Forth Boat Tours
BEST FOR
Ages 0-15
WHERE
South Queensferry
What it’s like
Sail under all three Forth bridges on a 90 minute cruise, or push further out to Inchcolm Island or Blackness Castle.
The bread and butter trip here is the 90 minute sightseeing cruise, out on the water and under all three Forth bridges, which beats craning your neck at them from the shore. If that's not enough boat for one day, there's the Inchcolm Island Cruise and the Blackness Castle Cruise, both giving you an actual destination rather than a loop out and back. There's also a Friday night Fish 'n' Chips Cruise and a Boogie on the Boat Cruise with two hours of music and dancing, which sounds like more fun for the grown-ups but older kids would probably get into it too.
Under-5s go free, and kids from 5 to 15 get a reduced ticket, so a family trip doesn't sting as much as you might expect for a boat outing. There are toilets on board, which matters more than it sounds once you're an hour into a cruise with a small child. Food is available on board too, though what's actually on offer isn't spelled out anywhere.
Booking ahead is recommended rather than optional in practice, since there's no way to grab a seat online at short notice. Dogs are allowed for £1 a head, so the family dog can come along if that's part of the plan. They sail all year, closing only for Christmas Eve through to New Year's Eve.
Worth knowing before you book with a wheelchair user in the group: the fleet isn't designed for disabled access. There's a ramp to the rear deck and covered salon, but it only works at certain tide heights and you need to give notice. There's no disabled toilet on board, and Inchcolm Island itself isn't accessible for wheelchairs at all.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 15; under-5s sail free but need patience for 90 minutes on water
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended to avoid disappointment
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair ramp at certain tide heights to rear deck and covered salon
- Dogs
- Pets allowed on board for £1 per pet
- Worth knowing
- Kids under 5 go free
- They sail year round, closing only Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve
- The Boogie on the Boat Cruise runs two hours of music and dancing rather than sightseeing
- Give the crew advance notice if you'll need the wheelchair ramp
- Under-5s go free on every cruise
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Under-5s sail free. Kids from 5 to 15 get a reduced ticket, with full price for adults.
Do we need to book ahead?
Yes, advance booking is recommended to avoid disappointment, and there's no online booking link listed so you'll want to sort it directly.
Is there food on board?
You can get something to eat on the boat, though what's on the menu isn't detailed.
Are there toilets on the boat?
There are toilets on board for the 90 minute cruises.
Can we bring the dog?
Pets are welcome on board for £1 each.
Is it accessible for wheelchair users?
The fleet isn't specifically designed for wheelchair access. There's a ramp to the rear deck and covered salon that only works at certain tide heights and needs advance notice, and there's no disabled toilet on board. Inchcolm Island itself isn't accessible for wheelchairs.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Steam Railways & Boat Trips in Edinburgh · Things to do in Edinburgh
MAKE A DAY OF IT
