Download this guide as docx

Welcome

The Scottish Dolphin Centre is run by charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Based at the mouth of the River Spey, visitors can spot bottlenose dolphins, osprey, seals and the elusive otter living in the wild. 

The Centre is based in a 250 year old former salmon fishing station and offers a gift shop, lovely cafe and small exhibition space where you can learn more about the local bottlenose dolphins. 

The centre buildings are accessible by wheelchair and there is a disabled toilet. The shingle beach is not accessible to wheelchair used or those with low mobility, but a small grassy hill can give a vantage point to look out to sea. 

The image shows the Scottish Dolphin Centre visitor centre, including historical buildings, a grassy hill and blue skies

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Scottish Dolphin Centre exhibition Shop information deskScottish Dolphin Centre toilets Scottish Dolphin Centre cafeScottish Dolphin Centre shop

There is level access from the car park to:

Outside cafe

Hearing

Some staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
Some staff have disability awareness training.

Getting here

For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.
Scottish Dolphin Centre
Spey Bay
IV32 7PJ

Travel by public transport

You can get to WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre by bus.
There is no bus stop or scheduled bus travel to the Scottish Dolphin Centre. However, visitors can book the 'Dial M' bus service in advance. All Dial M journeys must be pre-booked by phoning the booking line on 0300 123 4565. Bookings can be accepted up to 4 weeks in advance but must be made no later than 3pm the day before your pick up time. The booking line is open from 8.45am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Bookings cannot be accepted for any journey which may be undertaken on an existing local service bus journey or connecting journeys. The bus stop is 5 miles / 8.1 km from WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre.

Scheduled buses stop at Fochabers and then a taxi booked for the remaining 5 miles to Spey Bay. The number 10 bus from Aberdeen to Inverness timetable: 
/>https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/north-scotland/service-10-aberdeen-to-inverness

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with ACE Taxis by calling 01343 820820. You can get a taxi with A2B cabs by calling 01343 556655. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Parking

We have a car park. There are accessible parking spaces. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more.

Please consider donating £2 to park your vehicle here, from 9am to 5pm. No overnight parking. The proceeds from your ticket will contribute directly to the maintenance of the car park, the running of the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre and WDC’s work to protect dolphins in Scotland.

Photo showing designated disabled parking round the corner from main entrance, with a flat pathway

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
The path is 1500mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
The door is 880mm wide.
The main door is side hung and manual.
This shows the front door of visitor centre which is open. The inner doors are closed.

Getting around inside

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Ticket/ information desk

Shop information desk

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The route is 1150mm wide, or more.
Information desk at the back of shop. There is plenty of clear space around the desk.

Scottish Dolphin Centre exhibition

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1500mm wide, or more. The door is 1500mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.
Some videos have subtitles.

The exhibition provides information boards on latest wildlife sightings and the bottlenose dolphins, osprey and other wildlife. We have live cameras that look out to sea and over the estuary. The controls are mounted on levered arms so can be accessed from any height. There is comfortable seating and a screen showing films and photo montages. Whale and dolphin bones and skulls can be touched and held by visitors. 

Scottish Dolphin Centre exhibition showing sightings boards, whale and dolphin bone and skulls collection and seating area. Live cameras including movable controls.

Public toilet

Scottish Dolphin Centre toilets

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 800mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 800mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 800mm at the side of the toilet. There is 2200mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 450mm high. The toilets have handrails.
This photo shows the corridor to the toilets which Mens to the left, Ladies to the right and DIsabled in front. Disabled toilet with handle on the wall beside the toilet.

Shop

Scottish Dolphin Centre shop

From the main entrance to the shop, there is level access. The route is 880mm wide, or more. The door is 880mm wide.
The route through the shop is 800mm wide, or more.
Photo showing shop displays

Place to eat and drink

Scottish Dolphin Centre cafe

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 800mm wide, or more. The door is 1050mm wide.
To get to a table, there are no steps.
The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.
There is background music sometimes.
The table and plates have high colour contrast.
We cater for sugar free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free) and vegan specific diets.
Photo shows cafe with tables on either side of a wide walkway

Ice House (accessed by tour only)

There is a gentle slope down to the Icehouse door. The Icehouse is a historic building which had cobbled flooring throughout. Most areas have mats to provide a more even flooring, however for some areas this has not been possible. There is also low lighting throughout the building. Please note we are happy to take visitors in to assess the building themselves before a tour. There are seats dotted throughout the tour which visitors are welcome to use at any time. 

Photo showing mats over cobbled flooring and low lighting in the Icehouse.

Getting around outside

Triangle walk

The trail is 500metres long. Some of the trail has a loose surface. The trail is sloped. The trail has seats.

Picnic Area

Outside cafe

From the car park to the picnic area, there is level access. The path is 1500mm wide, or more.
You can bring your own food to the picnic area.
Photo shows 3 picnic benches situated directly outside the visitor centre

Shorewatch Hill

There is a slope up to Shorewatch Hill, which is a spot visitors can watch for dolphins. 

Photo shows a gentle grassy slope leading to a flat area where you can look out to sea

Customer care support

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is located 5m away from the Centre, on grassland by the Icehouse Hill.
You can hire mobility equipment from Shopmobility Moray by calling 01343 552 528.

Customer care support

Some staff have disability awareness training.
Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.