Rockpool Rambles
Meet the underwater inhabitants of the Moray Firth, a wildlife-watcher’s paradise
THE Moray Firth is a wildlife-watcher’s paradise and Macduff Marine Aquarium is the perfect place to start your exploration. It’s home to more than 100 of the species found in this incredibly diverse habitat, which stretches from Fraserburgh in the east to Duncansby Head in the north.
Inhabitants range from Atlantic salmon to Yarrell’s blenny – a tufty-tentacled fish found in rocky crevices – and everything in between.
There are sharks, rays, seahorses, jellyfish, octopuses, urchins, eels and an enthusiastic band of humans who take great delight in sharing their expertise with visitors in daily talks and feeding shows.
The aquarium boasts the UK’S only kelp reef exhibit, and its popular touch pool sessions allow younger visitors to get hands-on – and maybe even get the answers to those tricky questions parents just can’t answer.
Since 2007, it has also operated a live camera link to the nearby RSPB Troup Head seabird colony in summer. It’s the only site on the Scottish mainland where gannets nest and raise chicks.
There are now more than 2000 pairs, as well as shags, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars.
New attractions this summer include a programme of rockpool rambles. The aquarium has also introduced VIP tours, for a maximum of six people, on Saturday mornings.
For £18 per adult, and £10 for children, guests get admission to the aquarium and exclusive access in the company of a guide.
Macduff Marine Aquarium was deservedly named Aberdeenshire’s best visitor experience in 2022 and manager Claire Matthews says she and her colleagues are hugely proud of the accolade.
“We have a fantastic coastline here, and it’s lovely to be able to share that with visitors and to encourage
them to get out there and enjoy it,” she says.