forth belle boat tours

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Inchcolm Island – Cruising the River Forth on the Forth Belle

A fine day for a cruise on the forth belle.

A trip to Inchcolm Island on the Forth Belle was a return journey we’d been meaning to take for a while, and with our Historic Scotland Membership we added a landing on Inchcolm Island to explore and enjoy the views.

How to get there:

We chose to travel by car to South Queensferry, however there are regular buses leaving from Waverley Bridge. Just look for the Forth Bridges Tour . There are also regular Lothian Country Buses 43 departing from St Andrew Square to South Queensferry or train from Waverley alighting at Dalmeny station.

Inchcolm Island Tour

The Forth Belle departs from Hawes Pier, and you can take a sail on the Forth for views to Fife, Edinburgh and the 3 Forth Bridges, or opt to pay a small additional fee to Historic Scotland to land on Inchcolm Island to explore the historic Inchcolm Abbey, wartime fortifications and to see wildlife on and around the island.

Inchcolm Island

Eat at the Rail Bridge Bistro

Day Trips from Edinburgh:

If you are looking for more ideas for day trips from Edinburgh we recommend you read our blogs

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A Visit to Rosslyn Chapel and Roslin Glen location for Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code

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FORTH BOAT TOURS (East Linton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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Forth Boat Tours

Sightseeing boat tours of the Firth of Forth and the world-famous Forth Bridges. Daily sailings from Queensferry

Join Forth Tours on a boat tour on board one of their fleet of superb vessels. Our boat tours depart from South Queensferry,  which is only a short distance from Scotland's bustling Capital City of Edinburgh.

The tour includes magnificent views of the new Queensferry Crossing, opened in September 2017, the bridge is 2.7 kilometres (1.7 miles); at opening, it is the longest triple tower cable-stayed bridge in the world and is the tallest bridge in the UK. Standing alongside is the Forth Road Bridge and the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Forth Railway Bridge.

In addition, take in the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline, the Kingdom of Fife and the historic island of Inchcolm with its medieval abbey.  As part of the tour we stop at the island to drop off and pick up visitors.

For your comfort relax onboard in the heated observation lounge or on the outside decks and listen to the guided commentary while you enjoy a drink from the bar.

During your tour, you will find plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of marine wildlife including seabirds, porpoises and seals.

Tour Duration

Tour departure point.

• Departs from Edinburgh

Transport and Parking

• On Public Transport Route
• Coach Parking
• Public Parking Nearby

Accessibility

• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Partially suitable for visitors with limited mobility
• Licensed Bar
• Cafe or Restaurant

Payment Methods

• Credit Card
• Coastal Location
• Sea/Loch View

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Tours/Charters/Boat Services

Calypso marine.

Calypso Marine provides safe, rapid boat services on the Firth of Forth to both private and commercial clients. It offers safety and standby boats, as well as personnel/crew transfers and store runs.

Edinburgh Boat Charters

Edinburgh Boat Charters offer skippered sailing experiences on the Firth of Forth on their luxury yachts. In addition to their scheduled trips, they offer private and corporate charters, with their luxury catamaran proving a popular choice for these special occasions. Larger groups can be accommodated for on multiple yachts and high-speed RIBs.

Edinburgh Marine Academy

Edinburgh Marine Academy offer a variety of bespoke and personalised RIB trips from Port Edgar marina, ranging from Learn to Drive Experiences, Tours of the Three Bridges and the Islands of the Firth of Forth , and longer trips to North Berwick, Elie, and Dunbar. All experiences will be taken in our brand new state of the art RIBs, and your personal Skipper will be exceptionally trained and knowledgeable about the area. Trips can be booked over the phone or pop in the Edinburgh Marine Academy Office in the Marina to have a chat with our team and to take a look at our boats. We specialise in small groups and personal charter, but can cater for groups of up to 20 for larger events such as corporate days or birthday parties.

[email protected] 07485 184 571

Forth Boat Tours

Forth Boat Tours offer sightseeing tours in the Firth of Forth aboard the Forth Belle which can carry up to 215 passengers and boasts a glass-roofed heated observation lounge with seating for up to 100 passengers.

Maid of the Forth

Maid of the Forth offer sightseeing boat trips which provide unrivalled views of the magnificent Forth Bridges and onto Inchcolm Island. The Maid of the Forth is also available for charter for private events.

Seafari Adventures

Seafari Adventures offer high speed, wildlife watching boat trips from Port Edgar around the Forth Bridges and to Inchcolm and Inchmickery Islands.

Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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• Three Bridges Cruise
• Inchcolm Island Cruise
• Blackness Castle Cruise
• Forth Valley Pass
• The Falkirk Wheel Cruise
• Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway Cruise
• Hopetoun House Cruise
• Stirling Old Town Jail Cruise
• New Lanark Heritage Site Cruise
• Vintage Bus & Train Experience
• Coaches & Tours
• Private Boat Charter
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Inchcolm Island Cruise Explore the island

• Our Cruises

Relax onboard our Inchcolm Island Cruise with friends and family and listen to the guided commentary while you enjoy a beverage or snack from the bar.

Take in the spectacular views of Inchcolm Island, the Three Bridges, the beautiful panoramas of the Edinburgh skyline to the south and the Kingdom of Fife to the north, the island of Inchcolm with its medieval abbey, and the islands of Inchgarvie, Inchkeith, and Inchmickery.

And don’t forget to look out for the marine wildlife including seals and puffins!

Explore the island’s historic Abbey

The ‘Iona of the east’ one of the best-preserved group of monastic buildings in Scotland. The Island is also a haven for wildlife and is well-known for its wartime coastal defences.

(You must purchase a landing pass to land on Inchcolm Island. You will be on the island for a minimum of 90-minutes)

Wildlife & the sights!

On your Three Bridges Cruise look out for the marine wildlife including many seabirds, seals, puffins, and watch out for the occasional porpoise.

Guests are welcome to enjoy the sea breeze and views from the outside decks. If the weather is less inviting, the observation lounge has fantastic views. A guided commentary means you won’t miss a thing wherever you sit. And, of course, you will get to see the Three Bridges as you have never seen them before.

Make a day of it! – View all

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Hawes Pier South Queensferry, EH30 9TB OR Port Edgar Marina South Queensferry, EH30 9SQ

Please check our timetable to confirm departure point

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SOOTHING AND RELAXING - Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre

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• Capital River Boat Tours - Moscow Centre

great boat day trip, we enjoy beautiful view along the river with a bottle of Prosecco and meals... read more

See the beauty of Moscow by boat at morning to night. Was nice to see the scene in different angle... read more

SOOTHING AND RELAXING

The Moscow River cruise on the very first day of our arrival in Moscow transported us into the realm of great views on both the sides of the river. The river is not very broad but the views on both the sides give us a glimpse of the vast expanse of open spaces on both the sides. A rich display of historical buildings on both the sides makes us impatient for viewing them from inside at the earliest. It is a well-organized cruise and plenty of food and drinks are available on board, of course, on additional payment. The boat is quite big and has enough space to move around. I enjoyed mingling with the local residents who are very friendly and supportive.

Dear sudershan s! Thank you very much for your review and good recommendations for our foreign guests. We are very glad that you enjoyed the river trip and Moscow views form the board. The river tours are really unforgettable as in day time and in the evenings.

Moscow certainly a HUG & BEAUTIFUL country. Go to River Boat Tours you can enjoy them more, specially at night. Moscow is a SAFE and very Clean country, you can have a peaceful mine to enjoy their beautiful country

Dear tekisui h! Thank you for your review. You are right, that the Moscow visitors can see the city's best views from the boat and take the best pictures ever. Welcome to Moscow, discover it with Capital River Boat Tours!

IT was quite relaxing to sit outside in the fine weather on this Moscow river boat. Before that though we and also elderly people with walking aids had to stand and wait for 45 minutes before they let Us aboard. So its not correct that the boats leave Every 20 minutes as they claim in the advertisement. There was a guide speaking in a loudspeaker but only in rushian. The trip was though quite relaxing and you could se some parts of the city from another perspective

This is a great way to see the city. You great views of the city especially the Kremlin Just make sure you wear warm clothes as it can be cold on the water, even in summer..

I was upset with this company service and thus cannot recommend it. We bought 3 tickets for round trip at Kievskaya ticket-office at about 18:30 on the 25th August 2015 and after one minute realized that we would need one-way tickets only (Kievskaya-Proletarskaya) instead of round trip. The cashier refused to refund the tickets even though there were still 20 minutes left till the ship's depature and she could sell our tickets to people who opted for round trip..So we lost 2100 rubles (700rublesX3) and had to buy new tickets for 1,5 hour trip. Really strange unexeptable practice. Hope they will better their service in future...

One of the best ways to explore Moscow is by boat. I prefer this company to the more fancy Raddison boats, because it has a charm. You see most of the interesting Moscow sites from it.