Kintra Boat Tours

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Family-run wildlife boat tours from Ballycastle harbour. Cruise the Causeway Coast and circle Rathlin Island with a crew who knows every cave, cliff and colony.
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Puffins in season, seals, seabirds and lighthouses. Book online. 🐧 Kintra Boat Tours is a family-run wildlife tour company sailing from Ballycastle harbour on Northern Ireland's Causeway Coast. Our crew take you out to Rathlin Island and
along the North Antrim cliffs in search of puffins (April to mid-August), seals, seabird colonies, sea caves and all three Rathlin lighthouses, including the famous upside-down
West Light. Wildlife is wild, so we never promise a sighting. Our skipper know the best spots and we always do our best to find it, and even on a quiet day the cliffs, caves and coastline
put on a show. Bring your binoculars. 🐧

Tours run in season, weather permitting.Layers and flat shoes recommended, toilets onboard, and there is a tour for everyone from toddlers to grandparents and your pet as well! Book online at kintraboattours.co.uk to be sure of a seat, or at the Ballycastle Visitor Centre.

13/10/2026

Beak facts and quiz, part thirteen! ⚓
This week a gull with better manners than most.

Meet the KITTIWAKE. All summer the cliffs of Rathlin are loud with them. By now they have left for the open Atlantic. Three facts first and then two questions. Enjoy! 🪶

Spot the ones with the black collar? Those are this year's young birds.

A little deeper dive for the curious ones: the kittiwake is on the UK Red List. Its numbers have fallen sharply, perhaps because there are fewer sandeels to eat.

Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲

Which creature of the Causeway Coast should we cover next? Tell us in the comments!

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷
Facts from the RSPB, Ulster Wildlife and the BTO 🤓

More beak facts and quiz next Tuesday! Follow along 🌊

11/10/2026

How was the season 2026? We asked Charles! ⚓

Before we tied Selkie up for the winter we grabbed our skipper for a couple of questions. His favourite moment of the year? The minke whale right underneath the boat! 🐋
And what he is looking forward to most? Seeing you all coming back, and the birds coming back with you. Sound on and let Charles tell you himself!

We are back on the water Easter week, and Easter is early, so that means March. A short winter break for us!

Thank you to everyone who came aboard this year. Enjoy the winter and we will see you back on board Selkie next season 🧡

While we are away, have a look at our new website 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=reel&utm_campaign=last-sailing-2026

06/10/2026

Beak facts and quiz, part twelve! ⚓
This week no beak at all, but the best whiskers in the harbour.

Meet the OTTER. You might know ours as Steve. The crew named him, and he turns up in Ballycastle harbour whenever it suits him. Three facts first and then two questions. Enjoy! 🦦

A little deeper dive for the curious ones: otters on the coast are mostly out in daylight, while otters on rivers come out at night. And they are protected at all times in Northern Ireland.

Wildlife being wildlife, he keeps his own hours 🎲 If you spot him, watch from the pier, give him space and never feed him.

Which creature of the Causeway Coast should we cover next? Tell us in the comments!

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷
Facts from Ulster Wildlife, NatureScot and Northern Ireland's Priority Species 🤓

More beak facts and quiz next Tuesday! Follow along 🌊

04/10/2026

The September raffle has been drawn! 🎟️

Two tickets came out of the hat: 435 wins a Kintra beanie, and 521 wins a rubber puffin! 🐧

Have a look through your pockets and your camera roll! It might be you! Send us a picture of your winning ticket in a DM or an email and we will post your prize out to you, wherever you are in the world.
That was the last draw of our 2026 season. Thank you to everyone who sailed with us this year!

We are on our winter break now. See you next season!

29/09/2026

Beak facts and quiz, part eleven! ⚓
This week the best beak of the whole series.

Meet the OYSTERCATCHER. Black and white, pink legs and that long orange bill, out on the rocks at low tide and along the shore, usually shouting at us. Three facts first and then two questions. Enjoy! 🪶

A little deeper dive for the curious ones: she is on the amber list in the UK and Near Threatened worldwide. And the oldest one ever known was 43 years old, with a ringed bird in the UK still going at 41.

Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲

Which creature of the Causeway Coast should we cover next? Tell us in the comments!

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷
Facts from the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the BTO 🤓

Beak facts and quizzes will continue in October, every Tuesday! Follow along 🌊

27/09/2026

The best shots from our last few sailings aboard Selkie! ⚓

1. Steve the harbour otter popping up to say hello
2. Seals soaking up the sun on the rocks, Rathlin Island
3. A flock of curlews on the move along the shore
4. Waves breaking at Rue Point, Rathlin Island
5. A seal siesta on the rocks, Rathlin Island
6. A Manx shearwater low over Ballycastle Bay
7. The whole gang hauled out on the seaweed
8. A rainbow over the sea to end the week

Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲
Which one is your favourite?

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷

Our last two sailings of 2026, book yours directly here:

Wild Rathlin with an hour ashore: Monday 28 Sept, 9:30am
👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/wild-rathlin-seals-lighthouses-and-island-landing-experience?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=best-shots-of-the-week

Seals and Lighthouses: Tuesday 29 Sept, 11:10am (the last sailing of 2026!)
👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/rathlin-seals-and-lighthouses-tour?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=best-shots-of-the-week

26/09/2026

⚓ Kintra season recap, part two! This week it is all about the scenery of August.

Rathlin's cliffs and lighthouses, the rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede and gliding back into Ballycastle harbour at the end of the day. Every trip looks a little different, depending on the light and the sea. One recap a week, to guide us until next season!

Which view is your favourite? Tell us in the comments!

Two sailings left this season: Monday 28 September, Wild Rathlin with an island landing, and Tuesday 29 September, Rathlin Seals and Lighthouses, our last sailing of 2026!

Filmed by our crew on our tours.

All our last sailings 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/pages/daily-sailings?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=reel&utm_campaign=season-recap-august-2

24/09/2026

Four sailings left in 2026! ⚓

Four more trips and then we are on our winter break until Easter. Swipe through for every day that is left!

Friday 25 Sept, 11:10am: Seals and Lighthouses
Saturday 26 Sept, 1:10pm: Carrick-a-Rede
Monday 28 Sept, 9:30am: Wild Rathlin with an hour ashore
Tuesday 29 Sept, 11:10am: Seals and Lighthouses, the last sailing of 2026!

The seals are still hauled out on Rathlin and the gannets are still out there. And maybe, with a bit of luck, dolphins too. Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲

Which one are you taking? 🌊
Seals and Lighthouses (Fri 25 + Tue 29) 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/rathlin-seals-and-lighthouses-tour?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=last-sailings-countdown-sep24
Carrick-a-Rede (Sat 26) 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge-cliffs-caves-waterfalls-tour?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=last-sailings-countdown-sep24
Wild Rathlin (Mon 28) 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/wild-rathlin-seals-lighthouses-and-island-landing-experience?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=last-sailings-countdown-sep24

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷

22/09/2026

Beak facts and quiz, part ten! ⚓
No beak this week, but we could not leave her out.

Meet the GREY SEAL. Our big seal with the long Roman nose. They are lying out on the rocks, or basking in the sun (when it is there), at Rue Point and along the Rathlin shore on nearly every trip. Three facts first and then two questions. Enjoy! 🦭

A little deeper dive for the curious ones: the fluffy white pups are born in autumn and winter, so with a bit of luck the first ones show up around now. They stay on the shore for their first weeks, so if you find one on a walk, please keep your distance and be respectful.

Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲

Which creature of the Causeway Coast should we cover next? Tell us in the comments!

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷
Facts from the Wildlife Trusts and Ulster Wildlife 🤓

Beak facts and quiz next Tuesday!
Come and see our seals from the water 👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/pages/rathlin-seals?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=beak-quiz-grey-seal-sep22

20/09/2026

The best of this week aboard Selkie! ⚓

1. Oystercatchers taking off along the shore, Rathlin Island
2. The seal finally left its favourite rock, Rathlin Island
3. An eider having a morning stretch, Rathlin Island
4. Rathlin's East Light from the water
5. A gannet dropping straight down, Ballycastle in the background
6. A mallard on a mission in Ballycastle before the tour started
7. A gannet in the wind over Rathlin Sound
8. Oystercatchers low over the water, the mainland behind
9. A grey seal up for a look in the shallows, Rathlin Island

Wildlife being wildlife, every trip is its own lucky dip 🎲
Which one is your favourite?

Our last four sailings of 2026, book yours directly here:

Seals and Lighthouses: Friday 25 Sept, 11:10am and Tuesday 29 Sept, 11:10am (the last sailing of 2026!)
👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/rathlin-seals-and-lighthouses-tour?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=best-shots-of-the-week

Carrick-a-Rede: Saturday 26 Sept, 1:10pm
👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge-cliffs-caves-waterfalls-tour?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=best-shots-of-the-week

Wild Rathlin with an hour ashore: Monday 28 Sept, 9:30am
👉 https://kintraboattours.co.uk/products/wild-rathlin-seals-lighthouses-and-island-landing-experience?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=best-shots-of-the-week

Big thanks to our onboard photographer James 📷

Address

BAYVIEW Road
Ballycastle
BT546BT

Website

http://www.Kintraboattours.co.uk/

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