Anstruther Pleasure Cruises

02/09/2025

22/08/2025

We love catching glimpses of these magnificent creatures! 🐋 Also, great advice on spotting minke whales from the Isle of May Nature Scot team….

22/08/2025

Imagine getting up close to this little seal? 🦭 🌊 🥰

03/08/2025

Exhibitions, Events, Exploration! 🎨 💎 ⛴️ Isle of May in August and September…

🎨 Exhibitions

Take a peek inside the Stevenson Lighthouse - the highest point on the island skyline - and discover two exhibitions celebrating the coastline and waters of the Firth of Forth.

💎 Events

11th and 12th August: Family Fun Day with the Edinburgh Shoreline project. Family activities including crafts, BioBlitz, moth trapping, butterfly ID and a treasure hunt.

6th and 7th September: Open Doors Weekend, This two day special event invites you to discover the buildings across the Isle of May and learn more about humanity’s relationship with the island.

⛴️ Exploration

Our one hour boat trip will also give you a chance to learn more about wildlife on and around the island. This season, minke whales, basking sharks, dolphins, seals, and orcas have all been spotted by around the shoreline! Also discover 45 meter cliffs, glorious seascapes, ancient church ruins, smugglers caves, raiding Vikings, royal visits, and uncover more secrets buried in the soil and surf!

🌊 Dive into your own Isle of May adventure on a day trip aboard the May Princess! 🎟️ ⛴️ Book via anstrutherpleasurecruises.co.uk and we’ll meet you at our hut on Anstruther Harbour.

05/08/2024

Is this one of Scotland’s most stunning picnic spots? We think it’s the perfect place for a hearty pie. 😋 🥧 And if feasting above 50ft cliffs overlooking Pilgrim’s Haven isn’t whetting your appetite, the Isle of May has plenty more places to pull up a seat along the shoreline and harbour. So pack your reusable water bottle and a bite to eat for the ultimate table with a view…

🍫 🧃 Oh and if you forget something, pop into a cafe on Anstruther Harbour before we depart or find snacks and drinks in our little bar on board the May Princess.

⚓ Book your passage to the Isle of May at anstrutherpleasurecruises.co.uk.

31/07/2024

22/07/2024

The Isle of May is home to an impressive THREE trailblazing lighthouses! ⭐ Which is your favourite?

💡 The Beacon, constructed in 1636, is Scotland’s first and oldest lighthouse. A flash of white on the island skyline, it was at one time three floors tall, with a coal burning basket on the top lit nightly to warn passing ships of the presence of the dangerous island. It fell into disrepair when it was replaced by…

💡 The Stevenson Lighthouse. Designed by the famous engineer Robert Stevenson, this towering landmark was constructed in 1816. In 1886 it became Scotland’s first lighthouse to run on electricity and it’s been entirely solar power since 2016!

💡 Last but not least, The Low Light was constructed in 1843 to work alongside the main lighthouse but it was replaced by a light ship at North Carr Rocks in 1887. It’s now home to Scotland’s oldest bird observatory, founded in 1934. 🐦 Bird watchers have the opportunity to stay here, too. Discover more at isleofmaybirdobs.org.

⚓ Want to brighten up your summer? Book an illuminating trip to the Isle of May at anstrutherpleasurecruises.co.uk and get up close to the island's magnificent history, wildlife, and heritage.

12/07/2024

"Puffins...a creature of land, sea and sky. 🌧️ 🐧 🌊 They wheel and spin through the air, personalities shining through, and sand eels glinting in their beaks."

Bella - a volunteer with on the Isle of May - was blown away (almost literally) observing the puffins cliff-edge performance in stormy weather earlier this week. All good practice for the long, hard winter these birds will spend on open seas. We can hardly believe the puffins will be flying off again in a few weeks...

See Bella's full story - and discover lots seabird reports from the island - over at isleofmaynnr.wordpress.com.

Meanwhile, if you hope to see puffins on the Isle of May in 2024, book your sailing asap. The birds usually begin leaving in early August. See availability at anstrutherpleasurecruises.com.

Images by Robert Melville

04/07/2024

How do we create the eerie call of a foghorn? 💨 📢 On the Isle of May, the vibrating column of compressed air needed to produce the distinctive foghorn tone was generated at a power plant on the island's 'Fluke Street.' The air was then pushed to the North and South foghorns via cast iron pipes that you can still see today.

While the fog horns are no longer in use, the impressive, cliff top South Fog Horn (with its giant trumpet on top) is still accessible, where you can watch haar roll across the north sea through its salt battered window.

📸 Tanks and Fluke Street by