GRASSHOLM AND THE CELTIC DEEP BOAT TRIP
Visit the most remote of the Pembrokeshire islands in search of seabirds, whales and dolphins.
Visit the most remote of the Pembrokeshire islands in search of seabirds, whales and dolphins.
This expedition will take you to the most remote of the Pembrokeshire islands, the offshore reefs and edges of the Celtic Deep. Usually, this trip will run regularly from mid May to the end of September.
If you would like to take a tour outside these dates, please get in touch with us before booking.
Join us on an expedition to the most remote of the Pembrokeshire islands, the offshore reefs and edges of the Celtic Deep. On this voyage we will encounter over 80,000 Gannets, Britain’s largest and most majestic seabird, before we begin our search for Porpoise, Whales and Dolphins.
Who is the trip suitable for?
Due to the extended length of the trip and the fact that we may be up to 20 miles offshore, there is an age limit of 8 years or over. If you book a private charter the age limit is negotiable as the trip can be adjusted to your requirements.
Unfortunately we do not allow dogs on our Grassholm trip – we do however, have the details of a local dog sitter available upon request.
At Grassholm Island, home of the Gannet colony, you will be immersed in a sensory experience as thousands of Gannets circle overhead. Your ears will be filled with the constant squabble of the birds and your nose will be in for a treat!
Cetacean (whale, dolphin and porpoise) species we often encounter are Harbour porpoise, Common dolphin, which are very curious creatures and will often interact with the boat, and the mysterious Risso’s dolphin.
On rarer occasions, species such as Pilot and Minke whale, Orca, Sei and Fin whale, Sunfish, Basking shark and Leatherback turtle are sighted in our waters. Last year we even spotted a Humpback whale, a first for Pembrokeshire!
The Celtic Deep is an important area of ocean frontal activity in the summer with large aggregations of copepods recorded and it’s these tiny plankton in the nutrient rich waters which make it such a good foraging ground for both marine mammals and birds.
Depending on weather conditions and sightings, we may venture out as far as the Smalls Lighthouse. This, the most remote of Britain’s lighthouses, is steeped in history with tales of messages in bottles, Viking wrecks and darker stories of disaster.
We drifted into the fast-flowing Ramsey Sound with engines off while Harbour Porpoises flashed past then headed out towards the Gannet colony at Grassholm We were asked to keep an eye out for any fins or bird activity and were hugely lucky to spot a Humped Backed Whale (!). Ffion was hugely knowledgeable about this species despite the sighting being very rare. She was also keen to pass on her knowledge about the environmental issues affecting the local Sealife. On our return from the magnificent Grassholm we stopped to admire a Sun Fish but most memorably for me was a passing Guillemot floating by with his chick – they will have braved predators on a shallow cliff ledge on Ramsay Island and the chick will have taken a leap into the water without being able to fly. We would still have enjoyed the trip however without any of these extraordinary sightings.
We went on 2 trips in mid July- the grasshholm/ dolphin safari and a sunset trip out to the Bishops. . Brilliant views of dolphins( common, and briefly, Risso’s), porpoise sightings and fabulous abundant bird life . Small modern rib boat made viewing easy . Big shout out to the crew for being so knowledgable and also respectful of the wildlife. Wrap up warm, even if it’s a hot day . We had a brilliant time- thanks !!
We have been taking boats trips off Pembrokeshire for decades and have used most of the various operators and found them all consistently very good. Always the highlight of a holiday. Falcon Boats led by Ffion stands out. The experience, knowledge and enthusiasm of the Falcon team always shines through to provide a special experience. We will be booking again.
Outstanding trip to Grassholm and Celts deep. Knowledgeable captain and crew, care and respect for wildlife. Amazing views of dolphins, gannets porpoise and so much more.
