whale watching tour orkney

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Your Guide to Adventure!

Experience Oban in a fun and exciting way. Embark on a tour around Oban, Firth of Lorn, Loch Etive & surrounding islands.

WELCOME TO OCEANTREK TOURS

Join us onboard our swift, stable RIB for a fun and exciting trip. Experience the awe-inpiring local landscapes, historic castles & picturesque lochs around Ob. Observe a diverse array of wildlife which can include seals, porpoise dolphins, whales and various species of birds (but NOT guaranteed). Get an up-close view!

 If you are seeking a more thrilling alternative to the typical boat tour or simple wish to maximize your wildlife encouters, we have options to accommodate everyone. Get an up-close encouter like no other. Our smooth and comfortable RIB glides over the water and is perfect for all ages groups.

Experienced Tour Guides -

Our tour guides are very experienced with all the safety training needed and are commercially endorsed by RYA/MCA.  Our vessel has all safety equipment and is certified my MECAL/MCA.

Satisfaction Guaranteed -

 "We did the hour boat tour and it was amazing! Well worth the money… the guy was very knowledgeable and made it a fun experience "  

   " Fantastic thrill with a guide who made sure everyone felt safe.           Knowledgeable of the local islands and a great trip." 

" Absolutely amazing. Best way to see the Oban nearby areas... The captain / tour guide is so lovely :) "  

1 Hour Tour

 Leaving Dunstaffnage Marina- Oban,  you will visit -

• Madien Island
• Gylen Castle , Kerrera  
•  Wildlife watch
• Connel Bridge
• Dunstaffnage Castle 
• Return to Dunstaffnage 

(This tour may change slightly due to weather and tide conditions)

(Suitable for children over 6)

TOURS START TIME- 11am and 12:30pm

2 Hour Tour

• Falls of Lora 
• Sea Farm 

(Suitable for chidren over 6)

TOUR START TIME- 2pm

Private Charter

We offer private charters for family groups, longer tours, commercial business, island transfers.

CONTACT FOR BOOKING

Terms & Condition  - All tours are subject to weather conditions and can be cancelled, in the event of a cancelled tour, re-booking or a full refund is avaliable. Cancellation Policy -  If you wish to cancel you have 48hour prior to schduled tour to be issued  a FULL refund, within 48hour NO refund can be issued. Minimum passenger weight 20kg. Minimum age 6+.

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[email protected]

Booking Office

+44 7555 284 566

Dunstaffnage Marina, Dunstaffnage, Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom

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South Orkney Islands Whale Watching Cruises

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• Marvel at abundant wildlife
• Visit historic sites in the region
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• Explore the Iceberg Alley
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• Experience Falkland culture
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• Bird watch a multitude of seabirds
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Orcadian Wildlife

Experiences and sights you'll talk about long after your holiday, cetaceans in orkney.

Orkney is one of the best places to see whales & dolphins in the UK, and over the past 18 seasons we have recorded 12 species. Some are commoner than others, and as a result are easier to observe. Some are simply more difficult to see as they prefer to keep well offshore in deeper water, more to do with habit than size, as the bigger whales such as Humpback and Sperm will often visit Scapa Flow. The Summer season from May onwards is when most animals are seen, although they can visit year-round. The three key elements to successful cetacean spotting are (1) a good sea-state (2) a good vantage point and (3) patience, or shall we say luck!? The pictures below show Humpback baleen; a Minke; Humpback pleats and flipper; and a Sperm Whale blow (note the 45° angle). 

We watch for cetaceans from tried and trusted land-based headlands, relying on a good sea-state and our local knowledge to try and encounter some animals. Harbour Porpoise can be almost guaranteed in good conditions, whilst Orca can be more unpredictable and therefore frustrating! Hoxa Head on South Ronaldsay; Marwick Head in West Mainland, and Noup Head on Westray are three favourite cetacean-watching spots, and have given us lots of enjoyable observations over the years. In reality cetaceans can pop up anywhere, and frequently do! The pictures below show a Sperm Whale fluke; an Orca; and Risso’s Dolphins ‘spyhopping’, and their dorsal fins and tail fluke.

ORCADIAN WILDLIFE ORKNEY CETACEAN LIST: TOTAL 12 SPECIES 2004 – 2021

Minke Whale: Reasonably common, though some years are inexplicably better than others.

Fin Whale: Rare. I’ve only seen this species once in Orkney, a family group passing through the Pentland Firth and ‘scoped’ from Hoxa Head. Sadly two strandings in Scapa Flow occurred in two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020.

Humpback Whale: Usually seen annually, mostly in Scapa Flow.

Sperm Whale: Usually seen every couple of years or so, mostly in Scapa Flow, although one famously turned up in Kirkwall Harbour on 12 October 2011, spent a day being admired by many locals, then headed back out to sea.

Long-finned Pilot Whale: Difficult to see owing to their preference of offshore waters. In 2019 a pod spent a few days in and around Kirkwall Harbour, possibly because of an injury to one of their number.

Orca (Killer Whale): Common though unpredictable. Several pods visit each year, which can be identified by their dorsal fins and other markings, who travel between Iceland and the Northern Isles. True Vikings!

Common Dolphin: Not as common as its name suggests, but seen irregularly, sometimes in large numbers.

Bottlenose Dolphin: Usually seen alone or in small groups, perhaps straying North from their base in the Moray Firth.

Risso’s Dolphin: Easily our commonest dolphin, large and distinctive.

Atlantic White-sided Dolphin: Seen occasionally usually well offshore.

White-beaked Dolphin: Seen occasionally usually well offshore.

Harbour Porpoise: Easily our commonest cetacean, but they’re small and sometimes hard to see, requiring a good sea-state. Each Autumn large numbers gather in Switha Sound to the south of Scapa Flow for reasons we don’t understand. Pic of Orca splash below.

If you would particularly like to try and see cetaceans in Orkney please let us know on booking. Please be aware that although Harbour Porpoise and Orca are reasonably common in Orkney, we can never guarantee sightings! Orca can be especially elusive, although the joy on seeing these animals is unrivalled – guests have cried with emotion on seeing orca for the first time! To put things into some kind of perspective, we see Orca on around every other tour if we prioritise them.

Other pictures of cetaceans in Orkney may be seen in my photogallery here , or visit Orkney Cetacean Sighting’s Facebook page .

Note that some of the above pictures were taken in other Orcadian Wildlife destinations, such as Iceland and Shetland. All pictures taken by Sarah or Steve Sankey, © Orcadian Wildlife.

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Visit Orkney - a Quick Planning Guide

Scotland's Egypt of the North, where even the Vikings were Johnny-Come-Latelies

Visit Orkney for the surprising and fascinating experience of what some archaeologists call the Egypt of the North.

Orkney is an archipelago of islands scattered, like a handful of pebbles tossed by a giant off the northernmost corner of Scotland. They are windswept and virtually treeless yet intensely green with a wild and lonely beauty.

Generations of seafarers, settlers and visitors have been attracted here to the edge of the world. The Vikings left their names, bits of their folklore and graffitti written in runes. But they were latecomers. The UNESCO World Heritage site that takes in most of the main island (called "the mainland" by Orcadians) protects Stone Age settlements and monuments that predate the Vikings by more than 4,000 years.

Happily for today's visitor - in search of wildlife, ancient and recent history, outdoor activities and a unique, Norse influenced culture - Orkney can be reached year round. It may take a bit more effort than hopping on a train but it is well worth it. And once there, you'll find plenty of comfortable places to stay, wonderful, fresh-from-the-sea cuisine, and lots of welcoming Orcadians. Use these resources to consider and plan a trip.

Will you like it?

It's a wild, windscoured place where human beings have come and go for millennia leaving little trace but lots of mysterious puzzles.Its villages seem more Scandinavian than British and they are few and far between. The salty tang of northern oceans is all around you.If you like exploring islands on the edge and find beauty in bleak northern landscapes, you will love it. Seeing is believing.

When is the best time to go?

There's something to be said for every season on Orkney:

• If you like outdoor activities you'll appreciate the long Northern days of late spring and summer - Orcadians have midnight golf events in May!
• On the other hand, Orkney's ancient monuments are less crowded and more dramatic in the wind and rain of winter. Winter is also when you might see The Merrie Dancers - Orcandian for the Aurora Borealis.
• Autumn is a time for migrating birds.
• In spring the sea birds nest on every available cliff, daffodils bloom in the gardens and the heather bursts into color.

Read more about Orkney weather then make up your own mind.

How to Get There

Flybe flies direct to Kirkwall Airport on the Orkney mainland from Aberdeen. Loganair, the Scottish airline, flies from Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Manchester, Shetland, and Bergen, Norway. Flights from London, the USA or Ireland connect at Glasgow, Edinburgh or Manchester. Most direct flights are an hour or less though flights with connections can take three or four hours because of waits between legs of the journey.

• John O'Groats Ferries run short, passenger-only crossings from John O'Groats to the Ferry Port at Burwick. There is coach transfer from Burwick to Kirkwall, the island capital. The service runs twice a day in May and September and three times a day in June, July and August. The trip takes 40 minutes. Bicycles are carried free and there is car parking in John O'Groats.
• Northlink Orkney & Shetland Ferries Sail year round between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick in Shetland, and from Scrabster in Scotland to Stromness on Orkney. This is a large car ferry.
• Pentland Ferries sail between Gills Bay in Caithness to St. Margaret's Hope, an hour long, sheltered route for passengers and vehicles. This service is aboard a fast and futuristic looking vessel.

Where to Stay in Orkney

Hotel accommodation in Orkney ranges from old fashioned and basic to small and very comfortable. You won't find luxury boutique hotels but there are lovely guest houses with views, restaurants with rooms and plenty of self catering and B&B accommodation.

We've enjoyed stays at:

•   The Foveran , a lovely seafood restaurant with 8 cozy rooms, most with good views.
• The Sands Hotel , a small hotel with six modern,  en suite rooms and two suites on the shore at Burray, a small island connected to the Orkney mainland by a causeway.

Oysters , prawns, lobster, salmon, all kinds of fresh seafood -- what's not to like? And the island beef, seaweed-fed lamb, fresh berries, vegetables and local cheese are pretty special too. The restaurant scene on Orkney changes often. The Sands Hotel (see above) does very good scallops and fish. They can produce a lobster for you with 24 hours notice. The Foveran is essentially a restaurant with rooms so you can count on the day's catch, as well as local meat and vegetarian dishes done nicely. Your best bet is to ask the locals when you arrive. You may be surprised at the quality of the seafood and other dishes at unassuming looking little cafes in Kirkwall and Stromness.

Five Great Things to Do in Orkney

• Dive a shipwreck Make a guided dive to one of the German WWI shipwrecks in Scapa Flow. Or stay on the surface and explore the bottom through a remote submersible.
• Visit the Italian Chapel The church, built by Italian POWs during World War II, is a remarkable demonstration of faith in adversity and a must for visitors.
• Discover Orkney's Neolithic heartland Orkney's UNESCO World Heritage designation has earned it the nickname The Egypt of the North .
• Go whale watching You don't even have to go out in a boat to spot whales from Orkney's western shores.

Retail Therapy

You can't get very far from shopping anywhere these days. On Orkney the best goodies to take home are handmade by local craftspeople and designers. The islands attract craftspeople and artists from all over the United Kingdom who find inspiration in the archipelago's unique landscape and history. Expect to find locally made, beautiful ceramics, textiles, jewelry and wood products, much of which is sold in the shops of Kirkwall, Stromness, Dounby and St. Margaret's Hope.

The Orkney Craft Associations has put together the  Orkney Craft Trail   , made up of 21 locations where you can visit craftspeople in their studios and workshops, watch them work and buy their handcrafted objects. 

Some we liked were:

• Orkneyinga Silversmiths  Jewelry and large silver objects. Open workshop from 10a.m. to 5p.m., Monday - Saturday, Easter through September.
• Fluke Jewellery  Birsay jewelry maker inspired by marine life and nature. Open workshop May through September, Monday - Friday, 11a.m. to 5p.m.  Orkney telephone: 01856 721242
• The Woolshed  Handmade felt and knitwear from the fleece of the native, seaweed-eating, North Ronaldsay sheep. Natural wools for handknitters. Open workshop in Evie, April through September, Monday - Saturday, noon to 6p.m.; October to December, Saturdays, noon to 4p.m. Orkney telephone: 01856 751305
• Fursbreck Pottery  Andrew Appleby makes handcrafted pottery ranging from individual pieces to full dinner services in the village of Harray on Orkney. Thus he calls himself the "original Harray Potter". Recreations of ancient pottery styles. Open workshop April to Christmas, Monday-Saturday, 10a.m. to 6p.m. Sunday 2p.m. to 5:30p.m.
• Scapa Crafts  The makers of the unique and collectible traditional Orkney chairs, open from 10 a.m. to 5p.m., Monday to Friday, year round. Even if you aren't shopping for furniture, it's worth making a trip to their workshop to see these unusual chairs, made of wood and straw, take shape. There is almost always work in progress you can watch.

Annual Events Worth Knowing About

• Orkney Folk Festival For more than 20 years, modern and traditional folk artists from all over the world have gathered in Orkney, for four days in May, for concerts, workshops, ceilidhs and stomps. Most events take place in Stromness but some are staged in rural areas and on the smaller islands. The next event is May 23 to 26, 2019.
• The St. Magnus Festival Annual, midsummer festival of arts and music attracts world class performing artists. The festival includes drama, poetry, the visual arts, jazz, classical and contemporary music. Artists who have appeared in the past include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andre Previn, Evelyn Glennie and Juliam Bream. In 2018, the festival dates are 22 to 28 June.

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Whale watching Scotland - Minke Breaching!

© Sealife Adventures

Corryvreckan whirlpool

Whale watch and Corryvreckan Cruise (4 & 5 hours)

Our powerful and stable boat is ideal for longer offshore trips. With 33 years as an owner / skipper in the area, and as a marine biologist, David knows the best places to look for whales.

From £69 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

• +44 (0185) 2300203
• View tour details
• [email protected]

Key facilities

Tour information.

½ Day

• Small Group (1-16)
• Outdoor Activities
• Photography

Tour prices

From £69 Per Adult £65 Per Child

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Sealife adventures.

Experience wildlife and whale watching boat trips in one of the longest protected areas in Scotland, including the famous Corryvreckan whirlpool. Cruises depart from Seil, near Oban - All ages welcome! The local Special Area of Conservation is one of the best protected areas in Scotland and a hotspot for sightings of porpoise, minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters and seals. The uninhabited islands and dramatic sea cliffs are also home to sea eagles, golden eagles, puffins and a great variety of seabirds. 5* TripAdvisor -Sealife Adventures- https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/

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Opening times

2018 OPENING TIMES: 1 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2018

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