A UK holiday destination has been revealed as one of the best places to go whale watching in the world. Looking for the giant sea mammals is high up on a lot of people's travel bucket lists - and lucky for them, they needn't travel far to achieve it. The Shetland Isles in Scotland is one of the top holiday spots to find whales, according to a new list.
What's more, whales are most popularly seen in the Shetlands during the warmer summer months, unlike a lot of other places in Europe. Traditionally, spots like Husavik in Iceland and Tromso in Norway require travellers to layer up and brave the chilly temperatures to catch a glimpse of a fluke or a fin. But that's not the case in Scotland, with the whales most commonly spotted between May and August.
Among the species frequently seen around the Shetlands are humpback whales, orcas, minke whales and even dolphins. What's more, the number of sightings are increasing, suggesting it's slowly becoming an even better place for whale watchers to visit. The holiday hotspot was listed on Woman and Home's best whale watching locations in the world, alongside spots like Maui in Hawaii, the Lofoten Islands, Norway and Kaikoura in New Zealand.
They wrote: " The Shetlands ’ northern location in Scotland and nutrient-rich waters attract minke whales and orcas, along with stunning coastal scenery. "The best time to try and catch a glimpse of these charming creatures is during May and August, when pods of orcas among other types of whales can.