THE No.1 ORIGINAL NOSS BOAT - SHETLAND SEABIRD TOURS: 'EARLY BIRD' PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR 5:30am

The first of its kind in Shetland, in 2016 we started offering special boat trips for those 'early risers', with our 'Early Bird' sunrise tours for that much sort after early morning light at the back of Noss! Come capture those golden hours with the best light for photography at this location. Just wonderful to see the birds & cliffs bathed in early warm Shetland light. We'll have you back in Lerwick with great memories & a camera full of pics before breakfast & before most of the town has stirred into life! Just don't forget to take extra batteries & memory cards! We are the only boat with photographically experienced crew onboard!

Please note this is a wildlife photography tour & does not include the full itinerary of other daily tours - we take you straight to the Noss cliffs to maximise your time with seabirds on the cliffs and in the water in the beautiful early morning light conditions.

THE NOSS BOAT - SHETLAND SEABIRD TOURS

The ultimate Shetland wildlife & photography boat tour experience with Shetland’s only true naturalist led, carbon neutral, multi-award winning boat tour company. Come & join us for a real 'Gannets Eye View' & see why we are the No.1 boat of choice for major film crews, groups, photographers, families & all who have made us a top Shetland visitor attraction experience. Run by local couple Phil Harris & Rebecca Nason, passionate bird & nature lovers with a wealth of marine wildlife experience, & sea-faring experience. We deliver only the very best in customer service!

DOUBLE FINALISTS: BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION EXPERIENCE & BEST OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards 2024

VIBES: SCOTTISH ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS AWARDS "Vision in Small Business" FINALISTS 2024

BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION EXPERIENCE Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards 2022

Best Wildlife Boat Tour Company 2023 - N Scotland Scottish Enterprise Awards

Boat Tour Operator of the Year 2023/4 Scotland - Prestige Awards

Wildlife Tour Company of the Year 2022 & 2024 - Travel & Hospitality Awards Scotland

TRIPADVISOR - Traveller's Choice Awards every year 2016-2025 & 5 STAR REVIEWS

1 of TOP 10 UK BOAT TOURS The Guardian 2023.

TOP 7 BOAT TOURS IN THE UK - The Times 2024

• The Noss Boat wildlife tour will include an incredible gannet diving feeding frenzy, our unique speciality, as used by photographers & film crews from all over the world. The photographic opportunities are second to none - you can enjoy your very own "Attenborough Moment" whether using professional gear or simply using your phones! We give you as much time actually with the wildlife as we possibly can during your tour.

• You’ll see one of Europe’s finest wildlife spectacles, the sight & sound of over 25,000 northern gannets lining the towering sandstone cliffs of Noss & swirling around the skies above us. 

• You will be guided by our highly experienced skipper & professional naturalist Phil Harris, with live, fun and engaging commentary given throughout your tour suited to all ages. Phil loves nothing more than to be quizzed on his ornithological knowledge, so don’t hold back with any questions!

• You will travel through some of the richest marine environments on Shetland, around Noss National Nature Reserve & Bressay, surrounded by thousands of seabirds, from 25,000 gannets, to atlantic puffin, razorbill, common guillemot, black guillemot, great skua, kittiwake & shag. 

• You’ll see close, inquisitive grey seals, which have been following fishing boats through Lerwick harbour for decades, as well as pass slowly by some of Shetland’s iconic landmarks & striking local geology. We are delighted to be Geopark partners (2017-2025), sharing local geological knowledge with all. We also share stories & local tales along the way giving each tour a little taster of Shetland's rich cultural heritage.

• We are always on the lookout for whales too. With increasing sightings of Orca in Shetland waters, we hope to be able to shout ‘whale!’ during your Noss boat tour. Certainly if they are in the area, you could be on no better boat & with no better guide than "Spotter Harris" to experience these ultimate marine mammals. We are also seeing Risso's Dolphin, Minke Whale & even Basking Sharks with increasing regularity.

• Our boat is a fabulous 11.5 metre Redbay twin engine boat, designed & built for wildlife watching at sea & perfect for Shetland waters. Uniquely on Shetland, our boat has 12 new, comfortable upholstered padded seats with backrests for all passengers as well as a large decking area for unrestricted 360º panoramic viewing & photography. 

• There is a TOILET below deck for peace of mind whilst out on the sea & we provide 12 fabulous new Opticron wildlife watching binoculars (sponsored by OPTICRON) & seabird and cetacean identification charts for all during the tour (in 5 languages!). 

• Young children are given a free, carefully sourced ORIGINAL NOSS BOAT eco-gift bag whilst onboard (worth £10) & we have a range of bespoke Noss Boat clothing & merchandise available for adults & children onboard (see online or on the shop leaflets in each seat pocket). We were the 1st boat tour to offer an online shop & onboard shop.

• We work with many local partners & support local businesses. We have with teamed up with the Peerie Shop Cafe, Lerwick to offer all our passengers a discount card for 10% off a hot drink or mug of soup post tour.

• We look forward to welcoming you aboard. Come & see why we offer the best boat, the best wildlife experience, the best guides & of course, the best value for money. To avoid disappointment during our busiest times, please do book in advance via our website booking system, email, or call us.