Wildlife

Which short coastal loop from Hillside Durness Co finds the best otter sightings between Camel Haugh and Balnakeil

Apr 18, 2026 • by Élise Dupont

I often get asked which short coastal loop between Camel Haugh and Balnakeil gives the best chance of seeing otters. After countless mornings with binoculars fogged from my breath and camera shutters clicking, I can say there’s a clear favourite—an easy, roughly 3.5–4 km loop that starts at...

How to photograph puffins at close range with a phone or 70–200mm lens without disturbing nesting colonies

Apr 04, 2026 • by Élise Dupont

I first learned how fragile a great puffin photo can be when I trod too close to a burrow and watched an adult bird hesitate at the entrance, clearly unnerved. That moment changed how I approach seabird colonies: close-range images are possible, yes—but only when you prioritise the birds’...

Which guided boat operators run wildlife trips from durness and what to expect on a seal-and-seabird tour

Feb 25, 2026 • by Élise Dupont

I get asked all the time which boat operators run wildlife trips from Durness and what a seal-and-seabird tour is actually like. From where I live and write, the answer starts with: there aren’t big fleets here — trips are small, local, seasonal and run by passionate skippers who know the coast...

Best day route for spotting otters between hillside durness co and camel haugh with maps and timing

Jan 23, 2026 • by Élise Dupont

I’ve walked the stretch between Hillside Durness Co and Camel Haugh more times than I can count, always hopeful for that quiet moment when an otter slips from sea to shore. If you want the best day route for spotting otters in this part of the far north, I’ll take you through a route I...

Where to watch puffins near durness: best viewing hides, times and binocular tips

Jan 16, 2026 • by Élise Dupont

I still remember my first puffin sighting near Durness—a tiny triangular face popping out of a cliff-top burrow, bright beak gleaming against a slate sky. It was one of those small, stubborn moments that make you fall in love with the north coast all over again. Over the years I’ve chased...

How to plan a wildlife-focused weekend: spotting seabirds, otters and seals around durness

Dec 02, 2025 • by Élise Dupont

I plan almost every visit to Durness with a single aim: maximise the time I spend watching and photographing wildlife without disturbing it. A weekend might sound short, but with a focused plan you can see spectacular seabird colonies, playful seals and, if you’re lucky and patient, otters moving...