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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Boat trips off the scottish highlands

21 replies

twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 20:10

We are on holiday in the scottish highlands next week and I was thinking of booking a boat trip to see the doplpins/ seals etc. Will we be too early to see anything though? I donlt want to take dd on a boat trip if she stands little chance of seeing anything.

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Wallace · 04/04/2006 20:16

I'm planning to do this with ds and dd. I think I will tell them we are going on a boat trip, and if we are lucky, we might see dolphins.

A friend of mine lives on hte coast of the moray firth, and saw some from the beach a few weeks ago.

Whereabouts are you going?

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 20:25

The boat trips are off Moray Firth so that is promising. I have told her we may see something, but to a four year old - or my four year old - may means you will! Grin

We have booked a cottage at Port Appin but we are doing quite a bit of driving about - and of course planning to visit Tobermory -dd is so excited.

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Skribble · 04/04/2006 22:32

\link{http://www.whalewatchingtrips.co.uk/cost.htm\Whale watching off Mull}. They don't recomend for under 10 years though.
\link{http://www.sealifesurveys.com/EZEdit/view.asp?MID=53\Sea Life Surveys}, out of Tobermory, they have shorter trips which they suit toddlers}
\link{http://www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk/whales_dolphins/go-whale-watching.asp\More her scroll down for various companies.}

Skribble · 04/04/2006 22:34

I meant to say a trip out of Tobermory might be good as you will get a good veiw of the Village and there might not be much else to do there apart from wander up the street and visit the craft shop and tea rooms Grin. Unless they are filming I suppose.

Pruni · 04/04/2006 22:36

Moray Firth a long way from Tobermory though...
My granny lives on the Moray Firth and regularly sees dolphins, seals and porpoises.

Skribble · 04/04/2006 22:38

I suggested Tobermory as twinset was heading there anyway. We see lots of Seals and even dolphins down in ayrshire too Grin.

KBear · 04/04/2006 22:38

If you are staying at Port Appin it's only about a half an hour drive to the Sea Life Centre at Oban. Your dd will love it - the seals are great. My kids are 7 and 4 and we've been a couple of times. Can't recommend boat trips as I haven't been on one myself yet but I know there are trips out of Fort William.

Seven weeks until we go ourselves!

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 22:38

thanks for that skribble, Balamory has finished so they won't be filming.

We did think of a trip from Tobermory but I was put off as it is costing us so much to get on the isle of Mull as we are stopping on the mainland. We had got round this as we are driving to Kilchaon leaving the car and going over as foot passengers into Tobermory.

But as you say we could use time on that day to also do a boat trip so we only need to go on a trip to the island once and it will save us the two hour drive for the boat trip to Moray Firth.

Will check out your links.

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KBear · 04/04/2006 22:39

Pruni - I want a granny that lives in Scotland - can I borrow yours?

Skribble · 04/04/2006 22:41

Agree car prices are a bit steep with Calmac, great if you can go on foot, an hours trip would still give plenty time to spot locations and sample the homebaking in the tearooms.

Pruni · 04/04/2006 22:43

Oi hands off me gran!
(She is a totally stereotypical Scottish granny, she's lovely.)

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 22:45

WE did think about the sealife centre, but we have one hear in Blackpool that we have membership to so can get in free. But we don;t have selas at ours so maybe that would be an idea. thanks

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KBear · 04/04/2006 22:45

We went as foot passengers from Oban to Mull and got on a coach at the other end which took us to Tobermory. It wasn't booked, we just turned up and got on! Very cheap way to do it and better than taking the car if you're just going to Tobermorey.

We were lucky enough to see them filming so there was lots of excitement for my kids but actually there wasn't a whole lot else for them there.

Must mention that the most FANTASTIC fish and chips I ever ate were bought from the chippy by the monument on the harbour!

KBear · 04/04/2006 22:46

Tobermorey Tourist Board were very helpful when I called them.

KBear · 04/04/2006 22:47

Pruni - does she make fudge? All Scottish grannies must make fudge. (Orkney fudge being my favourite but no granny in Orkney unfortunately).

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 23:09

Have emailed \link{http://www.turusmara.com/timetable.html\these} about their staffa cruise leaving at 11.30 just after our ferry from Kilchaon gets in, we then have some time after the boat trip to check out the residences of Miss Hoolie et al!

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 23:13

I wil check that out as well Kbear as the drice from Appin to Kilchoan is alomst an hour and a half, but we were doing it to save having to pay for the car on the ferry, as well as thinking that dd would be very excited to sail into Tobermory itself. But I am aware that dp is ahving to do a lot of driving on this holiday so if I could spare him for a day he would appreciate it!

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 23:18

Kbear have checked out the sealife centre web page and it looks fab and very different from our sea life centre so am adding it to our growing list of activities! Thanks for that.

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Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 04/04/2006 23:21

and it is 8 miles from our cottage - to dp relief!

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Wallace · 05/04/2006 08:41

\link{http://www.landmark-centre.co.uk/\Landmark Forest Theme Park} is worth a vist. Is quite expensive though.

Original poster
twinsetandpearls · 06/04/2006 14:26

It is already on our list after reading about it in another mumsnet thread.

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