Shetland Seabirds & Seals Coastal Cruise
Shetland Seabirds & Seals Coastal Cruise
Your experience begins in Lerwick’s historic Old Town, where you travel to Victoria Pier, located along the town’s working waterfront. Before boarding your vessel, you will pass the restored Old Tolbooth of 1770, now serving as the local RNLI station, and continue along the shoreline to view the distinctive Lodberries. These historic waterfront buildings once functioned as combined houses and warehouses built directly over the sea, allowing goods to be loaded and unloaded from boats during Lerwick’s 18th-century prominence as a major herring port. Their stone walls, slipways, and small piers illustrate the town’s historic maritime trade.
At Victoria Pier you will board the Seabird, a twin-engine catamaran operated by an experienced skipper and wildlife guide. After a safety briefing, the vessel departs for a scenic cruise around the islands of Bressay and Noss, an area known for its dramatic coastal cliffs and important seabird habitats. As you travel through these waters, the guide will point out colonies of seabirds that nest along the cliffs of Noss National Nature Reserve, while seals are often seen resting along the shoreline. The route also offers views of the surrounding coastal geology, and the crew remains attentive to possible sightings of otters and other marine mammals.
Following the cruise, the boat returns to Victoria Pier where guests disembark. The experience continues with a short walk through part of Lerwick’s waterfront district, providing a closer look at the Lodberries and the historic harbor area. This walk offers an opportunity to observe how the buildings once supported the town’s maritime trade and fishing industry. After completing the walk, you return to Victoria Pier.
Notes: The tour includes a short walking portion of approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) around part of Lerwick, where some steps and steep paths may be encountered. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. The boat excursion is entirely weather dependent, and the route may vary depending on sea conditions. The tour may be cancelled if conditions do not allow safe operation. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Waters around the Shetland Islands can occasionally be choppy depending on wind and sea conditions, which may affect guest comfort during the cruise. Seabird activity around Noss National Nature Reserve varies throughout the season, with the largest nesting colonies typically present during spring and summer. Warm and waterproof clothing is highly recommended.
This Yachting Land Adventure must be booked prior to the beginning of the voyage however, bookings may still be accepted once guests board the yacht, up to the time of arrival, subject to availability. This tour has very limited capacity. Please note that this tour is non-refundable once the voyage has commenced. A minimum number of participants is required to operate all Yachting Land Adventures, and some may have limited capacity. Please book on the Seadream.com website, or onboard, early to avoid disappointment. All adventures in the SeaDream Yachting Land Adventures program are subject to change. Final departure times will be published on board.
Port: Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland
Duration: 3.75 hours
Current Price: 309 USD
Voyages where this land adventure may be found: