SeabirdsandSeals - Original & Best Noss Boat Tours

SeabirdsandSeals - Original & Best Noss Boat Tours Shetland's Original & Longest Established Noss Boat Tour Business - Est 1992. We provide our Superb 5-Star tours daily and all 2 HOURS PLUS.

The Noss Boat - Original Business Branding

Shetland's only 5-STAR Boat Tour - Graded By Visit Scotland ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

NO.1 Noss Boat/Wildlife Tour - As ranked on TripAdvisor Seabirds-and-Seals:
The Original & NO.1 Noss Boat Tours

✱SHETLAND'S ONLY 5-STAR BOAT TOUR✱

Shetland's NO.1 Boat Tour/Wildlife Attraction - TripAdvisor

✱WISE ACCREDITED✱


Our popular 5-Star tours depart daily from April thr

ough to October. Join us aboard our extremely spacious and comfortable Catamaran Seabird for a fun filled tour around Noss National Nature Reserve and Bressay. Tours depart from Victoria Pier, Lerwick, ZE1 0EL.

# Award Winners at the 2024 FSB - Federation of Small Business Awards for 'Service Excellence' - we now go onto the UK finals in Blackpool.

# Awarded Green Tourism 'Gold' - Early 2024.

# Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards 2023 WINNERS - in not one but TWO Categories 'Best Visitor Attraction' & 'Inclusive Tourism'.

# We have been shortlisted under two categories at this years 'The Herald Scottish Family Business Awards' for 'Commitment To The Community' & Scottish Family Business Of The Year (Micro) - sponsored by Business Gateway. We look forward to attending the awards ceremony in Glasgow on 7th December.

# Multi Award-Winning Boat Tour Company

Awarded "Scotland's Best Wildlife & Photography Boat Tour Company 2023" at the UK Enterprise Awards & 'Wildlife Tour Operator Of The Year' at the 2023 Scotland Prestige Awards. Please check our online calendar by visiting our website www.seabirds-and-seals.com, where you will find our scheduled tour start times, prices and seats available. Bespoke Wildlife Photography Tours - available on request, just contact us to discuss your requirements. We are boat of choice for many wildlife tour groups, adventure & outdoor tourism groups - from the UK and abroad. Come and join us (Marie, Brian or Marvyn) for THE ultimate Shetland wildlife boat experience with our 5-Star Seabirds-and-Seals Original Noss Boat Tours, onboard our very comfortable & spacious catamaran 'Seabird'. Come and experience a real 'GANNET EYE VIEW'.

• 32 years from launch, Seabirds-and-Seals remains the original and longest-established Noss Boat tour business after Naturalist and former Skipper Dr Jonathan Wills founded the award-winning enterprise in 1992. Skipper Brian has been actively involved with Seabirds-and-Seals ever since it began and in 2017 we bought the business from Jonathan, maintaining the business ethos and reputation as the original - and Number One - Noss Boat tour business.

• A new series of TripAdvisor/Google Reviews, started when we began our very busy first season in 2018, all extremely positive and show just how popular our fabulous tours are, after all these years! We are delighted to be keeping up the many awards Seabirds-and-Seals has historically received. After just one full season we were awarded Visit Scotland's 4-Star accolade and TripAdvisor’s Certificate Of Excellence. Our tours consistently generate awesome reviews, leading to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Award in 2020 and every year since. We are delighted to now have Visit Scotland's 5-Star accolade, an award we worked hard to achieve.

• We give you a full tour around Bressay & Noss. The views along the way are awe-inspiring. You will marvel at the stupendous cliffs, coves & caves. This amazing experience allows you to enjoy Shetland's plethora of seabirds and seals, providing you with spectacular views and giving you fantastic opportunities to see and photograph Shetland's wildlife against the stunning backdrop of the Noss cliffs. This really is one of Britain's very finest wildlife spectacles! You will get unbelievably close to the breath-taking sights and sounds of this extraordinary seabird metropolis - home to 25,000 Northern gannets, as well as thousands of other seabirds lining the towering (180m high) sandstone cliffs of Noss National Nature Reserve. Along the way, we will regale you with local history & folk tales and share our in-depth knowledge of Lerwick's beautiful harbour, the Bressay Lighthouse, the Orkneyman's Cave, the giant's leg and the striking geology of Bressay & Noss.

• When sea conditions allow, we sail you through the magnificent giant's leg. This is always a WOW! with our guests.

• We take fresh fish on our tours - to give you the opportunity to see the gannets diving right alongside our boat - a great highlight on all our tours.

• Our tours are very family friendly and tailored to suit all interests/ages. We have many on-board activities to keep our younger sailors entertained and each receive a FREE sealife activity pack to take home.

• Live commentary throughout the tour with our high quality PA system, each passenger receives their own individual headsets. This allows you to hear our dedicated guide Marie throughout the tour, she puts on a fabulous commentary with a great wealth of knowledge to share and always available to answer any questions you may have.

• We are born and bred in Shetland, we each have a lifetime's experience and knowledge of the sea, nature & local heritage around us. With two crew on every tour, sometimes three - we look after your every need to ensure you are having a fabulous experience on-board our very comfortable & spacious catamaran 'Seabird'. We deliver fun, personal, informative & interesting tours to suit all interests & ages

• You’ll encounter Grey Seals so close you can count their whiskers. They're always on the lookout for a free meal and like to follow all the local fishing boats as they pass through the Lerwick harbour and they usually follow our tours as we make our way through the harbour.

• If you are extremely lucky, you may spot dolphins, porpoises or whales, but this is not guaranteed on any of our tours, just a case of luck on the day. We have so much enthusiasm for cetaceans and with the sharp eyes of two/three crew - we are always on the lookout. If we are lucky enough to spot them and with Seabird's very large viewing platform, you could be on no better boat to view them. When viewing marine animals - we fully adhere to ‘Nature Scot Marine Code Of Conduct’.

• Our boat Seabird is a 13.5 metre twin engine catamaran - a very stable boat being twin-hulled. It has a very spacious viewing platform, as shown on our website homepage video. This allows you to enjoy fabulous 360 degree panoramic viewing in complete comfort, ideal for the best photographic opportunities. We are licensed to take up to 12 passengers. There is ample room on deck for all 12 passengers to sit, stand or move around freely without being confined to a seat or one space. You are always sheltered - Seabird has a fixed partial canopy covering in the outside seating area. We have an indoor heated cabin, which has further seating for all 12 passengers. There are viewing windows to give you further 360 degree panoramic viewing. There also is a table where you can chat or access our small but expertly curated library.

• We stop off in a tranquil little bay for FREE refreshments, which offers loads of wildlife opportunities and a time to socialize – all passengers find this a truly magnificent highlight on our tours. We cater for dietary requirements, just let us know at time of booking and do let us know if it’s a special occasion as we will push the boat out – pardon the punch!

• We have a fully accessible toilet ON DECK LEVEL – which is always a must and most reassuring when out at sea, and especially after those welcoming refreshments.

• We provide binoculars & seabird/cetacean identification charts for everyone during the tour, our charts are also available in Braille format.

• Our very comfortable & spacious Catamaran 'Seabird' is wheelchair accessible and the ideal boat of choice for anyone with mobility issues. Check out our published Accessibility Guide. Please contact us to discuss any special requirements.

• We look forward to welcoming you aboard 'Seabird'. Come & see why we offer by far the best boat, the best views, the best wildlife experience, the best guides & of course, the very best value for money as we OFFER SO MUCH on our tours. This is what makes the difference on our daily Seabirds-and-Seals Tours.

• As the No.1 wildlife boat tour to Noss, we are thrilled to have received accreditation to The WiSe Scheme - the UK's national training scheme for minimizing disturbance to marine wildlife.

• After a lot of hard work and changes, we achieved Green Tourism 'Silver' Award, early 2023 and early 2024 after further sustainability developments, awarded 'Gold'. Being Green Tourism Accredited shows that we are eco-friendly and committed to working responsibly, ethically and sustainably.

25/03/2025

Bannock making video from Nicola who is a business owner at Island Larder - home of The Shetland Fudge Company - her Granny is a good teacher!

Bannocks are a traditional, quick, flat bread and made using a mixture of flour, buttermilk, and salt, traditionally cooked on a griddle or stone.

Bannocks are a staple food in Shetland and are often enjoyed with savory fillings, dipped in soup, or with butter and jam.

'Bannock' stems from the Gaelic word bannach, which means “morsel”.

25/03/2025
No hesitation, just a perfect plunge.This gannet’s got better form than most of us at the pool — and Justin Rhodes was r...
23/03/2025

No hesitation, just a perfect plunge.
This gannet’s got better form than most of us at the pool — and Justin Rhodes was right there to catch it!

We’re thrilled he’s joining us again this year to snap more wild moments like this. Bring on the splash zone!



Shetland hospitality at its finest.When your neighbour turns up with a fresh fry of fish—straight from sea to pan—you kn...
22/03/2025

Shetland hospitality at its finest.
When your neighbour turns up with a fresh fry of fish—straight from sea to pan—you know you're in Shetland. Grateful for good food, good neighbours, and the simple joys of island life.

Calling All Local Businesses!With the Tourist Office now unfortunately closed, it's more important than ever to come tog...
22/03/2025

Calling All Local Businesses!

With the Tourist Office now unfortunately closed, it's more important than ever to come together and support each other. We’re proud to promote local businesses on our tours and would love to feature yours! We have loads of space inside our cabin to promote leaflets/business cards.

If you have business cards or materials you'd like us to share, please get in touch. In return, we’d appreciate your support in spreading the word about our tours.

Together, we can make a real impact and keep our community thriving.

🌊 NEW for 2025! 🐧🏡On our Noss Boat Tours, we love inspiring young sailors to connect with nature! That’s why every child...
21/03/2025

🌊 NEW for 2025! 🐧🏡

On our Noss Boat Tours, we love inspiring young sailors to connect with nature! That’s why every child joining our tours receives an eco-friendly wooden craft kit – and now, they can choose between our Original classic puffin windmill kit or our brand-new birdhouse kit...Variety is the spice of life!

🛠️ Build, Learn, Create!
🎨 The Puffin Windmill sparks curiosity about puffin life—encouraging kids to learn how these charismatic birds build their burrows, raise their chicks, and return each year to Shetland’s cliffs.

🐦 The Birdhouse Kit sparks creativity and encourages young minds to support local wildlife at home.

Last year, one of our young sailors, Polly, proudly shared her beautifully decorated puffin windmill, inspired by the puffins she watched on the clifftops, bobbing on the waves and calling to each other from the cliff ledges. Seeing her excitement and creativity reminded us why these kits are so much more than just crafts – they’re a hands-on way to inspire the next generation of wildlife lovers.

But that’s not all! Each young explorer also gets a gift bag containing our Original sealife activity packs and other goodies to make their adventure even more exciting.

Which kit would your little sailor choose? Let us know below! 👇✨

Killer Whale with the cloudy sky reflecting off it - Noness, Shetland - nicely captured by Bull 34 breaking the surface ...
21/03/2025

Killer Whale with the cloudy sky reflecting off it - Noness, Shetland - nicely captured by

Bull 34 breaking the surface for a breath, close enough to see the sky reflected on his slick and shiny head.

🌊 Inclusive Adventures Onboard The Noss Boat 🐦We are committed to making Shetland’s incredible wildlife accessible to ev...
20/03/2025

🌊 Inclusive Adventures Onboard The Noss Boat 🐦

We are committed to making Shetland’s incredible wildlife accessible to everyone. Our tours are fully wheelchair-friendly, ensuring that all guests can enjoy the breathtaking cliffs, bustling seabird colonies of Noss, and the stunning marine life found throughout Shetland’s waters with ease and comfort.

From the moment you step aboard, our experienced and welcoming crew is there to assist, making sure your journey is smooth, safe, and truly unforgettable. We believe that adventure should have no barriers or restrictions, so whether you're a keen birdwatcher, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply looking to experience the magic of Shetland’s waters, we’re here to make it possible for everyone.

Come and explore the magic of Shetland with us—where adventure has no limits. Book your tour today!

March is that special time of year when The Noss Boat 'Seabird' gets her annual spa treatment—exfoliation, a fresh coat ...
19/03/2025

March is that special time of year when The Noss Boat 'Seabird' gets her annual spa treatment—exfoliation, a fresh coat of antifoul, and just a little bit of paint in places it definitely shouldn’t be (including on me).

With dry conditions, light winds and the sun finally shining, we had the perfect conditions for a team effort. Many hands make light work… or at least ensure that everyone ends up wearing an equal amount of paint!

Huge thanks to today’s helpers, enjoyed the banter very much — your efforts are truly un-foul-gettable! Now, who’s got the paint thinner?

What a team and definitely a well deserved beer tonight!

Absolutely amazing fundraising efforts...well done from The Noss Boat Team!
18/03/2025

Absolutely amazing fundraising efforts...well done from The Noss Boat Team!

🚤 Set Sail for Adventure! 🌊🐦The Noss Boat Season launches on April 4th, 2025, and we can’t wait to welcome you aboard! G...
17/03/2025

🚤 Set Sail for Adventure! 🌊🐦

The Noss Boat Season launches on April 4th, 2025, and we can’t wait to welcome you aboard! Get ready to experience breathtaking wildlife, dramatic cliffs, and unforgettable encounters with seabirds, including the famous puffins and diving gannets.

📅 Book your spot now and be part of this incredible journey!
🔗 https://seabirds-and-seals.com/booking/

Tag your adventure crew and let’s explore Bressay, Noss and Lerwick Harbour together! 🛥️✨


🌊 Sailing Through the Giant’s Leg, Bressay 🛥️One of Shetland’s most breathtaking natural wonders, The Giant’s Leg Archwa...
16/03/2025

🌊 Sailing Through the Giant’s Leg, Bressay 🛥️

One of Shetland’s most breathtaking natural wonders, The Giant’s Leg Archway, stands proudly off the South coast of Bressay.

Gliding beneath this dramatic arch is always a highlight for our passengers—offering an incredible perspective of Shetland’s rugged geology and stunning coastline. Whether you're here for the thrill of the journey, the seabirds soaring overhead, or the sheer beauty of nature, the Giant’s Leg never fails to impress!

📍 Join us for an unforgettable experience on the water and see Shetland’s coastal wonders up close!

Feel free to share your photos/memories in the comments, if you have experienced these magical moments with us in the past.

🌊🐧 The Puffins Will Soon Be Back! 🐧🌊After months at sea, Shetland’s most beloved seabirds will soon return to our cliffs...
16/03/2025

🌊🐧 The Puffins Will Soon Be Back! 🐧🌊

After months at sea, Shetland’s most beloved seabirds will soon return to our cliffs for the breeding season! 🏡✨ These colorful, charismatic puffins travel thousands of miles to nest, mate, and raise their chicks—known as pufflings.

Did you know? Puffins are exceptional swimmers and divers, using their wings for propulsion and their feet as rudders to direct their course. They can dive up to 60 metres in search of fish, and have a unique capacity to hold several small fish in their bills at once. 🐟💙

Stay tuned for stunning puffin moments, fun facts, and conservation updates. Let’s celebrate these incredible birds together!

📍 Shetland, Scotland
📸 Tag us in your puffin sightings!

🎉Make this Mother’s Day unforgettable🎉🌊🐦🦭💙Treat your Mum to a breathtaking wildlife boat tour, where she can experience ...
15/03/2025

🎉Make this Mother’s Day unforgettable🎉
🌊🐦🦭💙

Treat your Mum to a breathtaking wildlife boat tour, where she can experience stunning sea cliffs, playful seals, and majestic seabirds up close. 🎁✨ Gift vouchers available now – the perfect way to show your love with an adventure she’ll never forget! 🌸💙.

Our vouchers can be purchased online up to the value of your choice OR contact us directly to arrange. To purchase online...click on 'Book Now' and then select 'Gift Certificates' and follow the instructions under the heading titled 'Details'.

Tag someone who would love this experience! 👇

Nicely Captured by .morrison.70 - The Norwegian sail training ship 'Statsraad Lehmkuhl' berthed at Victoria Pier, yester...
15/03/2025

Nicely Captured by .morrison.70 - The Norwegian sail training ship 'Statsraad Lehmkuhl' berthed at Victoria Pier, yesterday evening.

⛵ An Icon of Elegance – With her sleek white hull and impressive rigging, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl is a sight to behold, whether gracefully sailing the open seas or docked in port.

Address

Small Boat Harbour Slipway, Victoria Pier
Lerwick
ZE10EL

Telephone

+447595540224

Website

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Videos

Sharing on behalf of @promoteshetland...Last chance to enter our fiery giveaway! 🔥 ⁠ ⁠ Delting Up Helly Aa is today, the final event in Shetland's Fire Festival season. ⁠ ⁠ We're offering one person the chance to win a return trip from Aberdeen to Lerwick for four people, including a cabin and car.⁠ ⁠ The prize also includes a day's Viking Voyages tour with Adventure Shetland, where you will visit Viking heritage sites across the Shetland Mainland.⁠ ⁠ The prize draw closes at 11.59pm on Saturday 22 March 2025. The winner will be drawn at random and notified by Monday 24 March 2025.⁠ ⁠ This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Full T&Cs are on the website. ⁠ ⁠ 🔥 Click on this image in our link in bio to enter. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #promoteshetland #shetland #visitshetland #shetlandislands #shetlandisles #inspiredbyshetland #shetlandtruenorth

Join Shetland's NO.1 Boat Tour as Ranked On TripAdvisor for a Virtual Tour...Sit back, relax and enjoy! #shetlandislands #THEnossboat #originalbusinessbranding #numberonetripadvisor #numberonechoice #travellerschoice #5starattraction #topboattour #topvisitorattraction #gannets #gannetsofnoss #shetlandseabirds #seabirdspectacular #shetlandwildlife #shetlandwhales #shetlandoncamera #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #loveourwildlife #inspiredbynature #lovewhatwedo #discovershetland #shetlandbornandbred #proudshetlander NorthLink Ferries VisitScotland Shetland Tourism Association Ullapool Sea Savers

Exploring The Orkneyman's Cave along the South Coastline of Bressay...Shetland's Geology is truly magnificent. Once inside the cave we share our knowledge on the geology and also a bit of folklore. #THEnossboat #originalbusinessbranding ##shetlandislands #shetlandislandsphotography #bestboatphotography #catamaran #viewingplatform #exploringcaves #shetlandgeology #shetlandscenery #holidayhighlight NorthLink Ferries VisitScotland

The Noss Boat sailing through the Magnificent Giant's Leg...not much of a gap for our massive catamaran but no problem to our highly experienced skipper. #THEnossboat #originalbusinessbranding ##5startour #shetlandislands #strikinggeology #shetlandgeology #shetlandscenery #holidayhighlight

For those of you still Christmas shopping or perhaps you wish to treat yourself...as well as our Gift Vouchers for our 5-Star Tours, we also have copies of Seabirds-and-Seals. This fantastic publication is written by Jonathan Wills who founded the business back in 1992. This short video clip includes another couple of videos near the end. In Jonathan's book he shares lots of stories from his many years of wildlife guiding around the Shetland islands of Bressay and Noss. Jonathan Wills' entertaining and thoughtful book took some 85,000 miles to write - more than three times around the world without sailing more than 3 miles from Victoria Pier. It's the story of how a teenage enthusiasm for birdwatching evolved over many years into a award-winning wildlife tourism business. It also has many stories about the human and natural history of Bressay and Noss (including a few old Bressay yarns). We have sold many copies onboard The Noss Boat this season and had very good feedback. Both businesses owners have read it also and rate it very highly. Laurie Goodlad - a local tour guide runs her own company titled ShetlandwithLaurie and she writes amazing blogs. She did a book review on Jonathan's fabulous book, which you can find on our website by clicking on the link below. https://www.seabirds-and-seals.com/seabirds-and-seals-book-review-by-local-guide-laurie-goodlad Copies are priced at £18.99 - if interested send us a PM or email: [email protected] OR alternatively you can purchase online via our website, just click on the link below. The online price includes delivery within the UK, outwith please contact us directly to arrange shipping. Last posting date before Christmas is Wednesday 18th December. https://www.seabirds-and-seals.com/product/seabirds-and-seals-book-author-jonathan-wills/ Happy Christmas Shopping 🎁. #promoteshetland #northlink #seabirds #seals #THEnossboat #originalbusinessbranding #bressay #localpublication #localauthor #shetlandheri

Another fabulous day yesterday onboard #THEnossboat - three full tours, glorious sunshine, gannets galore, stunning scenery and happy passengers. SeabirdsandSeals - Original & Best Noss Boat Tours

Spectacular morning out at Noss National Nature Reserve today with blue skies and beautiful sunshine. Sharing video of the gannets following The Noss Boat. We invited our 10am passengers to come earlier with the forecasts being so mixed and our 1pm passengers were happy to join us yesterday for an early evening tour with guaranteed good weather and sea conditions. Always do our best to add on extra tours or alter tour timings to ensure our customers have the best experience. Orcas spotted yesterday on our late afternoon tour, photos to follow soon. #THEnossboat #originalbusinessbranding #gannetsofnoss #seabirdspectacular

Video footage of The Noss Boat 'Seabird' participating as a pace vessel during an RNLI Lerwick Lifeboat training exercise on Tuesday evening.

Great Skua (Bonxie) keeping our passengers entertained yesterday.

Beautiful blue skies, sunshine, gannets encircling around the boat and amazing passengers.

We surprised a lovely lady onboard The Noss Boat yesterday as it was her Birthday, here's a wee video footage with everyone singing 'Happy Birthday'. We do state in our advertising when booking, to let us know if celebrating a special occasion and we will push the boat out (pardon da pun). We hope Aurora enjoyed the rest of her special day ❤️. #THEnossboat #originalbisinessbranding #customerservice #serviceexcellence #aboveandbeyond #PushTheBoatOut

What a fabulous way to spend my Birthday...Seabirds, Seals, Sunshine & Fantastic Customers who all sang Happy Birthday on our morning tour at our refreshments stop. Lovely surprise and thank you to Skipper Marvyn for organising it ❤️. It will be bubbles later 🥂.

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