Fort William Seal Island Boat Trip: Top Review & Guide

Planning a trip to Fort William? You know, that town sitting right under the towering Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands? Well, a boat trip out to Seal Island should probably be on your list. It’s pretty much a can’t-miss activity. That’s right, if you’re thinking about spotting some of Scotland’s neat wildlife and enjoying amazing views, well, you might want to keep reading. So, too it’s almost that I am going to tell you about one of the best ways to spend a couple of hours when you find yourself near the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Basically, you will learn what makes this particular tour a great choice, what to expect, and things, potentially, to keep in mind before you book.

Why Choose the Seal Island Boat Tour?

Alright, so what’s all the fuss about? The Seal Island boat trip is more than just, really, a simple ride on the water; that, is that it’s a great opportunity to see seals in their natural environment. Too it’s almost that these tours generally operate around Loch Linnhe, which is that it’s a saltwater loch surrounded by dramatic mountains. Anyway, it gives you awesome views. Now, one of the appealing things is that these tours usually last a manageable amount of time, normally around one to two hours. Basically, this duration tends to make it a really nice option, particularly if you’re traveling with family, or perhaps you just prefer a shorter excursion. I mean, it could be you don’t want to commit to a whole day on the water, alright?

The thing I love the most, which might be the fact that you’re not just viewing the seals; seemingly, the tour operators are careful about maintaining a safe distance. Typically, this is done in an effort to minimize disturbance to the animals, and that’s great. You see, that helps them protect the local wildlife, and allows you to see the animals behaving naturally. Basically, if that sounds great, so too it’s almost that I think that this is going to be right up your alley, and that said, let’s talk a little bit about what you will probably experience. Obviously, what your, like your experience entails could possibly make or break your decision to buy a ticket, anyway.

What You Can Expect: The Experience

I guess, the tours generally start from a location near Fort William, that is that the exact spot, alright, will depend on the company you choose, but most are pretty easy to access from town. Now, once you are on the boat, too it’s almost that it heads out into Loch Linnhe, that is that the crew typically provides commentary about the local environment, potentially pointing out interesting landmarks and filling you in with facts about the local wildlife. Naturally, it’s pretty informative.

Pretty soon, that is that the highlight of the trip appears. So, too it’s almost that you’ll reach Seal Island, and here you’ll see dozens of seals lounging on the rocks. You might want to make sure, that is that you have your camera ready. Alright, these animals are very photogenic. You know, they often seem really curious, so maybe they will pop their heads up to check out the boat as you approach. Typically, you can also see other wildlife such as various birds, potentially even the occasional porpoise if you’re very, very lucky, as I was one time.

What I love is that the views, actually, from the loch are fantastic. Often, that is that you get an amazing perspective of Ben Nevis and the surrounding mountains, which definitely make the trip worthwhile, especially on a pretty clear day. So, too it’s almost that the crew will typically share some local stories and some bits of history too, which is a way, to give you some added insight into the area’s culture. Seemingly, this can be some pretty good stuff, basically giving the cruise an element, that is that goes far beyond just wildlife viewing, now.

Tips for Planning Your Trip

If you plan to go, then planning ahead may be something you should keep in mind. That, is that you probably need to book in advance. Apparently, this is pretty advisable, especially during peak tourist season. Right, that is that these tours can get busy, and booking assures, arguably, you will get a spot on your chosen day and time.

Now, let’s get practical. Apparently, the weather in the Scottish Highlands, could be, well, let’s just say that it can be unpredictable, so maybe it would be advisable to dress in layers. It could be you need to bring a waterproof jacket, anyway, regardless of the forecast. Also, if it turns out to be sunny, possibly wearing sunglasses and a hat are good ideas, now.

And for you photographers out there, that is that you might want to think about taking a good camera with a decent zoom lens to capture, you know, the seals and any other wildlife from the boat. Clearly, binoculars can similarly enhance your viewing experience, mainly to let you get a much closer look at those playful seals.

The thing is, that is that there might be several companies running these tours, which often makes it very worthwhile, potentially, to compare your prices and maybe read reviews. Okay, you need to know what other folks have to say about their experiences, which might give you a much better idea of what to expect. Anyway, do they emphasize wildlife viewing or historical trivia more? How is the boat? All of these, clearly, are really valid concerns.

More to See and Do in Fort William

After, actually, your boat tour, maybe, you might be able to extend your visit by exploring what else Fort William can offer. What I suggest you visit first, seemingly, is Neptune’s Staircase, and it’s pretty remarkable. It consists of a set of lochs that rise like steps.

If you are keen on, like your history, potentially, you may like to visit the West Highland Museum, and seemingly, this museum provides insights into the area’s history, maybe offering collections related to Jacobite risings and local folklore. Now, if you like a good walk, it might be worth it to consider, literally, some trails around Ben Nevis. Very, very short walks around the base are an option, right, should you not want a super serious trek.

What some folks seem to agree with me about is that a short drive can bring you, very, very quickly, to other natural beauties such as Glencoe. Well, many claim that its spectacular landscapes are perfect for hiking and enjoying nature, you see. That is, very, very roughly, my favorite part about visiting the highlands: all that stunning scenery!

Finally, too it’s almost that there’s plenty of options for eating and some places for local crafts to make the most of the trip. Basically, whatever your pleasure, right, be it dining, a dram or maybe grabbing a neat souvenir for you or somebody else.