Things to do in Inchcolm

Your boat tour will depart from the South Queensferry, which is only a short distance from Scotland's bustling capital city of Edinburgh. Your tour will include magnificent views of the Three Bridges, including the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Forth Bridge. In addition, you can take in the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, the Kingdom of Fife and the historic island of Inchcolm with its medieval abbey. As part of the tour you will stop at Inchcolm Island to drop off and pick up visitors. Explore the island when you purchase a landing pass from the on board bar. Cruise along and discover the magic of the Forth Bridge, the Forth Road suspension bridge, and the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world, Queensferry Crossing. For your comfort, relax onboard in the heated observation lounge or on the outside decks, and listen to the guided commentary while you enjoy a drink from the bar. During your tour, you will find plenty of opportunities to both see and photograph a wide variety of marine wildlife including seabirds, porpoises and seals.

Your tour will begin as you visit the booking office and gift shop to collect your boarding pass. From there, you will make your way onto Hawes Pier to board the boat and embark on your sightseeing cruise. Before we set off, we'll provide a brief safety message, then it's time to embark on an unforgettable journey. Glide beneath the iconic Red Forth Rail Bridge and sail towards the historic Inchgarvie Island, surrounded by breathtaking scenery of Edinburgh and Fife coastlines. Spot seals, puffins, and other wildlife as our skipper shares fascinating commentary. Circle Inchcolm Island and watch for sunbathing seals on the Haystack. Cruise back under the majestic Forth Rail Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge, and the stunning Queensferry Crossing, all while enjoying the spectacular views. The adventure concludes at Hawes Pier, where you can disembark with cherished memories of this scenic and wildlife-rich experience.

Upon arrival at Hawes Pier, you will collect your boarding passes and pay for your landing passes to enable you to land on Inchcolm Island from the Maid of the Forth ticket office. Making your way down the pier you will board the Maid and set sail for Inchcolm, cruising underneath the iconic Forth rail bridge, a world Unseco heritage site. You will enjoy views of both the Fife and Edinburgh coastline, sailing past the Haystack seal colony and arriving at Historic Inchcolm Island. Here you will enjoy 1.5 hours to explore all the island has to offer, the Abbey, world war fortifications, visitor centre, and gift shop. There is something for everyone to enjoy on Inchcolm.

Climb aboard a spacious vessel in Queensferry and navigate under the Forth Bridges to Inchcolm Island. Relax with friends and family and listen to the onboard commentary while you enjoy a drink or snack from the bar. Take in the spectacular views of Inchcolm Island, the Three Bridges, and the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, and look out for the marine wildlife including seals and puffins. Upon arrival, explore Inchcolm Island’s historic Abbey, one of the best-preserved groups of monastic buildings in Scotland. Gaze at the wartime coastal defenses and relax on the beaches with a picnic while enjoying the views of the Edinburgh skyline and marine wildlife.

AN ADVENTURE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Embark with our crew to sail the waters of the Firth of Forth on an unforgettable cruise, where you can discover its fascinating history, wildlife and flora first hand. Feel the thrill of a true seafarer as you sail the waters and disembark at the legendary Inchcolm Island. There we will explore the history of its 12th century abbey and fortifications, all framed by the breathtaking views of its beaches. WHAT DOES THE ACTIVITY INCLUDE? We have prepared this experience so that you don't have to worry about anything! Our tour guides will be waiting for you with a blue and orange umbrella to start the activity in front of the Duke of Wellington Statue, at the main entrance of the Balmoral Hotel, at 10.30AM. From there, we will walk to nearby Waverley Station, where we will take an 11-minute train to South Queensferry, the most environmentally friendly mode of transport. Once there, we will enjoy a pleasant walk to the harbor, where we will learn about the history of this charming town before boarding the Maid of the Forth. On board, we will have all the comforts, such as bar service, heated interior areas and restrooms. The cruise will be accompanied by the explanations of our tour guides so that you will not miss any detail of everything that can be seen from the deck, including the history of the three magnificent bridges that cross the Firth of Forth. After having the opportunity to see the resident grey seal colonies from the boat or spot, depending on the season, puffins, cormorants and, with a bit of luck, dolphins, porpoises or whales, we will proceed to Inchcolm Island for disembarkation. On the island, we will have 1 hour and 30 minutes for our tour guides to take us inside Inchcolm Abbey, where we will learn about the exciting medieval history of this religious building and from whose bell tower we will be able to enjoy panoramic views of its shores. We will also visit the Hermit's Cell, which served as a refuge for kings in a shipwreck. There will be enough time for participants to explore the island and discover every corner, and those who wish may take the opportunity to have a picnic. The boat will pick us up at the island, starting the trip back to the mainland, during which you can enjoy the journey asking the tour guides all your questions, walking the deck and taking additional pictures, or just relaxing in the indoor area, where the bar will be the scene of lively conversations until we reach port. Once in South Queensferry, you can choose to stay in town or return to the capital accompanied by our tour guides. We will board the train at Dalmeny Railway Station and after a short ride back to Edinburgh Waverley Station, the tour guides will end the tour, but not before giving you all the directions to your accommodation. See you next time and have a good trip back!