corryvreckan trip

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Corryvreckan Trip

Adult: £105 / Child: £105

April – September (On days coinciding with the Spring Tides)

Port Askaig, PA46 7RB

The Corryvreckan Whirlpool or ‘Scotland’s Maelstrom’ is located in the Gulf of Corryvreckan, a narrow strait situated between the islands of Jura and Scarba. It is a tidal phenomenon and is caused by a large volume of tidal water travelling through the Sound of Jura. The passage narrows, so the water takes the easiest escape route through the Gulf. As the water travels it encounters two major obstructions that cause a change in water state. One is a 219m hole and the other is a large pinnacle of basalt rock that is 130m high. When the water passes over these impressive areas of topography it gathers speed and once at the pinnacle you may witness the whirlpool effect.

As well as visiting Corryvreckan, you may also witness a variety of wildlife on route and hear tales of the Corryvreckan from our skippers.

This trip departs from Port Askaig and takes around 3-3.5 hours to complete. As the Corryvreckan Whirlpool is a tidal event this trip will only run on certain days and times during each month, coinciding with the Spring tides when the tidal range is greatest. Availability will be shown on our booking system. However, weather conditions can become unsuitable, and we will keep you updated if we need to cancel/ rearrange a trip via text, phone call or email.

Please bring warm clothing as it can get chilly out on the water even if the sun is shining. This trip is longer than our regular wildlife and fishing trips, so please remember to bring lots of layers and refreshments if you think you will need them.

For our Corryvreckan trip, we depart from Port Askaig. There is no pontoon here meaning that access to the boats is not wheelchair accessible. We apologise for this. For this trip, all passengers must have a reasonable amount of mobility to be able to get onto the boats safely, often our RIBS rather than hard boats. If you have any questions regarding access, please feel free to contact us directly or take a look at our accessibility policy .

07976 280195

• Corryvreckan

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 .

Availability 2024

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Corryvreckan Wildlife Cruise (3 & 4 hours)

Our most popular trips, perfect for all ages, taking in spectacular scenery and a stunning variety of wildlife. The 4 hour trips range further and allow for more encounters!

From £52 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

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Tour information.

½ Day

• Small Group (1-16)
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From £52 Per Adult £49 Per Child

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Tour company information

Sealife adventures.

Experience wildlife and whale watching boat trips in one of the longest protected areas in Scotland, including the famous Corryvreckan whirlpool. Cruises depart from Seil, near Oban - All ages welcome! The local Special Area of Conservation is one of the best protected areas in Scotland and a hotspot for sightings of porpoise, minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters and seals. The uninhabited islands and dramatic sea cliffs are also home to sea eagles, golden eagles, puffins and a great variety of seabirds. 5* TripAdvisor -Sealife Adventures- https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/

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Opening times

2018 OPENING TIMES: 1 Jan 2018 - 31 Dec 2018

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Corryvreckan Whirlpool boat trips

📌 Various departure points, Argyll & Bute / Isle of Jura ★★★★

Scotland’s coastal waters have been famed and feared since Viking times for their unpredictable currents, tides and weather conditions. One of the most unusual spots is at the fantastically-named Gulf of Corryvreckan: the channel between the islands of Scarba and Jura. Unusual submarine topography – an underwater cliff between a deep ravine and a pyramidal pinnacle – combined with tides racing out of the sounds and sea lochs east of Jura has created the world’s third largest whirlpool. It presents itself as a foaming mass of currents and standing waves during spring tides, and as an area of uneasy eddies and swell even during neap tides. The maelstrom is said to be audible from up to 10 miles distant when at its angriest – and indeed, we were once able to hear it from several miles away in the hills above Crinan . Our photos show the gulf at its calmest – but a trip is well worthwhile no matter the sea conditions, not least because of the seals, porpoises, seabirds and other wildlife you’re likely to encounter on the way there. We loved our tour out of Ardfern with Craignish Cruises, but several other operators are available.

📌 Corryvreckan Whirlpool is at the Gulf of Corryvreckan between the islands of Scarba & Jura – see below for trip departure points 🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NM 687021 🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.155818,-5.726247

💬 Passenger ferries depart from several locations including Ardfern (Craignish Cruises – temporarily closed at time of update in April 2023 | 🔗 craignishcruises.co.uk ), Craighouse, Jura (Jura Boat Tours | 🔗 juraboattours.co.uk ), Crinan (Venture West | 🔗 venture-west.co.uk ) & Ellenabeich (Seafari Adventures | 🔗 seafari.co.uk )

🚌 Infrequent bus to Ardfern / Craighouse / Crinan / Ellenabeich | 🚢 Craighouse 🚗 Parking available at all departure points

⌚🎫 Check dates, times & prices with individual providers

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Corryvreckan wildlife boat trip

The trip begins at Easdale pier, south of Oban , where you’ll begin with a safety briefing on shore and be kitted out with a waterproof jacket and trousers, a lifejacket and a pair of binoculars. Tours take place on an open rigid-hulled inflatable boat with space for 12 passengers, each with their own seat

You’ll set off in the direction of Jura to the south. The boat can travel quite fast so the boat ride is quite thrilling in its own right, but the skipper will slow down as you approach some of the smaller Inner Hebridean Islands so you can observe the deer and feral goats. The guides are good at pointing out wildlife and you’re also likely to spot seals, otters and plenty of seabirds and possibly frisking pods of dolphins as well as white-tailed eagles.

Soon you’ll reach the Grey Dogs, the narrow channel of water between Lunga and Scarba which is notorious for its tidal races. During a spring tide, there’s an obvious difference between the water level on the ocean side of the islands and that on the inner sound.

From here, you’ll head to the Gulf of Corryvreckan, the narrow channel of water between Scarba and Jura. Strong currents from the Atlantic rush through the narrow gulf and meet a tall pinnacle of rock rising from the depths which can generate waves of up to 9 m (30 ft) during high tides. Under the right conditions, the swell creates the whirlpool and the fast-moving waters attract a vast array of wildlife to the area including minke whales, porpoises, seals and basking sharks.

If safe to do so, the boat will enter the whirlpool so that passengers can feel the force of the swirling water below them before heading back toward Easdale. The trip takes around two hours in total and we recommend bringing lots of warm layers because the boat travels quickly out on open water and can generate a cool wind even on warm days.

Start planning your tailor-made trip by contacting one of our Scotland specialists

• 617-223-4521 617-223-4752
• Make an inquiry

Photos of Corryvreckan wildlife boat trip

Other experiences in Oban

These activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences around where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can suggest tours and activities that will introduce you to the local ways of life.

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Explore the castles and fortifications of Scotland’s west coast on this full-day, private guided tour which takes in an Iron Age fortification, a ruined medieval castle and an extravagant 18th-century mansion set on the shore of the country’s longest sea loch.

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Isle of Jura Scotland

The Scottish Isle of Jura off the west coast of Scotland

Visiting The Corryvreckan Whirlpool from Jura

March 2, 2017 by Ron 5 Comments

Although Corryvreckan is in the north of Jura it can still be quite an undertaking to visit it as there is no road going there. If you do want to make it on foot you’ll have to drive or take a bus to the end of the “ Long Road “, the one road on Jura, to “Road End”, around half a mile after Lealt, where you’ll find a small car park and, a wee bit further, a chain over the road with padlock. From here on it’s a long walk to reach the north of Jura. The nearest cottage is Barnhill, which is 4 miles, Kinuachdrachd is 5 miles and Corryvreckan itself is a 7 mile walk. If this is too far, and it probably is for most, you might want to arrange 4-wheel drive transportation with one of the estates or ask Alex for advice.

If you can’t arrange a drive and walking is not your thing you might want to arrange another form of transportation to Corryvreckan. The most obvious one being a boat. There are a few choices here. You can get in touch with Venture West, they run regular trips from Crinan on the mainland to Corryvreckan. They also offer sea taxi pickup and drop off at various points on Jura upon request. For more info visit their website www.venture-west.co.uk

Reader Interactions

March 3, 2017 at 10:58 am

Thanks very much for that information and photographs. I would like to hear from you more often. On Oct1st 2016 i was privileged to capture images of 2 of the Paps of Jura from here on the north coast of Ireland. It was a wonderful experience for me. Thanks Paul Minihan.

June 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm

Ron, Wondering how to get in touch with the estates to arrange for a look at Corryvreckan. We’re not too much for adventurous boat trips and would rather see it by land anyway. Alex doesn’t seem to be answering emails.

December 30, 2018 at 9:43 am

Ron, we’d like to hike from Long road to see the Corryvreckan whirpool. Can you tell me how long the hike will take?

December 30, 2018 at 10:04 am

I haven’t done it myself but it will be a couple of hours (one way) from the wee parking space at road end. Should be a fabulous walk 🙂

November 16, 2020 at 5:32 pm

Hello. Surprised that there was no response from Alex; I assume you refer to Alex Dunnachie who runs Islay and Jura tours with his bus from Craighouse. If you intend to walk to the whirlpool, I would recommend that you try to contact Alex again and ask him to take you to the road end just north of Lealt; he should also be able to arrange for transportation north to Barnhill and beyond. I last made the trip you want to do in 1993 and it was a good two hour walk after leaving Barnhill. Maybe the road has been improved, but Alex can bring you up to date on that Phone: 01496 820314 or 07884 024777 I understand that the best view of the whirlpool is from Scarba, but getting there is quite another question. Good Luck. Ronnie Maclean, Former Jura resident now in Mesa Arizona

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On the hunt for a whirlpool.

Exploring Argyll and a Thrilling Corryvreckan Boat Trip

It’s one of Scotland’s natural wonders. A powerful beast that lends yet further foreboding and awe to a western coastline that hardly needs it. The fearsomely named Corryvreckan belongs on the tele. Playing centre stage in a Game of Thrones or a Vikings, such is it’s unusual and intimidating presence and sense of fantastic impossibility. The world’s third largest whirlpool is a maelstrom of watery chaos just off the Isle of Jura and a Corryvreckan boat trip has long been on my list as I’ve sought to cast my own eye over the beast.

But before I get to today’s end destination in the Sound of Jura, I decide this is an opportunity to make this one a day to remember. 2017 was a year of multiple Argyll road trips for me as I took on this vast and astonishing segment of the Southern Highlands. Historically overflowing and bursting with densely packed peaks and stretching lochs it probably is my favourite day trip area from Glasgow and its no surprise that I’m returning this year for more.

Inverarary and Around

Despite the conveyor belt of tour buses that frequent little Inveraray, the village and its dominating castle still hold an effortlessly romantic appeal. Going back to the 15 th Century, this has been the HQ for the Dukes of Argyll – Clan Campbell – and today’s 18 th Century palace has probably caused no end of near misses for drivers on arrival. The town’s eastern bridge offers an astonishing first glimpse at this bizarrely opulent mansion that would be right at home on a Disney set. An almost equally grand interior offers a look at the other side to Highland history and the power of the Clans over the land and its inhabitants. You can also read more about Dun a Cuaiche – a stunning walk and vista that overlooks Loch Fyne and the castle – here .

Almost slamming on the brakes as I continued my road trip west alongside Loch Fyne, my next stop is one that I have criminally overlooked in the past. The superbly authentic township at Auchindrain Folk Museum is our best-preserved step-back-in-time example of Highland farm life. A touching and tasteful look at the simplicity and harshness of farm existence, the smattering of buildings are spread over 22 acres and require about an hour or so to experience. Set among what must be one of the wettest areas of Scotland, it’s a fitting nod to what was a pivotal chapter in Scottish societal development…long before the times of urban sprawls, trading routes and diverse employment opportunities. Tablet guides are provided as part of your tour, snacks and gifts are available on-site and the welcome was one of the warmest I can remember.

Kilmartin and Around

Working your way up the largely empty west coast of mainland Argyll is a joy to behold. And Kilmartin is one of those areas that presents something of a magnetic draw. Its mighty standing stones are amongst our finest remaining examples. Carnasserie Castle holds all of the grumpy aura that Scotland’s ruins specialise in. Temple Wood has a swarm of mysterious confusion lingering above it. The barely-there hill fort of Dunadd – the original seat of power for the 6 th Century kings of ancient Dal Riata – is a prehistoric masterpiece with a view. The mind just boggles at the concentration of these ancient treasures that litter this area.

Heading to the Sound of Jura on a Corryvreckan Boat Trip

I was fortunate to finally be able to visit this eternal objective of mine through an invitation from Seafari Adventures. Offering multiple boat trip opportunities in the area, their Corryvreckan Whirlpool Special was one I just couldn’t look past. Around 2 hours is required to head from their base on the Isle of Seil into the Gulf of Corryvreckan. You’ll be kitted up from head to toe in waterproofs and layers and these guys are total pros at delivering an unforgettable experience. Towards the more thrilling end of the spectrum as boat torus go, Captain Steve will test your mettle with some creative cruising throughout and be sure to hang onto your hats! Of the kind of scream-if-you-wanna-go-faster variety that I have to say I couldn’t get enough of. Going at great speed on the RIBs the journey flies in and the occasional salt water splash in the face only adds to the rawness of this incredible experience. Be advised these tours are extremely time sensitive to catch the Whirlpool doing its thing and only around 30 tours run per season. Wear multiple layers and fully expect to get a little wet.

As to what the Corryvreckan Whirlpool actually is….it forms when moving water, connected to the gravitational effect of the sun and moon, meets an underwater pinnacle. This underwater chaos causes a swirling effect and this stretch of the Corryvreckan is around a mile wide. It’s not like one giant plughole but a large series of constantly moving swirls, waves and overfalls that your boat tour will travel between to give passengers plenty of opportunity to get swished around amidst it all. It is thought that there is a greater volume of water here in the Gulf of Corryvreckan during spring (the time to come) than passes from the mouth of the Amazon. Doing it, as I did, as the last of the day’s light departed was atmospherically magnificent.

Remote and sparsely-populated Jura is the perfect backdrop to this natural phenomenon. Home to a whisky distillery – and very little else – it is the island made famous as the lonely place for George Orwell to pen 1984 . Clearly in need of some solitude and scenic inspiration, he could hardly have chosen more wisely. The same cannot, perhaps, be said for his judgement in the recreational department. Taking his son, niece and nephew on a Corryvreckan boat trip of his own while still writing the book, he dangerously misjudged the tides and their dingy was capsized. Fortunately, the life-jacketless family were rescued by passing fishermen – but came perilously close to death in the Corryvreckan’s treacherous waters.

And with that, I’ll let your imagination do the rest…

Although I was invited as a guest by Seafari to enjoy their Corryvreckan boat tour, this review is based entirely on my experience and total enjoyment of what is a brilliant trip.

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Once again, you have done a very fine job of describing your experiences and caused us both to be inspired and a little jealous of your ability to calmly describe what was a thrilling day. We have had these islands on our list of places to visit and are now more determined than ever. Thank you for a fine job of raising our blood pressure and excitement to get back to the country we love.

Ruth and Mike Ramirez

Thank you both and very glad I managed to articulate the thrills into words! Hopefully you make it back to Scotland soon for adventures of your own.

Wow, I never knew this existed! what an experience. Great post 🙂

wow thats the most beautiful place and amazing adventure trip you have. i am very excited to visit this place and i’ll come soon nice work keep it up.

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Corryvreckan Whirlpool

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Corryvreckan Whirlpool - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Amazing Corryvreckan with Islay Sea Adventures

August 28, 2021 by ron

The amazing Corryvreckan trip! The memories of things I did while on Islay which made the most lasting impressions have almost all got something to do with being out on a boat. It started with my first ever sailing to Islay on a Calmac ferry and the excitement to arrive in Port Ellen. I can still recall almost every detail of that crossing. The gaelic speaker announcing our departure, the sea-birds out on the sea, the clear blue sea , the sudden appearance of a minke whale, stunning big skies and the first glimpses of Jura , Islay and the three distilleries in the distance, it was all magical. Ever since that first ferry journey our many trips on boats in the waters around our beautiful island have been amazing, each and every time. Every trip had something memorable and today another chapter was added…

Gus from Islay Sea Adventures had organised a trip to Corryvreckan, the whirlpool between the islands of Scarba and Jura. Corryvreckan is something special and legend tells us that a prince, Breackan, died while trying to show his courage to a princess of the isles while staying out in the gulf of Corryvreckan for three days and nights.

The dangerous currents, standing waves and sudden calm waters between the two islands of Jura and Scarba usually appear around the changing of the tides. and most of all during spring tide. These effects are caused when in and outgoing tides enter the narrow strait between the two islands while being pushed up and down by deep waters of around 150 to 250 metres with a pinnacle in the middle which rises up to 30 metres below the surface. The Corryvreckan whirlpool is in fact the third largest in the world and only experienced skippers are able to navigate these waters during tidal changes.

I’ve never had such an amazing experience on the sea. Waves taller than our boat where catching up on us while Gus skilfully manoeuvred the boat around them, surfing on them and played with the currents. We were all speechless and admired this exhilarating spectacle of nature while trying to capture the crazy seas with a camera. It felt like being inside a washing machine, it was more than amazing.

This was another one of those experiences I’ll remember for the rest of my live and, while discussing this over a dram of Ardbeg Corryvreckan in Pig Bay, so felt the others. The timing to see Corryvreckan couldn’t have been better, all thanks to Gus of Islay Sea Adventures and his crew. These guys know how to make us landlubbers happy. Thanks Gus, Alec and Harold, it was fabulous.

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The Corryvreckan Whirlpool

Scotland's maelstrom

The Gulf of Corryvreckan is a narrow strait between the islands of Jura and Scarba, in Argyll and Bute, off the west coast of mainland Scotland. It is famous for its strong tidal currents and standing waves.  The whirlpool which forms  at the right state of the tide is the third largest whirlpool in the world.

One of the  main departure points for boat trips to the whirlpool  and its waters, known as the Gulf of Corryvreckan, is the  small port of Crinan, on the Sound of Jura.  Local skipper Sandy Campbell offers regular whirlpool trips throughout the season in the modern Redbay Stormforce cabin rib Venture West.

Sandy has many years experience in these local waters and takes visitors on a choice of unforgettable boat trips   that combine viewing the Gulf of Corryvreckan or the waters around the Garvellach Islands with whale watching, dolphin spotting, bird watching and discovering the wildlife of this beautiful stretch of coastline.

A two or three hour cruise can take you across the Sound of Jura to the whirlpool (whilst hearing both factual commentary and legendary tales), past a seal colony and a sea eagle nesting site. Slightly longer trips can venture as far as on the spectacular Garvellach Isles, the site of a monastery founded by St Brendan in 542. Tour the island chain looking for eagles soaring above the cliffs and seaward for porpoise, sea birds, seals and if lucky dolphin, basking shark and minke whale. Day trips in the season offer a wonderful day out via the Corryvreckan  to Staffa and the puffin colony on the Treshnish Isles.

Private charters are also available, and sightings from the boat can include a wide variety of sea birds, otters, porpoise, sharks or whales, golden eagles and sea eagles. Whilst on dry land wild coastal deer are often seen.

Learn more about these wonderful West Coast of Scotland Boat Cruises   on the Venture West website, or see our Location and Getting There    page.

Video courtesy of Frank Kowalski of Safe Haven Marine

The Gulf of Corryvreckan Whirlpool

The formation of whirlpools in the Gulf of Corryvreckan is a tidal phenomenon – it is important to note that the whirlpools are not always present !

IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME WHIRLPOOL ACTION (many people prefer calmer conditions !) PLEASE ENSURE YOU LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CONTACT US SO, WE CAN ADVISE YOU OF THE LIKELIHOOD.

We have 3 tours that regularly pass through the gulf of Corryvreckan – or Whirlpool Special Tour, our Corryvreckan Wildlife Tour and our Corryvreckan Wildlife and Whales Tour.

Whirlpool Special Tours

These tours (1.75hrs) are specifically designed to see the Corryvreckan Whirlpool area at its most active – the focus of the trip is purely to enjoy the spectacle of the tidal action. We do not run these trips on a daily basis. We publish the dates and departure times on the  Whirlpool Special Tour  page, as we need certain tidal conditions to see the whirlpools at their best.

Corryvreckan Wildlife Tour

These 2 hour trips focus on wildlife however they do pass through the gulf of Corryvreckan. Depending on the tidal conditions at the time of departure it is possible there may be some whirlpools or the conditions may be completely calm, we often find that calmer conditions are better for wildlife sightings in the Gulf. Our ticket office team will be able to tell you whether the likelihood of tidal activity is high or low.

Corryvreckan Wildlife and Whales Tour

This 3 hour tour usually passes through the Gulf of Corryvreckan as the gulf is a popular feeding area for the whales. The boat we use for this tour, Celtic Adventurer, is a traditional boat so is not suitable to get up close to the tidal activity however the skipper will position the boat as safely as possible to ensure you can get to see any tidal action that is happening.

When is a good time to see the whirlpools?

The best time to see the tidal activity in the Corryvreckan is during big spring tides, this does not mean during the spring months but when we have a new moon or full moon. This happens approximately 30 times during our operating season.

What other factors affect the whirlpools ?

Each time we visit the whirlpool area it is different, the tidal range (difference between high water and low water height) plays a part, the wind strength and direction can affect the formation of the whirlpools and also the sea swell. The time of departure during spring tides also affects the type of tidal activity you are likely to see – If we depart at high water (as we do for Whirlpool Specials) you are more likely to see defined whirlpools and upwellings, if we depart at low water you are more likely to see dramatic standing waves. Like we said, it’s different every time !

All of our tours (excluding the day trip to Iona, Staffa and the Puffin colony) visit the Corryvreckan Whirlpool area. Please note – viewing the whirlpool area in the Gulf of Corryvreckan from the comfort of Celtic Adventurer will not give the same experience as on our open RIBs, which go right into the centre of the whirlpools.