SCOTLAND’S SIGHTSEEING CRUISES SET SAIL ONCE AGAIN AS MAID OF THE FORTH RETURN
Family-run business re-open award-winning visitor attraction
The award-winning visitor attraction, Maid of the Forth, has set sail from Hawes Pier at South Queensferry once more. And they are now welcoming visitors to the acclaimed sightseeing tours.
To ensure the safety of passengers and crew, boat has a reduced capacity on each sailing to ensure physical distancing. The cruises will be running at only 25% occupancy and masks are a requirement except for those exempt as per the Scottish Government guidelines. Pre-booking is now essential with online bookings only.
Passengers can enjoy the great outdoors with a 90-minute sightseeing cruise which sails under all three Forth Bridges and past both Inchgarvie Island, Haystack Rock and Inchcolm Island. The Maid of the Forth top deck is ideal for spotting the abundance of marine life to be seen such as grey seals, porpoises, dolphins and even the occasional Minke whale. Refreshments are available on board with a fully stocked bar situated in the lower deck.
Maid of the Forth’s 3-hour cruise – which includes a 90-minute trip on Inchcolm – will launch as soon as Historic Environment Scotland re-open the island. On Inchcholm, visitors can ramble around the monastic abbey, explore the trails, relax on the beach with a picnic and spot the seabirds.
Duncan Macrae, Maid of the Forth Skipper, said: “It feels great to be back on board Maid and offering our sightseeing cruises again – after months of staying safe indoors, it’s probably the best way to blow away those cobwebs!
“The safety of both our passengers and crew is paramount. We’ve restricted passenger numbers to comply with social distancing, choosing to run at 25% occupancy. We’ve introduced the use of face coverings, further increased cleaning and hygiene procedures between sailings, with Maid receiving a thorough clean after each journey.”
For the first time in Maid of the Forth’s history, the sell-out sunset Jazz Cruises will not run to protect the resident jazz band members – Maid of the Forth Stompers. Fizz on the Forth cruises and the Folk Cruises will resume once Government restrictions allow.
A 90-minute cruise (no Inchcolm landing) costs: £15 adults, £8 child (5-15), under 5s free. A family ticket costs £40 (two adults and two children) or £45 (two adults and three children).
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
