Spotting whales in their natural habitat is an amazing experience, and something that everyone should try at least once. Although this activity might sound like something you need to travel a long way for, whales can actually be found closer to home than you might think. Here, we share the best places to go whale watching in Ireland which you can reach via our Irish Sea ferry crossings.
Whale watching in West Cork
Home to rugged landscapes, deserted beaches, and picturesque villages, West Cork is a great destination for those looking to get away from it all. In addition to peace and serenity, West Cork offers fantastic whale spotting opportunities off its coast, creating another draw for tourists. The clear and unpolluted waters of West Cork make the perfect playground for both whales and dolphins and there are a number of whale watching tours to choose from.
Whale Watch West Cork is one option, and when you choose this whale watching company you’ll set sail on their purpose-built catamaran: Voyager. This twin engine vessel has both indoor and outdoor observation areas and will give you a great view of any whales and dolphins that you pass. Boasting a success rate of between 82 and 85%, Whale Watch West Cork operate in line with set whale watching guidelines and always ensure that disturbance is kept to a minimum. Their whale watching tours take around 4 hours, with a refreshment break halfway at North Harbour on Cape Clear Island, and set off twice a day at 9:30 and 2:15 with an additional sunset sailing at 7pm in the summer.
The time of year you embark on your whale watching experience in West Cork will determine the species that you may spot. For example, minke whales visit the waters between March and November, whereas fin whales can be seen between September and December. Other species you might spot include Risso’s dolphins, basking sharks, and common dolphins. Humpback whales sometimes make an appearance too, but only on very rare occasions.
Whale watching in West Kerry
Like West Cork, West Kerry is a rugged, scenic part of Ireland and is home to traditional towns, the popular Dingle Distillery, and stunning beaches. Some would even go as far to say that West Kerry is out of this world as some Star Wars scenes were filmed here, making it a top choice for sci-fi fans. Another similarity between West Cork and West Kerry is that they’re both great destinations for whale watching!
When it comes to whale watching in West Kerry, Blasket Islands Eco Marine Tours is the company to contact. Their morning cruise will take you whale spotting around the Blasket Islands and Dingle Bay aboard a 43ft Aquastar with a flying bridge, and your guide will be super knowledgeable about the area so you can be sure that if there are whales to see – he’ll find them! The company also offer an afternoon guided marine tour and an all-day tour with a stop-off at Great Blasket Island, and all whale watching tours depart from Ventry Pier.
One of the great things about whale watching in West Kerry is that there’s the opportunity to spot lots of amazing birds too, including puffins. The whale species that you’re most likely to spot is the minke whale, although some tours have been lucky enough to see humpback whales and even orca. The Blasket Islands are also home to grey seals, so keep an eye out for these cute critters during your whale watching activity too.
Whale watching in Donegal
Located two and a half hours from Larne, Donegal offers the closest whale watching opportunity in Ireland to one of our ports. Popular with hikers and lovers of the great outdoors, Donegal is one of the highlights of the Wild Atlantic Way which stretches along Ireland’s west coast as it offers plenty to see and do – including whale watching.
Although they don’t specifically set out to find whales, the Inishowen Boating Experience offer boat trips which explore the waters around Donegal, and whales could be part of it. Minke whales are sometimes spotted in this area, as are common and bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise, and basking sharks. Grey and harbour seals are also present around the sea caves of west Donegal where they can often be seen sitting on the rocks.
The trips offered by the Inishowen Boating Company are perfect for those who want to see some of Ireland’s striking coastline from the water and would consider spotting whales and dolphins to be an extra special added bonus. Tours set off from Bunagee Pier Culdaff between April and October which coincides nicely with when minke whales are most commonly spotted.
Now you know the best places for whale watching in Ireland, book your Liverpool or Dublin or Cairnryan to Larne crossing with us today and start planning your wildlife themed trip! Travelling in the other direction? Discover the best places for whale watching in Scotland instead.
