All Aboard
Discover the many fascinating sights of the Caithness coast on an exhilarating boat tour
THE beautiful and rugged coast of Scotland’s North East is its greatest asset. In Caithness you are spoiled with breathtaking sea views, its coastline dotted with dramatic cliffs, castles and caves.
The only thing to rival the impressive views, is getting out onto the water. Starting from Wick Harbour, Caithness Seacoast has been running tours of the coastal highlights since 2008.
Retiring after more than 25 years as a captain in the Merchant Navy, Wick local William Munro soon felt the itch to get back to sea. William and his wife Adelaine bought a 10-metre (33 feet) Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) and started offering tours.
“Our RIB, the Geo Explorer is a speedy twin engine boat that will zoom you across the waters of the North Sea,” says William.
“On the tours you can see castles, lighthouses, caves, arches, stacks and harbours built during the herring days. The famous Whaligoe Steps and Haven is firm favourite.
“Another huge attraction is the variety of marine wildlife, especially the seasonal bird colonies of puffin, guillemot, razorbill, tern and kittiwake. Lucky visitors might even spot dolphins or the rare orca!”
William offers a huge variety of tours to suit everyone’s interests and schedules. Trips vary from a half-hour zip around Wick Bay to a three-hour excursion to the picturesque village of Lybster. Along the way you can expect to see fascinating historical landmarks, beautiful scenery and intriguing geological structures.
The trips are suitable for all ages; cutting through the water at speed, bouncing over waves and twisting through caves makes for a hair-raising adventure. If you fancy a slower pace, gentler tours lead you along Wick’s coastline, with a local historical commentary from William himself. From the striking ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe to the echoing Cathedral Cave, from colourful puffins to majestic dolphins, there is really no better way to take in the sights of Caithness than by boat.
With the added excitement of the RIB’S speed and William’s local knowledge and expertise, a tour with Caithness Seacoast should not be missed!