clyde river trips glasgow

BOAT TOURS IN GLASGOW

River clyde boat tour.

60 – 90 Minute trip. Max 8 people per tour.

Price £175 per trip. This is the inclusive price for up to 8 people. 

Join us on an exciting guided tour of the Clyde. We leave from the BBC Scotland pontoon and head up river to the city centre.

As we make our way down stream we will pass the historic shipyards of the Clyde, inc John Browns, Harland and Wolf. Govan and Scotstoun yards are still operational today.

We then pass the cargo ship docks and make our way down to the Clydebank Crane and on to the Erskine Bridge.

Clyde Boat tour inc stop off at Krispy Kreme Donuts

KRISPY KREME BOAT TOUR

60 – 90 Minute trip. Max 8 people.

This boat tour leaves from outside the BBC Scotland in Glasgow. We head into the city centre at speed and then turn down stream towards Braehead centre. We let you ashore to visit Krispy Kreme donut takeaway where you will recieve 10% discount. We then take you back to the BBC with our boat doing some donuts of its own! Ideal for family days out with kids or birthday parties. (Donuts not included).

Clyde Champagne Cruise

CLYDE CHAMPAGNE CRUISE

90 – 120 Minute trip. Max 6 people.

Price £300 per trip. This is the inclusive price for up to 6 people. (£45 per person if 6 booked).

The champagne cruise is our deluxe trip for the discerning customer for the ultimate boat tour in Glasgow. 

We have a guided tour with some high speed fun, after at a more leisurely pace we drift along the river and serve ice cold  Moët  &  Chandon  champagne. Perfect for a trip with friends / clients or someone special. (2 bottles champagne per trip, can be substituted for 15+ y.o single malt whisky, soft drinks and additional alcohol can be also provided).

A truly unforgettable experience and magical way to see Glasgow.

(No toilet onboard the boat but we can stop at toilets if required along the way).

We offer  boat charter and rides. We can cater for: 

• Kids birthday parties
• Hen and Stag parties
• Family days out
• Photography trips
• Team building
• Sightseeing
• Water taxis
• Any other service / place you may wish to visit.  

Come and experience the River Clyde on our boat trip and see Glasgow from a truly alternative perspective!

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Boat Trip Info

Open boat & private hire, the clyde ride, minimum age, kelvin harbour (next to riverside museum & tall ship), child (2-15) £16 adult (16+) £20 private hire (6 people max) £99 private hire (8 people max) £129 private hire = best value, cancellation policy + 5pm cover, cancellation policy, glasgow sightseeing activity.

Experience one of the most fun things to do in Glasgow!

'The Clyde Ride': Glasgow's must-do boat trip - perfect for sightseeing with friends and family in Scotland's vibrant city!

Embark on an unforgettable journey along the River Clyde. Feel the excitement of cruising past Glasgow's iconic landmarks, from the heart of the city to the legendary shipyards. This boat trip offers a unique perspective of Glasgow's industrial heritage.

"WHAT A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE"

"SAFETY WAS PARAMOUNT"

"I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY"

ecrawford33

"IAIN (A LOVELY HEBRIDEAN MAN) WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO GIVE US HIS TIME"

"A GREAT ALL-ROUND EXPERIENCE"

"SEE THE CITY FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE"

Ricky Hannaway

December 2022

"SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE. FULL OF FUN AND 4 DELIGHTED PASSENGERS"

"HIGHLY RECOMMEND"

"INTERESTING TAKE ON GLASGOW VIEWED FROM THE RIVER ON A FAST MOVING BOAT"

"A FAMILY TRIP AND IT WAS EXCELLENT"

"RECOMEND IT AS A GIFT"

"GREG OUR SKIPPER WAS REALLY FRIENDLY"

TrailBlazer225186

"GREAT EXPERIENCE ON THE RIVER CLYDE"

"VERY WELCOMING WHEN WE ARRIVED"

"GOOD LAUGH WITH BOAT CREW UNTIL THE END"

Doughnuts On The Clyde

Enjoy 30 minutes at Krispy Kreme Braehead and prepare for some seriously fun sugar free doughnuts on the River Clyde.

GREAT FOR KIDS

FROM £139.00

Erskine Bridge Express

This superstructure is guaranteed to impress, soaring 150 feet above the Clyde. You'll be feeling exhilarated and energised.

FURTHEST TRIP

45 MINS 

FROM £28.00

SUGGESTED BOAT TRIPS

• Kip Marina, Inverkip, PA16 0AW

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Sugar Boat Tour

Get up close with the shipwreck.

LITTLE CUMBRAE

Fantastic scenery and wildlife to explore..

UNFORGETTABLE DAYS OUT

Clyde Charters have been operating successfully over the last 8 years providing special day trips for customers to enjoy the hidden gems of the River Clyde and surrounding lochs. We operate trips from both James Watt Marina and Kip Marina.

Our boat trips to the Sugar Boat in Greenock, trips around Little Cumbrae and various other trips have proven extremely popular and allow our passengers to explore local history in away that is entirely unique. Our boat Obsession can take 10 passengers and operates to the highest safety standards.

As nature and wildlife enthusiasts, Ed and Paula are now fulfilling their dream of sharing their love of nature with others on the Clyde. They are Wildlife Medics with British Divers Marine Life Rescue and participate in several other wildlife organisations. While Ed is at the helm scanning for wildlife, Paula will look after you and offer information on the sights and wildlife along the way.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Choose a tour, securly pay online, turn up and have a great time, your next adventure starts here.

FACEBOOK Special Tours!

Details of tours will not be found on our website, but instead over on our Facebook Page ( Clyde Charters ), where we can keep you up to date with all the latest tours and experiences available. Once you have found a tour you are interested in, click now to secure your place!

Prices start at:

£17.95   /per person

• [email protected]

Charter Reviews

Join us for a boat trip down the Forth and Clyde canal

Navvies Barge is a 10 foot wide canal boat built in the 1990s. It started its life as a home and maintains this welcoming characteristic. Inside she has a comfortable seating area leading to a fully equipped galley (kitchen), a toilet and then our history snug to the rear of the boat.

We encourage customers to call Navvies Barge home for their time on board. Bring food, drink and enjoy hours spent on the canal with loved ones. Inside the boat will be yours for the duration of the trip. Your trip will be skippered and you are more than welcome to join us at the back of the boat to have a go at steering. The front of the boat is open, a lovely spot to sit and watch the world go by (my mum's favourite place to sit with a book).

Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival. How you spend your time with us is entirely up to you, come and chat to us about life on the canal, its history and its challenges, or sit with friends with a glass of something nice making memories.

2 hour trip

Our two hour boat trip leaves Applecross Basin and takes us past the Hamiltonhill Claypits Local Nature Reserve . These are a reclaimed nature reserve managed by the local community. This beautiful spot is home to an array of wildlife and swiftly begins the journey into a wildlife corridor through North Glasgow. Keep eyes to the left here for beautiful views of the West End and the University of Glasgow.

The next key landmark along this route is Firhill Stadium , home to Partick Thistle. Here we navigate slowly past moored boats, expect a wave from our lovely neighbours!

The trip then continues along the canal running parallel to Maryhill Road. This beautiful run of water couldn't feel further from the business of the city, onboard the boat you see this beautiful corridor in a completely different way and get lost for a couple of hours.

The half way point of the trip is the new Stockingfield Bridge . A beautiful landmark that sought to reconnect communities separated by the canal for 200 years. This is the point of the trip we will need to be especially careful of creatures lurking by the canal. Bella the Beithir , the 121 metre snake calls this section of the canal home. An incredible installation created by local community groups made up of thousands of tiles. A truly impressive sight well worth a visit.

We will turn around here and make our journey back to Applecross Basin. This trip celebrates what is called the “Glasgow Branch”, it was the beginning of the Monklands canal which it has been separate from since the construction of the M8.

Half day trip

Our half day trip will take the same route as our 2 hour trip, however at the Stockingfield Bridge we are presented with several choices.

Another variation of this trip can take us up towards Bishopbriggs through the Possil Marshes . This trip opts against moving towards the Clyde and goes in the direction of the Forth for an hour and a half. For this we go past the stables and into a more open landscape with views of the campsies before turning back.

The half day trip gives us a little more flexibility so either let us know what you would like to do or we can decide on the day.

Full day trip

The long boat trip takes us to Kirkintilloch , the so called Canal Capital of Scotland. This trip navigates along the Glasgow branch and then takes a turn in the direction of the River Forth when we get to see Bella the Beithir at the new bridge.

This is our longest trip and gives you the opportunity to see the landscape slowly shift as we gently cruise out of Glasgow. Cadder is a particularly beautiful section of the canal, trees overhang and reflect on the water making it feel like a magical place to be. The open fields with views of the Campsie Fells in the distance make this a wonderful diverse trip along the canal.

This is a full day out on the boat and takes roughly two and a half hours to reach Kirkintilloch. The majority of our trips call in for lunch at The Stables Pub . Alternatively, Cadder Wharf is a beautiful spot along the canal for a picnic. We have a fully working kitchen on board so feel free to stay on the boat and have lunch.

Single ticket

This year we are introducing single ticket boat trips. These trips will follow the route of the 2 hour boat trip described above. The trips will be available for up to 6 people and you will share the boat with others (limited to 6 max). Again feel free to make the boat home for this trip. Bring food and drink and make new friends. If you are interested in joining for one of these let us know and we can let you know the dates we have available.

Our Reviews

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Clyde Waterfront Walks

Clyde docks preservation initiative operate a series of guided walking tours of glasgow's waterfront, exploring the maritime history of the river and its modern regeneration..

About Clyde Waterfront Walks

A fifth of all ships in the world were once built on the Clyde at its peak and while most of the industry has now gone there is still much to discover about the past, present and future of the river. We are Clyde Docks Preservation Initiative (CDPI) - a social enterprise promoting the evolving maritime heritage of the River and Firth of Clyde. We have spent almost a decade researching the maritime heritage of the river, networking with interest groups and advocating for protection of the maritime environment and infrastructure. Our walking tours are based on this work. Rather than purely walking lectures, our walks are an interactive guided exploration of the urban waterfront and the changes it has gone through. Participants will be encouraged to take photographs, do their own research, geotagging projects, etc. Join us on one of our tour routes, find out more about the river that made Glasgow and get your 10,000 daily steps at the same time!

Upcoming Events at Clyde Waterfront Walks

Dramble Tours

Dramble Tours combines two fun activities in a unique WHISKY WALKING TOUR of Glasgow!

Glasgow Football Tour

The Glasgow Football Tour is a one-of-a-kind driven tour of Glasgow's unique football scene. Our tours tell the story of Glasgow's rich football history & culture!

Invisible Cities Walking Tours Glasgow

Invisible Cities offer family friendly guided walking tours of Glasgow that showcase some of the city's historical landmarks and explore the social projects that make the city what it is!

Commonwealth Walkway Glasgow

Glasgow was the first Commonwealth city to have its own Commonwealth Walkway in commemoration of the 2014 Commonwealth Games held there and hailed as a huge success!

Gallus Pedals Bike Tours

Gallus Pedals host fun and informative bike tours in Glasgow. From individuals, couples, groups, special occasions to team building events - they've got you covered!

Wester Distillery

Wester are an independent microdistillery located in the West End of Glasgow producing a range of rums and spirits.

Braw Scottish Tours

Braw Scottish Tours offer personal driver guided tours of Scotland!

Skylark Guiding Ltd: Guided Walks for Women

Skylark Guiding is a small one-woman guiding business offering guided hill walks, trail runs and mountain days for women, beginners and more experienced walkers and runners.

Peccadillo Barge

Peccadillo is a custom built (1994) canal barge. Berthed in Glasgow Scotland she offers a variety of trips on the Forth & Clyde Canal, and many of these...

Curious In Nature

Curious in Nature offers a unique way to connect with wilder places with a qualified Countryside Ranger, Foraging Specialist and Nature Connection guide.

Walking Tours in Glasgow

At Walking Tours in Glasgow, we offer guided walking tours around the City Centre and West End of Glasgow.

Curious About Glasgow Tour

Have fun discovering Glasgow on this award-winning, quirky, self-guided, heritage walk with a treasure hunt theme from Curious About!

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What's On Glasgow

Food & drink, announcements, we hopped on the new one-hour glasgow river clyde boat tour - here's how it went, we try the new glasgow river clyde boat tour from braehead.

Have you ever wondered what a one-hour trip along Glasgow’s famous River Clyde would be like?

Well, if the answer is yes – then you’re in luck.

Earlier this month, Clyde Charters launched the aptly named Glasgow Tour, which sees a small boat set off from Braehead Shopping Centre's pontoon on several sailings every Monday.

The trip ‘up and doon the watter’ offers the chance to take a closer look at some of the best sights on the upper Clyde, with insight delivered by boat operator Ronnie Doolan throughout the journey.

The fascinating commentary has been written by Iain Quinn, who is also the man responsible for the passenger description on the famous Waverley paddle steamer.

Vessel Tonka's boat operator Ronnie Doolan

I’ve been eager to take my first trip on the Clyde since the tour started up. So, this week, I decided to hop aboard the vessel Tonka myself – and here’s how it went.

After a worryingly cloudy start to the day, clear skies and sunshine had appeared by 3pm which made for ideal sightseeing weather – something that can’t always be guaranteed on this short river tour.

As the top of the hour approached, excited passengers began to arrive and were all keen to set off to the tour’s first port of call – the famous King George V Dock.

The historic working dock, located in Shieldhall, served as a temporary home to the Azamara cruise ships during the coronavirus pandemic – with all three liners finally departing the docks in recent weeks.

The Barclay Curle Crane on the River Clyde in Whiteinch

As the boat travels up the river, you pass the 150-ton giant cantilever Barclay Curle Crane in Whiteinch – one of four remaining Titan cranes on the Clyde.

Sailing past scrap yards as they recycle heaps of metal, passengers momentarily float above cars, buses and taxis as the Tonka vessel passes over the top of the Clyde tunnel.

The Tall Ship Glenlee, now celebrating its 125th year, is up next on the River Clyde sightseeing list. The former merchant sailing vessel is the last remaining three-masted Clydebuilt ship still afloat in the UK.

READ MORE: Remembering Glasgow's lost transport on the River Clyde

The Tall Ship Glenlee alongside the Riverside Museum

As the boat continues along the Clyde, we move on to the Riverside Museum – home to one of the world's finest transport collections – and up past the River Kelvin, with the University of Glasgow towering in the distance.

The whistle-stop tour passes the Clydeside Distillery – the city’s first dedicated single malt Scotch whisky distillery in more than 100 years.

You can spy new warships under construction at Govan Docks and might even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the famous PS Waverly up-close on her day off.

During my trip, we unfortunately didn’t get to see the much-loved paddle steamer as she was on her final cruise of the season ‘doon the watter’ to Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute.

TS Queen Mary berthed at Cessnock Dock, Pacific Quay

Passengers pay a quick visit to the historic TS Queen Mary, built in 1933 by the world famous shipyard William Denny and Brothers, which is berthed at Cessnock Dock, Pacific Quay.

She is the largest and most luxurious steamship ever built to serve Glasgow and the west of Scotland , carrying up to 13,000 passengers each week in her heyday.

You can also take a closer look at the concrete and steel Floating Head which is back on public display 33 years after it was first created for the Glasgow Garden Festival.

The sculpture, which was made with the help of shipbuilders, is now on display until October 6.

READ MORE:  HUGE floating sculpture believed to be destroyed is floating up the River Clyde

The Glasgow boat tour travels upstream from Braehead Shopping Centre to the city's Pacific Quay

The vessel continues upstream under the Millennium Bridge, which opened to the public in 2002, and past the Crowne Plaza hotel.

After reaching Pacific Quay’s famous BBC and STV buildings, the tour comes to a close as skipper Ronnie explains how Tonka is too large to make it under Bell's Bridge.

After a quick U-turn, the boat makes its way back down towards Braehead with another opportunity for passengers to take in the stunning views.

And with my hair blowing in the wind, I must admit that I did feel a bit like Glasgow’s answer to river cruising queen Jane McDonald.

If you’re looking for a boat trip jam-packed with Clydeside sights that you often don’t have the chance to see – look no further than Clyde Charters’ Glasgow Tour.

Further information and tickets for the boat tour can be found HERE .

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All cruises

• Prosecco Afternoon Tea on the Clyde Clipper
• Doon the watter
• Fish & Ships from Greenock
• Explore the lochs

Highlands, Fort William

• Our cruises
• Private charters

Travel Trade

Find a cruise.

Come aboard Clyde Cruises for some of the best tourist boat trips in Scotland. Take a trip with us and explore the famous River Clyde, discover Aberdeen harbour or cruise along the Caledonian Canal. Select a cruise below and start exploring!

• Fish & Ships from Greenock View cruise
• Prosecco Afternoon Tea on the Clyde Clipper View cruise
• Explore the lochs View cruise
• Doon the watter View cruise

Prosecco Afternoon Tea

The perfect day out with friends and family. Sip a chilled glass of Prosecco on the top deck followed by our vintage afternoon tea.

Meet Aberdeens Dolphins

See Aberdeens famous "Urban" dolphins up-close

Unique Gift Vouchers

Why not treat your loved one to our Prosecco Afternoon Tea Cruise or a trip to see Aberdeen famous "Urban" dolphins. Our gift vouchers are the perfect solution for the person who has everything.

Fish & Ships from Greenock

Cruise and dine as we team up with the Bistro at the Beacon Arts Centre.

Cruise on the River Clyde

Sail "Doon the Watter" to the world famous Dumbarton Rock

Pirates & Princess Family Cruise

A fun filled family cruise complete with hidden treasure, the captains quiz and visit to the wheelhouse!

Outstanding entertaining

Enjoy high quality facilities, expert catering and the very finest surroundings. Make your corporate event stand out by treating your guests to great atmosphere and constantly changing scenery.

Boat trips and charters in Scotland

Come aboard Clyde Cruises for some of the best tourist boat trips in Scotland. Cruise along the River Clyde, exploring its history and heritage. Take a trip around Aberdeen harbour and soak up the sights and sounds of a busy working port. Head out to sea on a Dolphin Adventure Cruise or relax on the gentle waterways of the Caledonian Canal as you drink in the beautiful Scottish scenery. We offer a range of scheduled cruises as well as the opportunity to charter our boats for a special occasion such as a wedding, family celebration or corporate event.

Clyde Clipper Video

Caledonian canal video.

Clyde Clipper Video from fatBuzz on Vimeo .

Glasgow "Doon the Watter"

Aberdeen cruises, venue with a difference, latest news, tots2travel review of aberdeen dolphin adventure cruise.

TOTS2TRAVEL [email protected] ABERDEEN HARBOUR TOUR & DOLPHINS GALORE March 22, 2017 From 1 April 2017 Clyde Cruises will start its Aberdeen sailings for the Spring/Summer season. Aberdeen is known for its dolphins which often venture south from the Moray Firth for a little … Continued

River Cruises Continue to Rise in Popularity

Think about river cruises and you probably conjure up images of a type of holiday favoured by older people. It is no secret that the popularity of river cruises declined quite a bit up to the not-to-distant past. Part of … Continued

What our guests say

This is a belated letter to thank you for the really outstandingly successful week-end excursion in Lochaber. I am sure that everyone appreciated a unique opportunity to visit parts of the area neglected by excursion vessels for so long.

What an experience! We hired the Cruiser recently as our wedding venue and don't think anywhere could have been better. The staff will do everything they can to accommodate your needs. Unfortunately this little box isn't big enough to list all the praise i could give this company, I could go on and on. Fantastic venue and wonderful staff, who helped in making our wedding the way all wedding days should be ~ PERFECT.

A quick note to say that the cruise on the Clyde Clipper went off extremely well. We were fortunate that the weather was good for the evening, but notwithstanding that, all my guests were "wowed" by the experience and thanks to all your crew, bar staff and to the caterers for making it a memorable night. The food was excellent and I think that was borne out by the lack of leftovers! Other than the hardened drinkers and the handful on a diet, all were up for seconds! The tea and coffee proved surprisingly popular even amongst the younger guests. Is it your own catering company that you use, a couple of people have asked for their details? The drinkers were well provided for and happy with the choice of drinks and more importantly, the service was quick for those with a thirst. There were a good number of ex and some current seafarers on-board (myself included) and they can be a critical lot when they get on the water. All were very impressed with the boat and the crew. I had some reservations about the cruise time being possibly too short but 6 to 10 pm turned out to be ideal for the mixed age group, the older ones got home in good time whilst the younger ones had a couple of hours carousing time leftover for the night.