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© Steven Gourlay

Shearwater Cruises, Ullapool

Our cruise takes you in and around the Summer Islands where seals, porpoise, dolphins, whales, white tailed eagles and a variety of seabirds may be seen.

The Summer Islands are an archipelago lying in the mouth of Loch Broom, Wester Ross. Our Cruise takes you in and around the Summer Islands where seals, porpoise, dolphins, whales, white tailed eagles and a variety of seabirds may be seen. Weather and tide permitting we visit Cathedral Cave on the south west of Tanera Beag. From there we navigate through some of the narrower channels before visiting the anchorage of Tanera Mhor, which is the largest and only inhabited island. We then make our way along the coastline of the Coigach peninsula heading back to Ullapool.

From £45 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

May — September

Contact details

• +44 (01854) 07713257219
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Tour information

Tour prices.

From £45 Per Adult £30 Per Child

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Shearwater cruises ( j & h mackay).

The Summer Islands are an archipeligo lying in the mouth of Loch Broom, Wester Ross. Our Cruise takes you in and around the Summer Isles where seals, porpoise, dolphins, whales, white tailed eagles and a variety of seabirds may be seen. Weather and tide permitting we visit Cathedral Cave on the south west of Tanera Beag. From there we navigate through some of the narrower channels before passing the anchorage of Tanera Mhor, which is the largest and only inhabited island and then along the Coigach peninsula heading back to Ullapool. Routes may be altered due to relevant sightings and weather.

Visit Shearwater Cruises ( J & H MacKay)

Opening times

Monday to Saturday Sunday (high season)

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[email protected]

07713257219

Shearwater Cruises

Summer Isle Tours

Operating from Ullapool Harbour in the northwest Highlands of Scotland, Shearwater cruises offer trips to Loch Broom and the Summer Isles. Our cruises are approximately 2 hours 15 minutes taking in the region's wildlife and scenery. Famed for their outstanding beauty, the Summer Isles are a collection of wonderful islands ranging in size from little more than rocks to the last inhabited island Tanera Mor. The isles and sea are home to numerous sea birds, seals, dolphins, porpoises, whales and eagles. Ullapool is a great base for a highland holiday, a day trip from the towns and villages of Scotland, or a stop over whilst doing the NC500. A trip to the Summer Isles is a must for all lovers of Highland scenery, wildlife, nature and history. Many of our passengers return again and again. Our trips last approx. 2 hour 15 minute and cost  Adults £45, Children under 16 £30. Please contact about private charters and trips.

Whales & Dolphin

Throughout the summer we encounter regular porpoise, dolphins and even whales. We are WiSe Scheme certified operators so never chase, harass or disturb wildlife but often have close experiences with wildlife that knows and trusts our boat and crew.

The Summer Isles

Even when the wildlife is quiet, the landscape and scenery is stunning. We sail out Loch Broom to Annat Bay then explore the Summer Islands and Coigach Coast taking in some of the most beautiful views, history and geology in |Scotland and the world.

Scottish Highlands

Regarded by many as one of the last wildernesses in Europe, the Highands holds many secrets and special places and we visit many of these. Seal haul outs and breeding beaches, eagle's lairs, sea bird colonies and remote untouched islands. We do our best to share these with you.

RAMSEY ISLAND BOAT TRIPS

Thousand islands expeditions.

PUFFIN AND SHEARWATER EVENING CRUISE

Join us on a 1 1/2 hour cruise to see the seabirds and seals as we venture around the spectacular high cliffs around Ramsey Island.

Ramseys bays and coves are home to a large Atlantic Grey Seal colony.  

We head out to the North Bishops Island where there is a small colony of Puffins.

On our return journey we watch the incredible passage of 100's of Shearwaters as they return to the islands in the evening.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Departure times.

Daily:      6.00 pm

Adult     £35.00       Child     £20.00

Child 4 - 13 years

YOU WILL NEED

Please dress up warm, it is alway much colder at sea especially in the evening.

Don't forget your face mask.

BY CATEGORY

celebrating 25 years of

Nantucket adventures.

choose your cruise

Welcome to Nantucket By Water, a local family-run company dedicated to providing unique tours and cruises to individuals and families of all age groups. From small kids to grandparents, we have trips that cater to your needs and taste for adventure.

Whether you take a leisurely tour around Nantucket Harbor, or a longer adventure exploring the wildlife sanctuary of Coatue or visiting the unique 5th Bend Oyster Farm, we promise you an exceptional experience.

FOR THE ADULTS

FOR THE family

FOR THE ADventurers

shanty singers

Tuesday nights | june 18 - sept 10.

envisioning something different?

Customize your experience with a private charter!

Don't know which trip is best for you or want us to build a completely custom experience for you? Contact us today for a tailormade trip and experience.

DON'T HESISTATE TO BOOK

We did a chartered sunset cruise with our family. It was great! Captain, crew, and bartender were perfect for us. We had the whole Shearwater boat. We played music via Bluetooth. Had food from Bartlett’s Farm brought in. And we danced on the bow for almost the whole cruise.

glorious harbor tour

Our family had a glorious ride around the harbor on the Shearwater Ice Cream tour!

Captain Max was very helpful. Rachael, who organizes the tours, was very sweet explaining available ice creams to the young ones. Kids say it was the highlight of their visit. 

chef's kiss

Don't miss this! Not only was the sunset incredible, but cruising around Nantucket Harbor was delightful. We did this on the first night of our trip and it was the best way to kick off a great weekend. Rachael and her team were so easy and helpful to work with in planning the trip, and Max was a great sailor, leaving us with great recommendations on what not to miss on island.

join the adventure

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Boat Trips & Charters

Experience the incredible West Highland scenery on one of our 3-hour non-landing boat trips, or private charters.  Tailor your own bespoke half/full day or evening charters onboard MV Sheerwater or MV Orca III.

During the summer months of June, July and August we can offer evening cruises. Availability of these trips will be weather dependent and will be advertised on our social media and in the Boathouse Take-away Café.  We will also be offering longer boat trips on Sundays. The voyage details will be advertised on our website, social media and in the Boathouse Take-away Café. Some examples of these trips include: sailings to the Islands of Rum and Canna, Puffin trips to Canna and trips to Loch Coruisk on the Isle of Skye

If you don’t have a full day to spend visiting the Small Isles, one of our 3-hour non-landing boat trips may be for you.  As well as the amazing scenery the West Coast has to offer, you may also have the opportunity to see some exciting wildlife including whales, dolphins, seals, and several species of sea birds.

We will be offering these 3 hour trips on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons and evenings from May – end of August.

Book your non landing cruise HERE

Sail on a leisurely cruise of the Arisaig Coastline, while you soak in the view of the Small Isles and Skye.

Your charter.  Your choice.

To enjoy a more personalised boat trip, chartering one of our skippered vessels could be just the ticket!  Please get in touch to plan your next celebration or special occasion on the West Coast waters.  

MV Sheerwater has a capacity of 70 passengers and offers a spacious seating area both indoors and outdoors.  This gives you the perfect viewpoint to take in the spectacular landscape and hopefully see the playful antics of the marine wildlife. 

Orca III offers a more exclusive boat experience.  She has the capability to transport passengers much further afield in comfort, even in choppier weather conditions.  Orca III is a 16m catemaran, with a cruising speed of 18knots.  This makes it possible for you to reach destinations such as Colonsay, Mull and Tiree within a few hours.  A maximum of 12 passengers can sit back and relax while enjoying a personalised scenic trip.  What better way to spend a summer’s day in the glorious North West Coast of Scotland?

In the Summer months, sightings of orca whales, basking sharks and sea eagles are reported in our waters. Orca III will be poised and ready to take you on the wildlife watching experience of a lifetime. Keep an eye on our social media for the availability of these unique trips.

For further information on booking a bespoke trip on one of our vessels please email [email protected]

See & Do in Arisaig.

Local Wildlife

The smallest of the rorquals, Minke males can grow to 9.8 mtrs (32’), females to 11m (36’) and weigh up to 15 tonnes. Dark grey / blue black on the back, the Minke’s body lightens to white on the belly and undersides of the flippers, …

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Explorers Village

Explorers Village is a superb 3 star Lodge situated only 400m from the Victoria Falls, boasting 54 deluxe rooms, 42 standard rooms as well as serviced camping facilities.

It is so close to the Falls that it occasionally receives an early morning shower from the Falls spray. The property overlooks virgin African bush and a waterhole frequently visited by elephant and buffalo and yet it is very near the craft markets and entertainment district.

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Dine With us

Every moment of your adventure with us should feed your mind, heart, soul – and your stomach. Whether it’s taking in the beauty Explorers’ Village Restaurant or Shearwater Café, sitting under the canopies of the Rainforest Café, or way up in the clouds at the Bridge Café; international quality always meets local flavour.

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Shearwater Journeys

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Shearwater Journeys - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Sailing Returns Spring 2024! Click Here and Give the Gift of a Cruise with MBS.

Shearwater NYC Private Boat Charters

Quick Details

• Map Marker Location: Shearwater Classic Schooner
• User Ages: All ages , up to 37 people
• Clock Duration: 1.5-1.75 Hours
• Users Age Group: Family Friendly
• Wine Drink Options: Drinks Included
• Users Capacity: 48 Passengers

Book Your Private Charter Now!

The Shearwater is a graceful Newport-style schooner built in 1929, perfect for groups up to 49 passengers. (If your party is larger than 49, consider our larger boat, the tall ship Clipper City.) Have your wedding, birthday, or corporate event on board this classic, Gatsby-era sailing ship as she makes her way to the Statue of Liberty and around Manhattan, taking in the sights and sounds of the harbor. Sail under New York’s historic bridges in tranquility and enjoy the lights of the city. Together with a wide range of beverages and catering options, the ship’s classic style makes for a most elegant gathering. Know what you’re looking for? Book now!  Curated private charters starting at $4,000 on the Shearwater and $8,000 on the Clipper City.

Perfect For:

• Social & Corporate Events
• Team Building

Curated Private Charters

For a more curated event, such as a wedding or rehearsal dinner, you can fill out the form below and we’ll work with you to craft the perfect experience. We’re looking forward to having you aboard!

Perfect For: 

• Weddings, Bachelorettes & Rehearsal Dinners
• Photo & Film locations
• Product Launches

Event Request Form

• Chevron down Venue Rates

*Excludes docking, service fees, taxes, and gratuity. ** There is a 2 hour minimum to charter the boat. We accommodate requests for a 1-hour charter, but you will be charged a 1.5-hour rate for the 1-hour event. ***There will be a Sunset Peak Time Fee of $500.00 applied to all private charters during that time of day..

• Chevron down Catering Fees

To view menu choices, visit our catering page. If you opt to bring your own catering, there will be a $10.00 per person charge.

• Chevron down Themed Sails
• Chevron down Catering Menu & Bar Options

Click here to view Shearwater Catering & Bar Options.

Related Tours

• Users 48 Passengers
• Clock 1 hour & 30 minutes
• User All ages

Day Sail – Shearwater

An intimate and thrilling way to visit New York’s magnificent harbor. Sit back and relax while you enjoy close-up views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline.

• Clock 1 hour & 45 minutes

Sunset Sail - Shearwater

Watch night fall on the city as the sun sets behind the Statue of Liberty from the unbeatable vantage point of the harbor. The perfect way to kick-start your evening.

Take an evening tour around Skomer and Skokholm Islands and experience the awesome atmosphere as thousands of seabirds take flight around the islands. We then head out into St. Brides Bay to take in the spectacular sunsets and see the famous Manx Shearwater gathering on the water before they return to the islands after a day’s fishing.

Please call to book on:

01646 603109.

Adults £45 Children £25

Departures:

April – July 6pm Mon, Thurs, Sat & Sun

Departure Point:

Martins Haven SA62 3BJ

Terms and Conditions

Full T&C’s will be received upon booking.

Tickets are refundable only if we have to cancel the trip. Every effort is made to contact you prior to the trip departing if we feel that the conditions are not appropriate for the trip to go ahead. Cancellations are at our discretion and will be subject to tides, forecasts and sea conditions. We will endeavour to offer an alternative trip or the possibility of rescheduling.

Full Terms and Conditions

Shearwater Coastal Cruises and Dive Chartering

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SHEARWATER COASTAL CRUISES AND DIVE CHARTERING (Pwllheli) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

How are right whales in Cape Cod Bay studied? A day on the research boat Shearwater

CAPE COD BAY — All eyes were on the water.

From inside the cabin of the research vessel Shearwater , Christy Hudak, a research associate with the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, picked up a pair of binoculars and scanned Cape Cod Bay. Interns Morgan Pirozzi and Shreya Vinodh were doing the same from the higher vantage point atop the cabin.

The center’s right whale ecology team was looking for North Atlantic right whales during a trip on Monday. In January, they had spotted the first of the rare cetaceans for the year in the bay.

The team’s goal is to document what the whales are eating and which individual whales are present. But even what they aren’t eating may be important.

“We’re going to be looking at the plankton and finding out what the right whales are feeding on and what they’re not feeding on,” Hudak said.

The large whales return from their southern winter habitat to feed on tiny prey — calanus, pseudocalanus, and centropages — crustaceans known as copepods, a species of zooplankton.

Plankton nets are deployed to collect samples. Some are dragged behind the boat, following the path of a whale that was skim feeding. A vertical tow is lowered into the water to determine how deep in the water column the food source is.   

Early morning departure

The research vessel had left MacMillian Pier in Provincetown earlier in the morning, making its way out of the harbor and around Long Point Light. After finding no whales around the Cape’s sandy tip, the Shearwater cut across the bay to locations where there had been sightings reported earlier. After more than an hour, the crew spotted their first right whale of the day, one of about 19 that were documented during the nearly nine-hour trip.

Researchers document the number of whales, their behavior and if they’re feeding, Pirozzi said. Salinity and water temperature is recorded and photos are taken of the whales.

“I use my photo documentation not only to identify the whales but for our health assessment,” Pirozzi said. “We photograph the whole body, any new scars they may have, whether they look skinny or healthy.”

The whales may have identifying marks and features, whether it’s a scar on its body or the unique pattern of callosities on their head.

How to find a right whale?

Locating the whales can be as simple as seeing them swim by with their mouths open, filter feeding zooplankton just below the water’s surface before they slip back under water, sometimes showing off flukes, or tail, as they dive deeper. They could be located by the sound or the sight of them exhaling through their blowholes. Another sign of whales are the “footprints” left behind by the movement of their flukes that create a circular pattern in the water as they move.

Scientists estimate there are about 356 of these critically endangered whales. By identifying the whales, researchers can track them through their lives. During the 2022-23 season, 198 individual right whales were identified in an around Cape Cod Bay by the Provincetown-based team. This season, the team has observed 123 individual right whales in the bay, according to a statement from the center.

A mother and calf north of Marshfield

For the first time this season, aerial observers from the center on Monday saw a right whale with her calf just north of Marshfield. They were identified as 36-year-old Legato and her daughter, Staccato. The calf was born in December and the two whales were first sighted together New Year’s Eve by Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

“We were just finishing a survey track line when we saw a right whale feeding less than a mile from the beach off North Marshfield,” center aerial observer and right whale researcher Ryan Schosberg said in the statement. “We flew over to document the animal and all cheered in excitement when a little calf popped up by its side! It’s always a relief to see right whale mothers arriving safely in Cape Cod Bay with their calves.”

The right whale team will continue to monitor by boat and plane the migration of the right whales. Most of the sightings happen in March and April. At times, the whales can be seen from shore, particularly on Provincetown’s beaches.

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