≤14
Ask us first.
Within two weeks, call or visit the airport office to check places. A full online calendar may not mean there is no space.
Call Tiree Sea Tours ↗The sea window / Marine wildlife experiences
14 days.
The online calendar is only part of the picture.
Within two weeks?
Ask us before you rule it out.
ILLUSTRATIVE SELECTOR · NO FORECAST OR LIVE AVAILABILITY
Illustrative day 04
Call to check.
For trips within two weeks, the calendar can show full even when places may be available. Call or visit the airport office to check.
+44 (0) 7788 810 623 ↗
Illustrative days · No real sailing dates shown
One sea window. Two ways in.
A full calendar isn't
the whole story.
>14
Look further ahead.
More than two weeks away? Check the official online booking page for trips.
Check trips online ↗Trips depend on weather and minimum passenger numbers. The skipper may adjust or cancel for safety. Call the day before to confirm departure time.Tiree Airport, Crossapol
+44 (0) 7788 810 623
+44 (0) 7788 810 623
How long
at sea?
Stay close to Tiree, head further along the coast, or give the search a whole day. Island and landmark trips are listed separately below.
01 / 03
Two hours.
A first look at Tiree’s local waters: seal colonies along the coast, with the chance of dolphins on the way. A short introduction for families, friends or solo travellers; wildlife is never guaranteed.
2 hours · Scarinish Harbour
Explore this trip ↗
02 / 03
Half a day.
Head further out along the coast in search of whales, dolphins and seabird colonies. Choose this for more time exploring the water beyond the short local trip. Wildlife is never guaranteed.
3–4 hours · Scarinish Harbour
Explore this trip ↗
03 / 03
A whole day.
Spend the day tracking marine mammals aboard a covered RIB, with a toilet and hot drinks on board. For those who want to give the search more time, rather than fit the sea into a short afternoon. Wildlife is never guaranteed.
Full day · Scarinish Harbour
Explore this trip ↗Private charters and multi-day experiences are also listed on the official site.See trips ↗
Where the
sea takes you.
Separate island and landmark trips, each with its own route and time ashore. Choose a destination as well as a duration.
A half-day journey to Staffa’s basalt sea cave. In calm seas with no swell, the boat may go inside; the return passes wildlife hotspots and the castle ruins of the Treshnish Isles. Staffa landings are currently unavailable while work takes place on the island.
A full-day trip via Fingal’s Cave and the Treshnish Isles, with three hours ashore on Iona. Explore the abbey and heritage centre, or take your time on the white sandy beaches.
Head west from Scarinish past Heanish and the shore station at Hynish, towards the lighthouse 12 miles south-west of Tiree. Atlantic swell has the final say here: allow several days either side of your preferred date.
Cross to the uninhabited bird reserve in the Treshnish Isles, with an hour and a half ashore when weather permits. Look for puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes and fulmars; stay on the paths and at least ten metres from the birds.
Behind the crossingThe boat
The boat
& the crew.
An uncle. A nephew.
An island to explore.
Donnie and Frazer MacInnes established Tiree Sea Tours in February 2018. The uncle-and-nephew team began with Aurora, an 8.5-metre seafari RIB, before expanding to two larger passenger boats.
Today, Atlantic Express is a custom-built 11-metre Red Bay cabin RIB; Sea Explorer is a 10-metre open seafari RIB. The full-day marine mammal trip uses a covered RIB with a toilet and hot drinks on board.
Tiree Sea Tours says its team belongs to the WiSe Scheme, the UK training scheme for minimising disturbance to marine wildlife. The aim is to watch responsibly, not to chase a sighting.
Meet Tiree Sea Tours ↗11mAtlantic Express / Cabin RIB
10mSea Explorer / Open RIB
2018Founded by Donnie & Frazer MacInnes
A crossing of your own
Private charters are offered from April to October for groups of up to 12. Speak to the team about the trip you have in mind.
Ask about a charter ↗Before
you sail.
- i
The sea decides.
All trips depend on weather and minimum passenger numbers.
- ii
The skipper has the last word.
For safety, the skipper may adjust or cancel a trip.
- iii
Call the day before.
Confirm your start time by phone the day before. Tiree trips leave Scarinish Harbour: arrive at the Sea Tours trailer 30 minutes before departure for your safety briefing and kit.
The practical partGood
Good
to know.
A little preparation, then the sea. Read the essentials before choosing your trip.
01What should I wear and bring?
It can be much cooler at sea than on land, and sea spray is likely. Dress for those conditions and bring sunscreen. Waterproof jackets, trousers and lifejackets are provided. If you are visiting Lunga, sensible footwear is strongly advised.
02Where do we meet?
Tiree trips leave from Scarinish Harbour, not the airport booking office. Arrive at the Sea Tours trailer 30 minutes before the advertised departure for a safety briefing and to get kitted up. Trips from Coll leave from the middle pier.
03Why call the day before?
Morning, afternoon and evening times online are guides. Tides and weather can change the start time, so contact the team the day before your trip to confirm the correct departure time.
04The next two weeks show full. Is that final?
Not necessarily. The official site says all tours in the current two-week period show as full online, even when places may still be available. Call the team or visit the airport office to check. For bookings more than two weeks ahead, use the official online booking page.
05What if the weather stops us sailing?
The skipper decides whether it is safe to sail and may change or cancel the route. If a tour is cancelled, you will be offered an alternative tour or a full refund. Trips also depend on minimum passenger numbers.
06Will I get seasick?
The operator says people rarely get seasick on its open RIB, pointing to the open air, a visible horizon and little rolling motion. That is its account, not a guarantee. If seasickness concerns you, discuss it with the team before booking.
07Is there room for bags?
Storage on board is limited. Valuables can be left in the secure trailer at the meeting point, so keep what you take aboard to the essentials.
08Can we land on Staffa or Lunga?
Staffa landings are currently unavailable while work takes place on the island. The Lunga tour allows around an hour and a half ashore, weather permitting. Its paths are not formally constructed, maintained or marked; stay on the paths, avoid puffin burrows and keep at least ten metres from birds.