Visit Wester Ross - Whale Watching Boat Trips and Fishing in Wester Ross

Fishing and Sea Life

Sea Life Watching:

Wester Ross is one of Europe's finest areas for watching marine wildlife. Three "hot spots" are usually found listed as being among the best for whale, porpoise, and dolphin watching - and if you are in Wester Ross, you are in one of them!

With a good pair of binoculars and a decent vantage point overlooking the Minch (the name given to the waters around the coast between the mainland and Skye), it is entirely possible to sit and watch these animals from spring through to autumn. Watching and recording these stunning animals started here in about 1994, and since then sightings have been made of Sei, Minke, Sperm, Pilot, and Bottlenosed whales. Harbour porpoises are particularly common, and we have also confirmed sightings of Bottlenosed, Common, White Beaked and Risso's dolphins. Finally, the king of them all - Killer Wales are sometimes seen off the coast heading along their migratory routes.

Fishing

Although there has been a steadily increasing demand for Whale watching trips, sea fishing is still well provided for, and there are opportunities from virtually all of the sea lochs in the area - Lochs Carron, Torridon, Gairloch, Broom and further North. There are also local boat operators in Gairloch and Ullapool that can take you out into the deep waters to try your luck at some bigger game.

Fishing (on Land!)

Wester Ross has some of the most exciting and prolific wild game fishing in Scotland, coupled with spectacular scenery. There are over 20 rivers in the area with populations of Atlantic salmon, and our largest loch, Loch Maree, was once world renowned for its sea trout fishing. There are hundreds of remote lochs in the hills with wild brown trout and both salmon and trout are "keystone" species within the river systems of Wester Ross. Fisheries for salmon and trout are also a vital part of the local economy, and rod fisheries can represent an important source of tourism revenue.

The whole area offers abundant small upland lochs, some easily reached, others requiring a degree of effort. However, the locations of these lochs are often spectacular and for scenic reward alone they are worth exploring. The brown trout in these lochs can prove elusive but stocks are still there. Boats can be hired on some lochs, others can only be fished from the shore. There are several river systems to fish from, and the Rivers Carron, Ewe, Gruinard, and Grudie are fine examples of what’s on offer here.

Essential equipment includes a map, and outdoor gear. Most of the area is covered by Ordnance Survey map Sheet 19 which includes both Gairloch and Ullapool, taking in the area from south of the Grudie river to Dundonnell in the north.

There is a vast amount of water available to be fished for brown trout within the region – but bear in mind that much of this water is under some form of administration so enquiries should be made about permission to fish. Gairloch Angling Club, as an example, has around 20 or so hill lochs available for fishing – some of these with boats.

Each village in the area has fishing around it so make enquiries at the local shop, post office, or hotel.

Note that between Aultbea and Ullapool the permit issue is less clear. While many anglers will simply just go and fish, it is always best to err on the side of caution and ask! Generally there is no law to stop brown trout fishing in Scotland, but sometimes access may be a problem, so it pays to ask rather than risk the wrath of the landowner and his staff.

“A simply beautiful part of the world. I stayed near Gairloch with my family recently, and we'll certainly be back.”

Jeff Gilberston, Florida

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