Every year from late summer until early autumn, whales arrive in the sea off Whitby following the vast shoals of North Sea herring which come here to spawn and are a food source for the whales.

In 2006 Esk Belle was the first boat out of Whitby to start offering whale watching trips from September to November.  Esk Belle II is an ideal boat for whale watching with a high vantage point important for sighting the whales.

Minke whales are the main sightings but we have also seen humpback whales and an occasional pilot whale.   Whales have been here for 1000’s of years, all that is new is that we are now taking the public out to see them.

Pictures from our whale watching trips can be found in our photo gallery.