for otters. The shores of Loch Na Keal are great places to spot them.
Even if you don’t manage to see otters on these beaches, seeing wading birds can be great as well. Oystercatchers are the most frequently sighted birds. They’re easy to recognise with their distinctive colours, and often quite vocal. You can also see other waders, like curlews and ringed plovers.
Remember, for the best chance of seeing all this wildlife and more, plus options for boat trips, a tour with a guide is the best option. Remember to check out tours of the Isle of Mull through Get Your Guide (affiliate). and also tours of the Isle of Mull through Viator (affiliate).
Hope you enjoyed my guide to the best wildlife on the Isle of Mull! Make sure you also check out my ultimate itinerary for 5 days on the Isle of Mull. If you’re keen to explore more of Scotland, make sure you check my guide to one week on the Isle of Skye, five days around Fort William, and the top things to do in Scotland’s highlands. You can also check out my itinerary for 3 days in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city.
