Is there car parking nearby?
Yes, Oxwich Bay beach has a large car park right next to the beach and our booking office/trip meeting point is situated in the car park overlooking the beach.
There is a parking attendant at the entrance to the car park. The charge is about £7 for cars to park all day and £15 for medium to large vans and motorhomes.
Please note that on sunny weekends in the summer the beach and car park does get very busy and there is often a queue to get into the car park via narrow roads later in the day. We recommend getting to Oxwich as early as possible to avoid the traffic and guarantee a parking spot.
Are there toilet facilities?
There are toilets on Oxwich beach near to where you will meet us before your trip departs.
However, there are no toilet facilities on board.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, we can take dogs on our trips, if they are well behaved.
However, often dogs don't like the sensation of being on a boat so please take this into consideration.
There is no charge for dogs, but please let us know if you are intending to bring one.
I have limited mobility or a medical condition, can I come on a trip?
Our trips depart from Oxwich Bay beach, so we do wade into the sea to board the boat.
The water level is normally above knee height on the average adult. There is a step at water level at the back of the boat and then another small step into the boat.
On board there are 12 cushioned seats which you straddle, and also a cushioned bench type seat.
Our skipper and crew are always on hand to help you board and are happy to assist where necessary.
Please also note that at low tide it is a long walk down the beach to the waters edge.
Due to the nature of our vessel and boarding from the beach we are unable to cater for wheelchairs.
We ask all our passengers to inform us of any medical conditions so that we are aware and prepared to help if needed.
If you'd like to discuss the suitability of our trips with us please do get in touch on 01792 348229 and we will make every effort to help.
Will I get wet? And what should I wear?
Our boat trips are primarily wildlife spotting trips, and not intended as a thrill ride so we don't aim to get you wet.
Our skillful skipper will try to keep all passengers as dry as possible, but there may occasionally be some sea spray that is unavoidable, and more on windier days.
All passengers must have a waterproof coat with them. We can provide these but you are welcome to wear your own.
As we will be wading into the sea to board the boat it is best to wear shorts or trousers that will roll up above the knee. The water level on the average adult is above knee level. It is best to carry smaller children to the boat. Bring a warm layer, as it is always colder at sea even on hot sunny days. Please also wear beach shoes such as crocs or sandals that can get wet, as the beach is stony in some places (flip flops are generally not suitable as they are difficult to keep on when wading into the water).
What happens if the weather forecast is bad and my trip is cancelled?
Our boat trips are dependent on weather and sea conditions, so sometimes it is necessary to cancel trips due to less than favourable conditions.
In this instance we offer you the choice to either move your booking to another convenient date, where there is availability, or to be fully refunded. Vouchers will also be refunded so you may use them again.
We keep a close eye on the weather forecast and try to inform passengers of cancellations with as much notice as possible, occasionally though last minute cancellations can occur.
If you need to cancel a booking with us, a full refund will be given up to 48 hours before your departure time. After this time we are unable to offer refunds.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, you can book online or call us to book over the phone.
We take a full payment when you book which is fully refundable up to 48 hours before your departure time.
In the summer months, in school holidays, and on bank holiday weekends we can get very busy and fill up quickly so we recommend booking at least a few days in advance.
You can check availability and book online here, or give us a call on 01792 348229.
What wildlife will we see during the trip?
We see a variety of wildlife on our trips around the Gower coastline, although we can never guarantee sightings of any particular species.
We see most of our wildlife at Worms Head, the tidal island at the western tip of the Gower peninsula, which is why all of our regular trips go there.
We are lucky enough to see atlantic grey seals on almost all of our trips as they rest out on the rocks there at low tide, and are often seen sleeping in the water at high tide.
A variety of sea birds nest on Worms Head between late April and mid July, which is great to experience, and we see other sea birds on the water or diving for fish further out to sea.
We encounter harbour porpoises, a small marine mammal similar to a dolphin, regularly throughout the season. These shy creatures are most frequently seen on calm days.
The bigger and more playful common dolphins are usually seen in June, July and August, although we have seen them as early as May and as late as October. Whilst we always keep an eye out for dolphins, all encounters are by chance. There is no way to predict what days we will see them, or the time of day either. For your best chance of seeing dolphins keep an eye on our Facebook page, where we post all our wildlife updates.
We also see lots of beautiful jellyfish from around May onwards, and occasionally sunfish too!
For more information about all the species that we see, check out our wildlife page here.
Are the trips suitable for children?
Our trips are suitable for children aged 3 years and older.
Child prices apply to those up to the age of 15 years.
How many people are on the boat?
Our boat can carry a maximum of 12 passengers, as well as the skipper and a crew member who will also be your guide.
This means that our boat is never crowded, and everyone on board has their own seat and a good view of the coastline and wildlife.
We do require a minimum number of passengers for a trip to run, so occasionally we have to rearrange trips for this reason.
If we need to change the date and/or time of a trip that you have booked, we will try to give you as much notice as possible. Of course, if the change of date and time is not convenient for you, we will offer a full refund, or you may move to another comvenient date.