Daily Wildlife Noss Boat Tours
+44 (O) 7595540224
Daily Wildlife Noss Boat Tours+44 (O) 7595540224
Winning Best Visitor Attraction at the 2026 Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards was already a lovely way to round off our season. Hearing that our win had been recognised in a motion tabled in the House of Commons came as a welcome surprise. It means a great deal to both of us to see Seabirds-and-Seals – The Noss Boat still going from strength to strength, 34 years after the business was established in 1992.
Alistair Carmichael MP tabled Early Day Motion 1026 to congratulate all three Shetland winners at this year’s awards. Congratulations to our fellow winners, Celia Smith of Blyde Welcome and Shetland Seabird Tours. It’s lovely to see all three of us recognised together and to have Shetland tourism celebrated at Westminster.
Often called the Oscars of Scottish tourism, the Thistle Awards bring together businesses from across the industry. We were one of three finalists for Best Visitor Attraction, with another local boat tour company also on the shortlist. We were delighted to win the award for a second time, following our double win in 2023 when we took home both Best Visitor Attraction and Inclusive Tourism.
A special thank you to Karen and John of No.88 Kitchen & Bar, one of our favourite places to dine in Lerwick. We’d run our final tours of the season the day before the ceremony and couldn’t make it, so Karen kindly collected the award on our behalf. She then joined us at our end-of-season gathering in Lerwick to present it to us in person and raise a glass with us. No.88 was itself highly commended in the Best Eatery Experience category in 2022, and it was lovely to share the celebration with Karen.
Thank you to Alistair for putting forward the motion and recognising what Shetland’s tourism businesses contribute to the islands. A big thank you, too, to our guests, our crew and everyone who has supported us over the years. It was lovely to celebrate with Marvyn, our relief skipper, who often takes the helm on our evening tours and plays an important role in the business.
As Seabirds-and-Seals marks 35 years in 2027, we’re looking forward to welcoming familiar faces and first-time visitors aboard The Noss Boat. We love sharing the wonders of Bressay and Noss, from the geology of the cliffs and sea caves to the history and folklore of the islands. Our spacious open viewing platform gives you room to take in the awe-inspiring sights and sounds of the cliffs at Noss, with plenty of opportunities to photograph the incredible wildlife we encounter along the way.
Marie & Brian
Seabirds-and-Seals – The Noss Boat
