bass rock boat tours

Wildlife Boat Trips

We offer a fantastic range of boat trips around the islands in the Firth of Forth, including the incredible Bass Rock gannet colony (featured in BBC1's Wild Isles). Trips run from late March to early October. Look out for different seabirds and marine wildlife throughout the spring and summer season. 2024 dates will be live from November, our Isle of May Landing trips will bookable from January 2024. Boat trips for can be booked online through the links below or call us on 01620 890 202. PLEASE NOTE over the summer finding a parking space in North Berwick can be difficult. If you are arriving by car please allow plenty of time to find a parking space to ensure you can be harbourside 20 minutes before your trip is scheduled to depart. For advice on places to park in North Berwick if our car park is full visit our 'Plan Your Visit' page. Thank you.

Three Islands Seabird Seafari

These exhilarating wildlife boat trips leave North Berwick Harbour and head out around the islands of the Lamb, Craigleith and of course the famous Bass Rock. Enjoy seeing a range of amazing wildlife in its natural habitat. Seasonal highlights include puffins, guillemots, gannets and if you’re really lucky you might even spot dolphins. Please note our RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) are unsuitable for anyone with back and or neck problems or who is pregnant. Please bring your own waterproofs. All children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips.

Seabird Catamaran Cruise

On board our custom-built, 55 seat catamaran, enjoy an hour-long cruise around the island of Craigleith and the Bass Rock, the world's largest colony of Northern gannets. Please note all children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips.

Bass Rock Experience

Wildlife wonder the Bass Rock is home to the largest Northern gannet colony in the world. Our exclusive landing trips are an unforgettable wildlife experience for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Isle of May boat trips

Visit stunning National Nature Reserve the Isle of May. The island is steeped in history and is a haven for wildlife, supporting internationally important colonies of breeding seabirds in the summer and grey seals over winter. Enjoy a cruise around the iconic Bass Rock on your return journey (weather and sea conditions permitting).

Our RIBs (rigid inflatable boats) are unsuitable for anyone with back and or neck problems or who is pregnant. Please note all children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult on these trips.

The terms and conditions for all our boat trips are available to view HERE.

If you have any queries about any of the trips please don't hesitate to get in touch with us on [email protected]

Welcome to Sula Boat Trips

Brand new boat for 2021 season, bass rock sightseeing tour.

1.5 Hour Bass Rock Sightseeing Boat Trip

Spectacular 1.5 Hour sightseeing boat trips to the world famous Bass Rock from North Berwick. Modern and very family friendly boat, the most comfortable way to see the magnificent Bass Rock up close.

Isle of May Sightseeing Trip

3 Hour sightseeing trip around the Isle of May. There will be no landing on the island but you can get up close to the magnificent cliffs along the western side of the island. During the winter months you should be able to see some of the 2000 grey seal pups that are born on the island every year.

North Berwick to Anstruther Ferry

East Lothian to Fife Ferry Service

Direct passenger ferry crossing between North Berwick and Anstruther. Perfect to explore the coastal towns on the other side of the Forth

Evening Cruise

Make sure you book your place on this spectacular summer evening cruise and enjoying views over the islands of the Firth of Forth. This leisurely hour long cruise is a magical way to end any day, passing the islands of Craigleith, the Lamb and Fidra. Relax onboard taking in the stunning views across the sea and the sandy shoreline of East Lothian. A wonderful opportunity to see the various seabirds and marine wildlife basking in the evening light.

Latest News

22/08/2020 Sula III has been launched

12/08/2020 Sula 3 build progressing well

EXPLORE NATURE

Bluewild sails you to the bass rock, the isle of may, to world-famous colonies of gannets and puffins where seals, dolphins and whales roam the historic north sea coast, iconic natural wonders close to edinburgh, boat tours from dunbar and north berwick, book online for scheduled boat trips., exclusive private charters for family occasions, group or corporate boat tours. please call now ., boat trips, tours and island landings, experience seabirds, marine life and the natural beauty of historic volcanic islands.

Sail to the breath-taking Bass Rock – the world’s largest island colony of northern gannets.

Walk amongst Puffins and 200,000 migrant birds on the iconic Isle of May. Wake-up early for Sunrise or watch the sky glow on a Sundown tour.

We offer short boat trips and longer day tours, nature, history, ornithology and photography trips, sightseeing and story-telling. We help media & film production companies.

Our boats carry 10 or 12 passengers for individual tickets or smaller groups in Private Charters. Our tours vary in length. We set off on time but we’re pretty relaxed on return schedules.

No crush. No rush…just Nature. History. Scenery. Stories…and time to marvel at exceptional natural wonders.

FILM, TV & SAFETY BOAT

BlueWild is the ‘go-to’ company for Film, TV crews and photo-shoots.  We’ve worked with the BBC, Netflix and nature photographers, landing on islands and safety boat cover.

We understand the schedules, safety requirements and contracts. We can help with drone filming on one or several boats.

BAND ON A BLUEWILD BOAT

Sail out to sea for your next spectacular band or music promo video. Ideal for acoustic, traditional and vocal artists. 

Bring your own gear or ask us about filming for you – drones and more.

A must for any visit is a boat trip to see the islands, maybe even land on the Bass Rock and get up close to the wildlife – including dolphins, seals, seabirds and whales!

There are a number of islands dotted along the East Lothian coastline which can be seen from the shoreline and are even better close-up.

Islands off the coast of East lothian

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Bass Rock boat trips

📌 North Berwick, East Lothian ★★★★★

Gaze out into the Firth of Forth from North Berwick and your eyes will be drawn to a strangely shaped island just offshore. The unlikely volcanic plug of Bass Rock only measures a few hundred metres from end to end but reaches a height of over 100 metres with sheer cliffs on three sides. The side you can see from the Lothian mainland is slightly more hospitable… but why is it almost completely white in colour? The answer: over 150,000 gannets during breeding season and their droppings – this is the largest single colony for the species anywhere in the world. Taking a boat trip out to the rock is surely one of the most memorable experiences you can have in the Scottish Lowlands. It’s an awesome, noisy, stinking spectacle where cameras and binoculars are a must, with a hood (to protect yourself from gannet droppings) also recommended! The rock’s steep sides means you can get right up close to the birds; gannets are obviously the main attraction but there are a few guillemots, razorbills and shags wherever they can gain a fragile foothold on the cliffs. We can personally recommend the Scottish Seabird Centre ‘s catamaran cruise, which also takes in the growing puffin colony on nearby Craigleith. Several other trips are available, including expensive excursions which include landing on the rock itself.

📌 Bass Rock is off the East Lothian coast between North Berwick & Dunbar 🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 602873 🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.077630,-2.640467

💬 Most trips depart from North Berwick harbour, 🧭 NT 554857 / 🛰️ 56.061626,-2.718454

🚆🚌 Train / bus to North Berwick 🚗 Street parking nearby North Berwick harbour – unrestricted spaces are a little further away

⌚ Generally at least daily, approximately April to October – check official websites 🎫 £27+ adult / £12+ child depending on trip type & operator

💬 Operators include the Scottish Seabird Centre (🔗 seabird.org ) & Sula Boat Trips (🔗 sulaboattrips.co.uk )

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Bass Rock Boat Trips

Leuchie Walled Garden is the perfect base for exploring the Bass Rock and the wildlife of the Firth of Forth.

Around 500,000 seabirds are present in the Forth Islands during the summer, including 150,000 gannets and 90,000 puffins. There are also Kittiwakes, terns, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants, eiders and gulls.

The best way to experience these wonderful birds is to take a boat trip around the Bass Rock and Craigleith islands from North Berwick Harbour.

One option is to take a one-hour trip on board Scottish Seabird Centre’s Seafari Explorer. This stable 55 passenger vessel was custom-built in 2012 to provide a family-friendly Bass Rock boat trip experience.

This trip takes you around Craigleith with its 15,000 nesting Puffins before heading down to the world famous Bass Rock with its 150,000 nesting Gannets.

It’s a fantastic trip for all ages, including well-behaved dogs. Look out for seals and even Dolphins who sometimes race beside the boat.

As with all boat trips, the weather out on the sea is usually a bit colder than on the land, so make sure to wrap up warm, a waterproof jacket is always handy, even in the middle of the glorious Scottish summer.

The boat can get in really close to the gannet colonies of the Bass Rock. So you will get amazing views of these stunning seabirds. Due to the boat's design, the historic harbour and maritime safety regulations, we cannot carry passengers in wheelchairs.

The crew are, however, willing to help wherever possible to assist you in boarding the vessel. Depending on the tide level, this can involve climbing and descending several steep stairs, so all passengers must be comfortable doing this.

Trips run regularly throughout the summer months and can be booked at www.seabird.org . Adult tickets cost £27 per person.

Bass Rock Guided Landing Trips

The Seabird Centre also provides Guided Bass Rock Landing Trips.

Accompanied by an expert guide, you will travel to, and land on, the Bass Rock, the world's largest colony of Northern gannets and spend three hours on the rock. With only a few trips organised each year, this is an unforgettable experience.

The Bass was Scotland’s Alcatraz in the Sixteenth Century, where political and religious prisoners were incarcerated. You get to see the ruins of the prison and the gannets up close.

The cost is £140 per person with a minimum of six people landing. Tickets can be booked on the Seabird Centre website .

Bespoke Bass Rock Trips

Leuchie Walled Garden can also provide our guests with bespoke boat trips to the Bass Rock. Guests are encouraged to discuss this with the owner before or during their stay with us.

Seabird Catamaran Cruise

1 Hour cruise to Craigleith and the Bass Rock on a family friendly boat

Seabird Catamaran

 Duration 1hr (approx)

A one hour family friendly trip on board Seafari Explorer around Craigleith and the Bass Rock.  This stable 55 passenger vessel was custom built in 2012 to provide a family friendly Bass Rock boat trip experience.  This trip takes you around Craigleith with its 15,000 nesting Puffin's before heading down to the world famous Bass Rock with it's 150,000 nesting Gannets.  Fantastic trip for all ages including well behaved dogs.  Keep a look out for seals and even Dolphins, we are seeing more of these amazing mammals who sometimes race along beside the boat on our trips.

As with all boat trips, the weather out on the sea is usually a bit colder than on the land, so make sure to wrap up warm, a waterproof jacket is always handy even in the middle of the glorious scottish summer.  The boat can get in really close to the gannet colonies of the Bass Rock so you will get amazing views of these stunning seabirds.

Due to the design of the boat, historic harbour and maritime safety regulations we are unable to carry passengers in wheelchairs.  Our crew are however willing to help wherever possible to assist you to board the vessel, but depending on the tide level, this can involve climbing and decending several steep stairs, so all passengers must be comfortable doing this.  If in any doubt, please contact our booking office before making your booking and we can provide more information

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• Terms and Conditions

An overview of our boats

The Maid of the Forth is licensed to carry 225 passengers and was specifically designed to operate to Inchcolm Island with her lower and upper deck gangways allowing safe access to the Island at all states of the tide.

The passenger compartments on the vessel are over two levels.  The lower deck is fully enclosed and heated and the open top deck is excellent for enjoying the fresh sea air on your cruise.

Seafari Explorer is licensed for 55 passengers and operates out of North Berwick, taking passengers around the world famous Bass Rock

We also operate a fleet of 3 high speed Ribs for specialist wildlife watching trips, we have 2 boats based in North Berwick and 1 boat based in South Queensferry.  Each boat can carry 12 passengers so great for smaller groups.  For longer trips or on colder days we also have a cabin rib so all 12 people can sit inside the heated cabin for a more comfortable journey.  

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Brilliant Bass Rock Boat Trip - Bass Rock

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Brilliant Bass Rock Boat Trip

We had a wonderful Saturday spent at North Berwick which was made even better by our boat trip round Bass Rock. Although the boat trip only lasts an hour younger so much for your money. We went out to sea at North Berwick and were able to see Puffins, Razorbills, Gannets and Guillemots. We got really close to Bass Rock and got a really good look at the Gannet colony which was immense. Having only ever seen Bass Rock from Belhaven Beach whilst out surfing, it was really interesting to discover that the white colour you see from afar is actually the birds and not miss or indeed just the colour of the rock ! Staff were really knowledgable and have a detailed commentary to the things that we were seeing. At £17 for an adult (£15 for a concession and under 3's free) it was really good value for money too ! I'm already planning on coming back with my Dad !

We had done the trip in the Yorkshire Belle to the RSPB Bird sanctuary at Bempton and it whetted the appetite for this.There was an incredible number of gannets,shags,gulls,puffins,seals etc.The boat trip was enhanced by the friendly,funny and knowledgeable crew.We had been warned to dress warmly.We must do it again!

Took the Maid of The Forth trip organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick across to some of the islands in the Forth. This was an RSPB event - a private trip complete with RSPB guide. Highlight for me was the Bass Rock Gannets - I was left overwhelmed by the sheer number of Gannets both on the rock itself and in the air and sea around it. If you want a bucket list experience - this is the one you shouldn't miss. Contact the Seabird Centre to ensure availability and whether the Gannets are still resident.

We went on a boat trip on the From the seabird centre it was a fantastic experience wow the Gannets were so close and extremely beautiful

Out on the Sula 2 run by Forth Boat Tours to see thousands of Gannets all flying around your head or sitting on nests, a truly wonderful place. Commentary from the boats skipper is informative and at times humorous. Recommended

This trip was absolutely wonderful ! We've never done a bird watching boat trip before but this was truly brill!! The staff on board did a running commentary and clearly very passionate about the place and the birds! The rock itself is incredible but with thousands and thousands of birds on it..... Saw seals as well!! Once back on dry land had a lovely lunch in the Scottish Seabird Centre-would defo recommend you stop here to eat. Went off for a walk down the main high street which had a fab array of good quality shops.