Discover boat trips on lochs and at sea for wildlife watching, scenery and caves. For ferries to islands see our Islands guides.
See our Guides to Inverness for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Dolphin Spirit run two hour wildlife watching trips out into the Moray Firth, passing Chanonry Point, which is a dolphin watching spot and Fort George, the 18th century military fortress.
They depart from Inverness Marina which is a 30 minute walk from the city centre through a dull industrial estate, so you may prefer to book a taxi.
This mighty and picturesque loch has impressive statistics – it is 23 miles long, has the largest volume of fresh water in Britain, is the second deepest loch in Scotland at 788 feet (240 metres), and is allegedly home to Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.
There is limited access to the water on the west side of the loch, however, it is possible to explore it on a boat trip.
Option 1, Boat trip and Castle
'Temptation' tour covering a boat trip with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises and visit to Urquhart Castle. You are transported by coach from Inverness Bus Station to the boat cruise which departs from Dochgarroch Lock. Afterwards you are brought back to Inverness by coach from Urquhart Castle.
From 10 November 2025 – 29 March 2026 the tour also includes admission to the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit.
Option 2, Boat trip only
Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises offer various cruises departing from either Dochgarroch Lock or Clansman Harbour, some of which include views of the castle. Citylink service 917 or 919 or Stagecoach service 17 from Inverness Bus Station to either Dochgarroch or Clansman Harbour and back.
SAVING! The Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass (for rail travel) will entitle you to a 10% discount on standard fares with Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises.
Jacobite Queen at Dochgarroch
Highland Coos at Dochgarroch
Loch Ness looking south
Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises out on Loch Ness
Caithness Seacoast runs powerboat trips from Wick Harbour from between 30 minutes to 3 hours, taking in castles, sea stacks and caves, wildlife, lighthouses and even a wind farm and oil rigs.
See our Guide to Wick for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Seaprobe Atlantis runs one or two hour glass bottom boat trips to see seals and other wildlife, an underwater kelp forest, and sites of interest including Kyle bridge, a ruined castle, a World War II shipwreck and a working salmon farm.
See our Guide to Kyle of Lochalsh for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
Offers a range of tours along the coast on a RIB boat for wildlife spotting including seals and dolphins, as well as the Sugar Boat shipwreck and sea lochs.
They depart from Rhu Marina, which is around 2 miles' walk from the centre of Helensburgh or a 6 minute bus journey from opposite Helensburgh Central Railway Station (not Helensburgh Upper!). See Gairlochhead Coaches/Wilson's of Rhu service 316 and alight at Rhu Marina.
See our Guide to Helensburgh for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
The village of Tarbet, by Loch Lomond, is half a mile from the station.
Boat Tours
Cruise Loch Lomond run a one hour tour, the Tarbet Circular, which covers the Arklet waterfalls at Inversnaid, the Arrochar Alps and the Loch Sloy Hyrdo Electric scheme.
If you're lucky you may spot osprey, sea eagles and mountain goats too. They also offer explorer cruises from Tarbet to Inversnaid or Rowardennan for walking Ben Lomond or on the West Highland Way.
SAVING! The Spirit of Scotland Travel Pass (for rail travel) will entitle you to a 15% discount on standard fares.
See our Guide to Arrochar & Tarbet to Crianlarich for more information about this section of the line.
Looking south over Loch Lomond from beside the A82 near Tarbet
Photo credit: “IMGP8751” by Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ardlui is a hamlet at the head of Loch Lomond. Loch Lomond Wakeboard offers watersports activities including wakeboarding and waterskiing, as well as speedboat trips.
See our Guide to Arrochar & Tarbet to Crianlarich for more information about this section of the line.
Looking south over Loch Lomond from a promontory near Ardlui
Photo credit: “IMGP8710” by Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
WILDLIFE BOAT TRIPS
The coast around Oban is ideal for spotting seals, whales, sharks, dolphins and porpoises. There are many operators offering boat trips - head down to the North Pier to browse options.
See our Guide to Oban for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
See our Guide to Fort William for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
To get out onto the water and really appreciate the scenery of Fort William, take a cruise with Cruise Loch Linnhe from the Town Pier. The boat takes passengers for a scenic cruise down Loch Linnhe enjoying the scenery and wildlife including seals.
Looking out across Loch Linnhe
Photo credit: “IMGP0333” by Matt Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0
Also departing from the Town Pier is the short passenger ferry to Camusnagaul Bay, a village on the other side of the Loch. The return trip takes about half an hour and gives splendid views.
Town Pier (Crannog restaurant has temporarily relocated)
Photo credit: “crannog” by london road, CC BY 2.0
Boat trips of varying lengths are available on Loch Sheil. There is the chance to see wildlife including Golden Eagles and Red Deer, as well as learn about the history and geology of the area.
SAVING! 10% discount when arriving by train or bus. Saving listed on the Glenfinnan Monument and Visitor Centre website.
See our Guide to Glenfinnan for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
BOAT TRIPS
Western Isles Cruises operates a scheduled ferry service to Inverie and Tarbet, as well as a wildlife cruise and a Canna puffin trip with opportunities to see whales, seals and dolphins.
See our Guide to Mallaig for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Dunvegan Castle and Gardens is probably one of the most famous locations on Skye. For over 800 years it has been the home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod and as such is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland.
Its position overlooking the sea Loch Dunvegan and surrounded by landscaped woodlands and gardens is stunning. In fact the gardens are as much an attraction as the Castle itself and you may enjoy the walled garden, water features, round garden and woodland areas.
Sitting in what is essentially barren moorland of northern Skye; these gardens laid out in the 18th century are like finding a hidden oasis in the desert. Due to the warmth of the Gulf Stream visitors are often amazed at the types of plants which thrive in these gardens.
The Castle itself is a fascinating complex of six buildings, five of which are open to the public. Boat trips to visit the seals are also offered as a supplement to visitors to either the Castle or Gardens.
Transport: There is a regular bus service (no Sunday service) from Portree to the castle - see Stagecoach service 56.
Offers two hour wildlife watching trips on a RIB out into the Moray Firth. If you're lucky you may see dolphins as well as other sealife and birdlife.
You will also have lovely scenery and good views of Cromarty as well as Nigg on the opposite shore.
See our Guide to Inverness to the Black Isle for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
Boats leave from Cromarty Harbour
View over the Moray Firth from South Sutor, Cromarty
WEST HIGHLAND MARINE BOAT TRIPS
Leaving from Inverewe Garden, they run trips of one or two hours on Loch Ewe, offering an excellent opportunity for wildlife and scenery spotting.
Their website states that the entry fee for Inverewe Garden is reduced if booked at the same time as the boat trip - check details with Inverewe Garden.
See our Guide to Inverness to Poolewe and Gairloch for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
BOAT TRIPS
From Gairloch Harbour there are various boat trips available.
Gairloch Marine Life Centre & Cruises
The Wildlife Information Centre has displays on the local marine wildlife including whale bones. There are two or four hour wildlife watching cruises available.
Hebridean Whale Cruises offers wildlife and whale watching cruises of two and a half or four hours.
Glass Bottomed Boat offers 90 minute wildlife watching trips.
See our Guide to Inverness to Poolewe and Gairloch for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
BOAT TRIPS
Boat trips give an excellent opportunity to wildlife spot for seals, dolphins and whales, as well as take in the glorious scenery of the area.
Seascape Expeditions offers a 1 hour tour covering Loch Broom and Isle Martin, or a 2 hour tour to the Summer Isles.
Shearwater (Summer Queen) Cruises offers a 2 hour 15 mins tour to Loch Broom and the Summer Isles.
See our Guide to Ullapool for more places to visit, accommodation and restaurants.
Boat trips leave from Shore Street, though not on this huge boat!
SMOO CAVE
Probably the most popular attraction in Durness, this large seawater and freshwater cave is set in limestone cliffs is about 25 minutes' walk from Durness. It is accessible by foot down steep steps or by boat with Smoo Cave Tours.
See our Guide to Inverness to Durness and Guide to Thurso to Durness for more places to visit, accommodation and places to eat.
Smoo Cave - inside the cave
Photo credit: “Durness” by Graeme Churchard, CC BY 2.0
Page last updated 3 November 2025