boat trips from seahouses to holy island

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

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Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

Sailings available every day, weather permitting. Book online or ring us on 01665 720308.

1.5 hour Grey Seal Cruise with Seabirds

This is a great opportunity to spend more time viewing the true residents of the Farnes, our large colony of Grey Seals. Trips sailing throughout the year, weather permitting, with every season providing new experiences. From May until the end of July you will see the thousands of birds that nest at the Farne Islands, including one of our favourites,  the Puffins. In the Winter months from late October until January there are fantastic views of the baby seals to be had during the seal pupping season.

Child prices are for age 5-15.  Under 5’s are classed as infants. No concessions.  For School/youth group bookings, please contact us direct. Online booking recommended.

Dogs are welcome on this trip.

Our 1½ hour cruise sails around all of the islands giving good views of the nesting birds on the cliff faces and viewing the Grey Seals at several vantage points along with an informative commentary throughout.There are an estimated 3 to 4 thousand Grey Seals at the Farne Islands and large numbers can be counted basking on the rocks, especially at low water when more of the Islands are exposed. With over a thousand Seal pups born each Autumn our colony is growing strong. This trip gives excellent value for money and is suitable for all ages and available all year round.

During the breeding season from May to the end of July you also have the opportunity to view the thousands of nesting birds at the Farne Islands which include Puffins, Guillemots, Terns, Kittiwakes, Shags and Cormorants.

Booking Conditions

We reserve the right to cancel any of our trips if we deem the weather and/or sea conditions unsuitable for sailing. If trips are cancelled for any reason, you will be offered a different date/trip or receive a full refund. You may change/cancel bookings no later than 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Refunds are processed through our booking system to the card from which you made payment.

If you do not receive a confirmation for your trip please check your spam/junk and telephone us on 01665 720308/720316.

Please check in and collect your tickets from Billy Shiel’s Booking office at Seahouses Harbour NE68 7RN no later than 30 minutes before sailing. You will then be given instructions as to when, where and which boat to board. Please follow instructions to ensure you board the correct vessel as multiple companies and vessels use the same boarding point.

Please act responsibly on our vessels and follow our safety procedures. Children must not be allowed to climb on the sides of the boat and must be under parental/guardian supervision at all times.

Any belongings brought onto our trips are the responsibility of the owner and we can not be held accountable for breakages or lost/stolen items.

Safe access is provided for the embarkation and disembarkation on our trips but we can not be held accountable for any actions where due caution and restraint has not been undertaken.

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Seahouses, Northumberland

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Billy Shiel's Boat Trips

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Serenity Farne Islands Boat Tours

Seahouses harbour, seahouses, northumberland, ne68 7rn.

The Farne Islands are a small group of islands a few miles of the coast at the Northumberland village of Seahouses. They consist of 28 islands altogether and they can be seen at low tide but only 15 at high tide. They also have some wonderful names such as, Megstone, Gun Rock, Staple Island, Roddan and Green, Nameless and the furthest away is the Knivestonem at 4 miles. The Farne Islands are formed by the most seaward outcrops of volcanic intrusion called the Great Whin Sill. This can be traced from Upper Teesdale in Durham where it forms the High Force waterfall all the way up to North Northumberland to the Farne Islands and the rocks upon which sit the castles of Linisfarne, Dunstanburgh and Bamburgh. Dolerite rock give the Farne Islands their distinctive blackened apperance. The largest, innermost and most historic of the Farne Islands is the Inner Farne at 16 acres. For many years the Inner Farne was home to St Cuthbert who lived in solitude. St Cuthbert had a reputed gift of healing which brought pilgrims from all over the Kingdom of Northumbria. Island of Pilgrims, or "Farena Ealande" is the source of the islands name. Today the islands are incredibly important wildlife reserve and home to many seabirds including Puffins, Razorbills, Gulliemots, Terns and many more, during the breeding season. There is also one of the largest Grey Seal populations in the world. Our purpose built catamarans are the perfect platform for viewing the Farne Islands and its spectacular wildlife. We also have the first purpose built double decker catamaran with unforgettable views of the Farne Islands. If you are not the best person on the water then look no further as our vessels are very stable which makes your trip more enjoyable. Our design thoughts we made with our guests in mind. Easy access on and off the boat, wheelchair access (when the tides are right), toilet onboard and 360 degree views. The decks are all one level so its easy to walk around, and our wildlife guides will be available to answer all your questions and needs. We have booking offices at Seahouses Harbour and the Main Car Park in the village. We are also very active on all of our social media pages such a Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. We also have a blog so why not have a look at that too. T:  01665 721667 E:  [email protected] W:   www.farneislandstours.co.uk  

A great experience

An excellent trip with plenty of puffins, just amazing ...put it on your bucket list, outstanding, a great trip.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

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A great experience - Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

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• Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours

An excellent trip, very professionally run with helpful commentary, Chris took the time to make... read more

From Start to finish a welcoming experience The ladies on the ticket desk and the chaps on the... read more

A great experience

Fabulous outing on the upper deck. Clean comfortable and informative trip. Saw all the wildlife described in the description and more. Would definitely recommend.

An excellent trip, very professionally run with helpful commentary, Chris took the time to make sure everyone on the boat had good views and opportunity to take photos, and the hour spent on the Inner Farne Island was just right for wandering around and seeing the birds close up. Lots of puffins around on the day we went.

From Start to finish a welcoming experience The ladies on the ticket desk and the chaps on the boat were friendly and cheerful and very Knowledgeable The Boat was immaculate The trip itself was just everything and more ....we did not expect to get in so close to the nesting birds and be given so much information about each species and their habits including the seals My face hurt from Smiling.. one of the best experiences Thank you Serenity

Outstanding! Perfect service all the way through, from booking to arriving back at Seahouses harbour. We went on Serenity IV, their newest vessel. The boat was spacious , clean, and even had two toilets. We saw puffins, seals and all manner of seabirds. Got close to the islands to have a good view of the wildlife, lighthouses and so on. There was an excellent commentary but not too much of it. The crew were very professional and we felt that we were in safe hands. Well worth the money.

Informative and friendly crew; a very skilful skipper got us very close to the shores of the islands, almost touching distance to the birds. A very worthwhile trip.

Thank you so much for your review and I'm delighted you enjoyed it. Hopefully, we will see you soon All the best Andrew

Excellent trip. Abundant seabirds puffins terms and seals. Very knowledgeable commentary and got right up close to the cliffs. Andy went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and well looked after. Highly recommended

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your review. I will pass on your kind comments to the gang. All the best Andrew

Billy Shiel's Boat Trips

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

BILLY SHIEL'S BOAT TRIPS (Seahouses) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Britain’s finest ferry trips

T here’s a sense of adventure in boarding a boat. Boats can get to places – hidden coves, meandering marshlands – that other means of transport cannot.

Before motorised transport, sailing boats and, later, steam ships provided the quickest way to travel between coastal communities in the UK (as well as to transport goods around the country)

 As seaside resorts grew in the 19 th century, pleasure steamers became a popular diversion. In the 1820s, steam packet companies ran excursions from Liverpool to the resorts of north Wales, while Southampton’s Royal Pier was opened in 1833 to cater to steamboats offering trips to the Isle of Wight or along the Hampshire coast. 

Ferries, too, have a long history of offering the speediest means to explore Britain’s coastline. The Helford River crossing, near Falmouth, in Cornwall , for example, is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

If you’re looking for a way to link coastal walks or a trip away from the crowds, we’ve picked a few of the best ferry routes to consider.

Plymouth to Cawsand, Kingsand and Rame peninsular, Devon

The Cawsand Ferry takes you across the border – and, some might argue, back in time – from busy Plymouth in Devon , with its boat-packed harbour, to the quiet former fishing villages of Cawsand and Kingsand in Cornwall .

Both lie a half-hour ferry ride across Plymouth Sound and offer small shingle-and-sand beaches, rockpools and simple facilities. Exploring their narrow twisty lanes and wooded hill slopes, you can imagine the skulduggery that might have gone on in the 18 th and 19 th centuries when smugglers would frequent these shores. Both Cawsand and Kingsand are good starting points for a walk, either to explore the gardens and parkland of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, or, along the South West Coast Path around Penlee Point and Rame Head with their commanding views across Plymouth Sound and the Channel. 

Fancy an overnight stay? Residence One , Plymouth (01752 262318; bistrotpierre.co.uk ) has doubles from £146, including breakfast. 

Cawsand Ferry (01752 253153; plymouthboattrips.co.uk ) operates from 29 th March to 31 st October from Plymouth to Cawsand and Kingsand and costs £6 for an adult single and £3 for a child.

Helford Passage, near Falmouth, to Helford village, Cornwall

Not many public transport services in Britain can truly declare to be ‘on demand’. But pop down to Helford Passage on the Helford River, in Cornwall, and the jolly red and white ferry boat will immediately whisk you across the water, tides permitting. If you arrive at Helford village on the southern riverbank, simply ‘open’ the bright yellow circular sign to show you’re waiting. A ferry of some sort has operated this mile-long crossing since at least the 11 th century, saving travellers a 40 minute diversion by car around the inlet. 

This is the Cornish countryside of Daphne du Maurier; narrow lanes, ancient oak woodland and smugglers’ coves. The ferry, which takes foot-passengers and bicycles, leaves from below the Ferry Boat Inn in tiny Helford Passage and arrives, handily, close to the 16 th -century Shipwrights Arms in Helford. Both villages are full of thatched Cornish charm and there’s a tiny beach at Helford Passage. Both locations are on the South West Coast Path. 

Located near Helford Passage, Budock Vean (01326 250288) has doubles from £198, including breakfast. 

Helford Ferry (01326 250770; helfordriverboats.co.uk ) operates 1 st April to 31 st October from Helford Passage to Helford Village and costs £7/£9 (single/return) for an adult and £4/£6 for a child.

Glenelg to Skye, Scotland

“Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing … Over the sea to Skye”. The 19 th century folk song probably didn’t have this extraordinary ferry in mind, yet it’s surely one of the best ways to arrive on the island. Turn off the main road to Kyle of Lochalsh – the traditional crossing point to Skye – at Shiel Bridge and follow the narrow road over Mam Ratagan, with its glimpses of Skye’s Cuillin Hills. Drive 11 miles to just north of tiny Glenelg on the shores of the Kylerhea Narrows and you’ve made it. 

From here the MV Glenachulish, the world’s last manually operated turntable ferry, carries you across the narrow passage to Kylerhea on Skye. The ingenuity of the turntable, on which the cars sit, means the ferry can berth alongside the slipway whatever the tidal height and strength of current (strong, hereabouts). From Kylerhea, it’s a five mile drive up lonely Glen Arroch to the main road to Portree; better still, head south to enjoy the wildness of under-the-radar Sleat Peninsula.

Skye Ferry (01599 522700; skyeferry.co.uk ) operates 28 th March to mid-October from near Glenelg to Kylerhea and costs £20/£30 for a car (single/return) and £3/£5 for foot passengers. 

Butley River Ferry, Suffolk

Among the marshlands and heathlands of the far reaches of east Suffolk , home to marsh harriers, waders and wildfowl, and where hamlets have names such as Shingle Street and Duck Corner, is possibly the smallest ferry boat in Europe. With a maximum capacity of four (or two adults and two bicycles), it is one of only two ferries in Britain reliant on human-power. The oarsman carries passengers across Butley River, which flows into the Alde and then out to sea around the southern tip of Orford Ness . 

A ferry has operated here since the 14 th century, when the riverside farmland belonged to Butley Priory, until the 1930s. Revived in 1993 and run by volunteers, it provides a welcome service to walkers, cyclists and nature-lovers who enjoy the peace, the sightings of seals hauled on the riverbanks as well as the birdlife – and the welcome pubs in nearby Orford (with 12 th -century castle) and Chillesford. 

Looking for somewhere to stay? Check out The Crown and Castle , Orford (01394 450205) has doubles from £140, including breakfast.

Butley Ferry (07913 672499; aldeandore.org ) operates on weekends and bank holidays from 30 th March to 13 th October across Butley river near Orford and costs £2.50 for an adult single and £1.50 for a child.

Seahouses to Holy Island, Northumberland

Holy Island, or Lindisfarne to give it its Celtic name, can be reached by causeway twice a day from the Northumbrian mainland when tides allow. But to get a real sense of its isolation – and one that its first Anglo-Saxon settlers, including St Aidan and St Cuthbert, would have experienced – arrive by boat. Billy Shiel’s boats have been operating out of Seahouses since 1918, and are well-known for their trips to the Farne Islands (of Grace Darling, puffins and seals fame). 

In the warmer months, they also offer a four-and-a-half hour round trip to Holy Island. The route includes a tour around the Farnes, plus chances to spot porpoises and dolphins, before landing on Holy Island for a two-hour visit. Boats land at high tide, so you can experience the ‘cut off’ serenity of the island with its lofty castle, Norman Priory, small museum and cafes offering locally caught crab sandwiches.

Billy Shiel’s Boat Trips (01665 720308; farne-islands.com ) operates Easter holidays, and then May to October from Seahouses to Holy Island and costs £45 for an adult round trip and £25 for a child. 

Bardsey Island, Wales

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on the boat trip to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) two miles from the tip of the Llyn Peninsula in north-west Wales. Settled by Celtic Christians in the 6 th century, the remote island is one-and-a-half miles long by half-a-mile at its widest and was chosen by Augustinian Canons in the 13 th century (remains of St Mary’s Abbey can be seen) before a farming and fishing community took over. 

Today it is still farmed but is perhaps better known for its protected wildlife status – a National Nature Reserve, among other things – with Manx shearwater, puffins, choughs, grey seals and dolphins to look out for. The 30-minute boat ride from Porth Meudwy near Aberdaron allows four hours to explore the island before the trip back. Looking for somewhere to stay? Porth Tocyn (01758 713303) in Abersoch has doubles from £160.

Bardsey Boat Trips (07971 769895; bardseyboattrips.com ) operates from March until October, from Porth Meudwy, near Aberdaron, to Bardsey Island and costs £50 for an adult round trip and £25 for a child.

Brightlingsea to East Mersea and Point Clear, Essex

Brightlingsea , around the corner from Essex’s brassy Clacton-on-Sea and down river of Roman Colchester, may not be on your summer holiday bucket-list, but it works its charm hard. There’s a simple beach, a long row of jolly beach chalets and a surprisingly busy harbour of power-boats and yachts. 

Among them, the 12-passenger foot-ferry zips around the mouth of the River Colne calling at Point Clear, with its walk along St Osyth sea wall and aircraft museum in a former Martello Tower, then across the estuary to East Mersea on Mersea Island . At the latter, you can enjoy the sandy beach at Cudmore Grove Country Park. It beats road traffic hands down: Brightlingsea to Point Clear is 20 miles, and three minutes by ferry; to Mersea Island is around 40 miles, but 10 minutes by ferry.

Brightlingsea Harbour Commissioners Ferry (01206 302200; brightlingseaharbour.org )   operates 1 st April to 22 nd September, from Brightlingsea to Point Clear and East Mersea and costs £4.50 for an adult single and £3.50 for a child.

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Farne Islands Sunset Cruise

Every evening during the spring breeding season, departing from 7pm until 9pm (ish!), enjoy the incredible peace and tranquillity of the Farne Islands during an evening cruise. See the wildlife basking in the evening light, watch the jumplings (guillemot chicks) take their leap of faith as they leave their nests. Fingers crossed for a beautiful sunset over Bamburgh Castle too!

This is a very popular trip for photographers as the Farne Islands bask in the warm light of the ‘golden hour’. A sunset cruise is a wonderful way to end to a brilliant day on the Farne Islands.

Serenity II Sunset Cruise Passing Bamburgh Castle

Sailing Information

*Child classed as aged 15 and under

• Please arrive 20 mins before your departure to collect your boarding pass. Failure to do so may result in your ticket being resold.
• This tour takes approximately 2 hours and does not land on any of the islands.
• Times and frequencies may change at short notice. Departure times will change depending on sunset time.
• Please wrap up warm as it’s always cold at sea, especially towards the evening.
• Although all of our vessels have wheelchair access, boarding is only possible during high tides. Please contact us before booking for more details.

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours Boat Tours Booking Office (Seasonal Opening) Seahouses Harbour Seahouses Northumberland NE68 7RN

Telephone: 01665 721667

Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours 7 Osborne Gardens Seahouses Northumberland NE68 7UF

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