OUTER HEBRIDES WILDLIFE FESTIVAL
Join HWDT for a series of events taking place during the Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival
The Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival is an annual community-led festival coordinated by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust as part of Species on the Edge, a multi-partner nature conservation programme funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the incredible wildlife of the Outer Hebrides. A diverse programme of events allows residents and visitors alike to enjoy, learn about, connect with, and take action for nature across the islands.
The 2025 Outer Hebrides Wildlife Festival will be taking place Saturday 21st - 28th of June, with a Fringe festival running throughout July.
Whale Track Events
Join us for some sea-gazing from these gorgeous Hebridean Whale Trail sites. Led by Sightings Officer, Sadie, learn about species we see around the coast and how you can help deepen our understanding by conducting surveys using Whale Track
Click on the location links for more details about the site and accessibility.
Gallan Head Talk & Whale Watch
We explore what can be learnt from community sighting reports and how long term monitoring can help inform conservation measures, before heading out to do a land-based survey using Whale Track.
Date: Friday 27 June
Time: 11:00-14:30
Where: The talk will be held at the Gallan Beag café & will be the meeting point for the watch event, which will take place at Gallan Head
Booking required: Click here to book
Learning from your sightings talk
We explore what can be learnt from community sighting reports and how long term monitoring can help inform conservation measures.
Date: Friday 27 June
Time: 18:00-19:00
Where: An Lanntair Arts Centre, Stornoway
Booking required: Click here to book
Huisinis Whale Watch
Discover more about the species we see around the coast and how you can help deepen our understanding by conducting surveys and reporting your sightings using Whale Track
Date: Saturday 28 June
Time: 13:00-15:00
Where: Gateway building at Huisinis, Harris
Drop-in events, no need to book.
Whale Watch Stornoway - Ullapool Calmac Ferry Crossing
Join us aboard the MV Loch Seaforth collecting important data on whale and dolphin distribution using Whale Track.
Date: Sunday 29 June
Time: 08:00-14:10
Where: Calmac Stornoway - Ullapool Ferry
Booking required: See full details about the event and how to book at the bottom of this page.
Butt of Lewis Whale Watch
Discover more about the species we see around the coast and how you can help deepen our understanding by conducting surveys and reporting your sightings using Whale Track
Date: Monday 30 June
Time: 15:00-16:30
Where: Butt of Lewis
Drop-in events, no need to book.
Tiumpan Head Whale Watch
Discover more about the species we see around the coast and how you can help deepen our understanding by conducting surveys and reporting your sightings using Whale Track
Date: Monday 30 June
Time: 18:00-19:00
Where: Tiumpan Head
No parking in front of lighthouse and limited parking down the road. Please consider taking public transport.
Drop-in events, no need to book.
Whale Watch Stornoway - Ullapool Calmac Ferry Crossing
Booking required VIA THE CALMAC WEBSITE
Join HWDT aboard the MV Loch Seaforth collecting important data on whale and dolphin distribution using our Whale Track app.
The waters of the west coast of Scotland are extremely important for wildlife, with increasing numbers of whales, dolphins and basking sharks being spotted in the Minch.
The sailing from Ullapool - Stornoway operates across the Minch which is rapidly becoming a recognised area to spot whales and dolphins in the UK. Over the past few summers, observers on the ferry crossing have witnessed large numbers of species such as the common dolphin and minke whale, together with harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins. Some of the bigger baleen whale species, such as humpback and fin whale, have also started utilising this stretch of water - the latter being the second largest animal to have ever lived on the planet.
CROSSING DETAILS:
Stornoway depart: 08:00
Ullapool arrive: 10:40
Ullapool depart: 11:30
Stornoway arrive: 14:10
HOW TO JOIN
There is no special ticket required, simply purchase a ticket to travel on the 8am Stornoway to Ullapool route or the 11:30am Ullapool to Stornoway route on Sunday 29 June, and meet our Sightings Officer, Sadie, who will be wearing a bright blue HWDT bib, either at the ferry terminal or out on deck.
ThESE eventS ARE open to all. Whether you’re a marine enthusiast or simply curious about the incredible creatures that inhabit our coastal waters. We look forward to seeing you there!
To conduct your own surveys or report your sightings, please download and join Whale Track.
These events are generously supported by voters to Tesco Stronger Starts and by Baillie Gifford.