Gannets, puffins, sporadic whales, and soaring cliffs feature in this Shetland small-group boat tour.
With its wild coastlines and plentiful maritime food sources, Shetland provides vital nesting grounds for millions of visiting seabirds — not to mention popular with passing whales. This boat trip gives you the opportunity to spot a myriad of wildlife, from the gannets and kittiwakes whose nests balance on vertiginous cliffside ledges, to the clifftop burrows of puffins and petrels, and the rare chance to spy an orca.
Whichever species you’re excited to see, this small, cushioned-seat boat trip slowly travels to a variety of bird colonies, enabling you to get close enough on the open deck to study and photograph them all. You’ll also be introduced to the airborne wizardry of the gannets as they dive and rocket past the boat.
Leaving from Lerwick, the trip takes you out past the Bressay Lighthouse to the vast Isle of Noss gannet colony. On the way, you’ll pass Orkneyman’s Cave and The Giant’s Leg, the largest natural arch in Shetland.
The boat has binoculars and wildlife information on board, and your highly experienced skipper, Phil, is a local naturalist who’ll share his extensive knowledge of these breeding grounds. He is frequently accompanied by his partner, Rebecca — author of several books on Shetland birdlife — who’ll share not only her ornithological knowledge but also her techniques as a professional wildlife photographer for capturing images of them yourself.
Running between April and October, the boat trip lasts around two and a half hours.
Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Scotland specialists
These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.
Working croft tour in Shetland
David and Isla will introduce you to their family’s coastal croft, where you’ll spend half a day experiencing this traditional farming lifestyle with sheepdog demonstrations, Shetland pony and sheep encounters, and the chance to spot orcas in a remote bay.
