This popular 3 hour tour allows passengers the opportunity to get up close to the world’s 3rd largest whirlpool from the safety of an open RIB. We try to ensure that departure timings are relevant to witnessing the best effect linked to the current tide table. However, there may be times when you will not see the whirlpool at its best as it only happens about 50 times per season. (Photo: The Corryvreckan Whirlpool © Copyright Walter Baxter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)
The whirlpool is caused by a large volume of water travelling northward along the narrowing channel called the Sound of Jura and as it gets squeezed it takes the easiest escape route which is the mile wide gap between Jura and Scarba called the Gulf of Corryvreckan. As the water flows west it encounters various obstructions and there are 2 that cause the most dramatic change in water state and that is a 219m hole (or two St Pauls Cathedrals) and a large pinnacle of basalt rock standing some 130m on the northwest side of the Gulf. When the water passes over these impressive areas of topography it gathers speed and on contacting the pinnacle you witness the whirlpool effect.
On this tour you will also see an active nesting site for White Tailed Sea Eagles and the legendary Barnhill where George Orwell wrote his best seller 1984.
Prices
Adult: £70 | Child (under 16): £40Times
Sunday 1300 - 1600 | Tuesday 0900 - 1200 | Thursday 0900 - 1200Please allow 15 minutes prior to departure time for the fitment of a lifejacket, waterproofs and the mandatory safety brief. Meet at the pontoon opposite the shop.
Please note: In order to improve the chances of seeing the whirlpool at its best, some of our tours take place at times differing from the ones stated.
Please contact us for the best timings for a specific month.
Availability 2025
| Date Number of free places | Places still available | Cancelled | Fully booked |
| Sunday 1300 - 1600* | 18 May 12 | 25 May 12 | 1 Jun 12 | 8 Jun 12 | 15 Jun 12 | 22 Jun 12 | 29 Jun 12 | 6 Jul 12 | 13 Jul 12 | 20 Jul 12 | 27 Jul 12 | 3 Aug 12 | 10 Aug 12 | 17 Aug 12 | 24 Aug 12 | 31 Aug 12 | 7 Sep 12 | 14 Sep 12 | 21 Sep 12 | 28 Sep 12 |
| Tuesday 0900 - 1200* | 20 May 12 | 27 May 12 | 3 Jun 12 | 10 Jun 12 | 17 Jun 12 | 24 Jun 12 | 1 Jul 12 | 8 Jul 12 | 15 Jul 12 | 22 Jul 12 | 29 Jul 12 | 5 Aug 12 | 12 Aug 12 | 19 Aug 12 | 26 Aug 12 | 2 Sep 12 | 9 Sep 12 | 16 Sep 12 | 23 Sep 12 | 30 Sep 12 |
| Thursday 0900 - 1200* | 22 May 12 | 29 May 12 | 5 Jun 12 | 12 Jun 12 | 19 Jun 12 | 26 Jun 12 | 3 Jul 12 | 10 Jul 12 | 17 Jul 12 | 24 Jul 12 | 31 Jul 12 | 7 Aug 12 | 14 Aug 12 | 21 Aug 12 | 28 Aug 12 | 4 Sep 12 | 11 Sep 12 | 18 Sep 12 | 25 Sep 12 |
