Geology Day Trip

A Voyage Through Deep Time

Embark on an extraordinary journey through millions of years of Earth’s history with our dedicated Geology Day Trip. Setting sail from Exmouth Marina, this extended, full-day excursion takes full advantage of Exmouth's unique position between two incredible coastlines. Because the day's route is intentionally flexible - tailored by our Skipper and geological expert, you might sail east along the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast or west along the rugged South Devon shoreline. Accompanied by expert live commentary, spacious vessel comfort, and our warm family hospitality, it is an essential, value-for-money experience for fossil enthusiasts, nature lovers, and curious minds alike.

🕒 Cruise Duration6hours 30mins

📍 Departure PointExmouth Marina

All Fares£25.00

Optional Extra: Chunk of Devon Pasty

Groups (15+ adults): £22.50 _{Click here for group bookings}

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Trip Description FAQs Recent Reviews Group Bookings

Trip Description

Exploring the Full Regional Coastline

Our Geology Day Trip is designed as a broad, immersive exploration of our coastal region. Depending on where the day takes us, your voyage may encompass the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site red sandstone cliffs and isolated sea stacks of the Triassic period heading east toward Sidmouth, or track west past Dawlish Warren to investigate the ancient limestones, hidden coves, and striking sea arches of South Devon. By taking in the expansive coastline from the water, you gain a complete overview of the dramatic natural forces that have carved this landscape over millions of years.

The Ultimate Vantage Point from the Water

Viewing these grand landscapes from the deck of our flagship vessel reveals an entirely different perspective than walking the cliff paths. From the water, you will look directly into towering rock strata, fault lines, and sea caves that are completely inaccessible by land. Our expert guide and knowledgeable Skippers provide engaging live commentary throughout the voyage, bringing the ancient history of the rocks to life - from prehistoric deserts and tropical seas to shifting tectonic plates and coastal erosion.

Full-Day Comfort & West Country Hospitality

Spanning a day on the water, this relaxed full-day voyage takes place on our flagship vessel, the Pride of Exmouth, which is fully equipped for complete comfort. You can spend the day taking photographs and breathing in the salt air from our spacious open-top upper deck, or retreat to our lower saloon - offering a cool, shaded lounge to escape the midday sun during warm sailings, or a cosy, heated space if there is a crisp coastal breeze. Our fully licensed onboard bar is open throughout the trip, serving artisan hot drinks, cold refreshments, award-winning local ales from Bays Brewery, and crisp Sandford Orchards cider.

Why Choose Our Geology Day Trip?

An Expansive Coastal Range: Explore the incredible geology spanning both the UNESCO Jurassic Coast and the South Devon shoreline.
Expert Live Guidance: Learn from passionate, knowledgeable guides who bring the region’s rich geological history to life.
Unrivalled Coastal Perspective: See dramatic cliffs, sea stacks, and rock strata that cannot be viewed from land.
Exceptional Value for Money: An extended, full-day educational excursion through world-famous waters at an accessible price.
All-Weather Comfort: Sail in total comfort with open viewing decks, a covered lower saloon, clean modern toilets, and a fully licensed local bar.

Our Geology Day Trips run on selected dates throughout the season. Because spaces are strictly limited to ensure a comfortable experience for all passengers, we strongly recommend booking online in advance to secure your seat.

FAQs

The Geology Experience

Question: What makes the Geology Day Trip unique? Answer: This is a rare opportunity to view the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site or South Devon Coast entirely from the sea. You will see millions of years of Earth's history revealed in the cliffs, spanning the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods in one single journey.

Question: Is there an expert guide on board? Answer: Yes. We are joined by a leading local geologist who provides a live, in-depth commentary throughout the trip. They will point out fascinating rock formations, fault lines, and the famous "red beds" of East Devon that are best viewed from the water.

Question: How long is the Geology Day Trip? Answer: This is a comprehensive all-day coastal excursion lasting approximately 6.5 hours. The extended duration allows us to travel further along the coastline to reach the most significant geological sites between Exmouth and the Dorset border, or along the South Devon Coast towards Torquay and beyond.

Booking & Suitability

Question: Do I need to book in advance for the Geology trip? Answer: Yes. Due to the specialized nature of this cruise and the presence of guest speakers, these trips run on limited dates and frequently sell out. We strongly recommend booking well in advance.

Question: Is this trip suitable for children? Answer: While children are welcome, please be aware that this is a long, educational cruise focused on geological history. It is best suited for older children or those with a keen interest in science and nature.

Question: Where does the Geology Day Trip depart from? Answer: The cruise departs from Exmouth Marina. We recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before departure to ensure a smooth boarding for this full-day voyage.

Comfort & Facilities

Question: Is there food and drink available on board? Answer: Yes. Our fully licensed bar is open throughout the day, serving a variety of hot and cold drinks, local ales, and light snacks. As this is an all-day trip, many passengers choose to bring a packed lunch to enjoy while taking in the coastal views.

Question: Can I pay by card on the boat? Answer: Yes, we accept card payments. However, as we sail further along the coast towards the Dorset border, mobile signal can become very weak. We strongly recommend bringing some cash as a backup for any bar purchases.

Question: Are dogs allowed on the Geology Day Trip? Answer: No. Due to the length of the trip, we do not allow dogs.

Question: What happens if the weather is poor? Answer: We sail in most weather conditions. Our vessels feature large, undercover heated lower decks with panoramic windows, ensuring you can observe the geological formations in total comfort even if it is raining or chilly outside. In the event it is unsafe conditions and we cancel, you will be offered a full refund, credit or transfer.

Recent Reviews

Stuart Line Cruises

4.8

Based on 567 reviews

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Sarah E.

1 week ago

We had a fabulous boat trip with Stuart Line cruises from Exmouth to Brixham & back with a couple of hours free time in Brixham. The views were stunning & the onboard commentary really interesting & informative. Staff were friendly & helpful. Refreshments reasonably priced. The boat was dog friendly & despite the heatwave the lower deck was cooler & very comfortable. We even had a pod of dolphins following the boat for a while which was an added bonus! Overall a fantastic day out & great value for money. We will be back for another trip!

Andrea H.

3 weeks ago

Lovely boat tour- we did the mini coastal cruise. Very well kept boat, friendly staff. Informative tour without being boring. Took us close to the kittiwake nest ground without being intrusive. Lots of space to move around, bar and toilets ( but didn't test these). Space for wheelchairs.

Claire B.

4 weeks ago

Stuart Line hosted the Exmouth Art Group’s 80th anniversary celebration cruise on Tuesday. We had a wonderful and fun evening in the glorious late sunshine & all the staff were professional, cheerful, helpful & friendly. Thank you very much from all at the Exmouth Art Group

Patricia M.

2 months ago

This is a brilliant experience. I have booked a few outings with the Stuart line in all weathers and it's always great. The staff are amazing and the coastline/river is so different when seen from the water. And when the weather isn't cooperating properly, the boats facilities are fantastic. We always have our dog with us as well, who is made just as welcome. Highly recommend

Bob H.

3 months ago

Always try to have a trip with them, have done the jurassic coast trip, river Exe trip and did the Torquay and Brixham yesterday 28/05/26. Cant fault any of these for the money charged, we paid £16 each yesterday for a trip that lasted from 11am through to 18:30 in the evening, with 2 hours on shore in Brixham, plus the bonus of seeing dolphins on the way back, hence the later than expected arrival back in Exmouth. Crew really helpfull and knowledgeable about the area. Definitely will go again as relaxing day out.

Roo

6 months ago

Such a great day! Went on the winter birds cruise today and it was brilliant. The person doing the commentary on the birds (sorry I forgot their name) was super knowledgeable and the trip was all round fantastic, the small bar is also very reasonably priced! Saw a peregrine falcon chasing a flock of avocets - absolutely majestical! Cant recommend highly enough, the work they are doing for nature and conservation of the river mouth is really awesome. Hats off.

Mark

8 months ago

Had another fabulous BirdWatching Cruise on 02/12/25 with a day of clear blue skies and a fabulous array of wonderful wildlife on the Exe. As per previous trips the crew and guide were excellent and made for 3 hours of a thoroughly enjoyable and enriching experience. The hot chocolate and pasty was most welcome and I can’t recommend these cruises enough and they offer terrific value as well.

Mel P.

8 months ago

We had a fabulous guided bird watching trip today. The weather was superb as was The Pride of Exmouth, all the staff and our bird guider for the trip. Stuart Lines really do think of everything to make sure everyone has a great experience . 5 stars from us. Thank you

Derek M.

9 months ago

I attended an excellent Stuart Line guided bird watching cruise from Exmouth to Topsham and back. The Pride of Exmouth was in superb condition, the ornithologist's commentary and interaction with visitors was great, the crew members were helpful and friendly, the range of refreshments was excellent and the bathroom facilities were better than any I've seen on similar boats. Exmouth and the River Exe are beautiful places to visit at any time, but the thousands of migratory birds (and a few seals) are an added attraction always worth seeing over the winter. The cruise was not expensive and better than good value for money.

I have no hesitation in recommending a trip with Stuart Line Cruises if you want to enjoy a relaxing experience in beautiful surroundings.

Michael C.

9 months ago

Had a wonderful cruise down the river Exe today on the Pride Of Exmouth which is run by Stuart Line Cruises.
Very lucky to find something to do that's open or still operating in the winter. Adult price was less than £10 absolute bargain. The cruise itself was around one and half hours.
On board there is a heated cabin and an open air deck above. Toilets are also on board as is a little gift section by the cafe which has a licenced bar.
As its winter we indulged in a hot mince pie and mulled wine. A big thankyou to all the great staff and the captain. All in all great value for money with an outstanding professional company.

Henry J.

10 months ago

Stuart Line were absolutely fantastic! From the moment we contacted the office to the actual event, the team could not have done any more for us. Amanda in the office is an absolute gem to work with.
On the day, the boats arrived for our wedding on time, they were clean and the staff were impeccable! They were playing the music we'd requested and the whole journey was seamless. Our guests had a fabulous time and very much enjoyed the prosecco we purchased through Stuart Line.
The bees knees of wedding transport! I would give more stars if I could!

Elaine H.

11 months ago

We booked a short trip on the Tudor Rose to scatter my husband's ashes at sea, and his mum's ashes too. We were well looked after by Will and Kev who made sure we knew what we were doing and were so friendly. We had 4 small children with us, who loved the trip and it was so much nicer than an ordinary funeral. We scattered the ashes with petals and roses and the children blew bubbles - a lovely way for them to say goodbye to their grandad who loved the sea and boats and especially Budleigh Salterton. We then raised a glass to Geoff and Buddy and the children had ice-cream. We were lucky with the weather too, a great tribute and fitting way to remember them both.
Thank you Will and Kev, and Amanda who helped us to make the arrangements. I can't recommend Stuart Line Cruises highly enough.

Group Bookings

Stuart Line Cruises would like to extend a very warm welcome to group organisers, tour operators and couriers. Allow us to share with you some fantastic excursion ideas, which are specially designed for groups of 15 people or more with suggested itineraries at special discounted rates.

Stuart Line Cruises is an award-winning, family-run business, operating on the River Exe and along the East Coast and South Devon coastlines, from the traditional seaside town of Exmouth, in Devon.

Now running over 50 years, we passionately believe that the River Exe and nearby coastlines of the Jurassic Coast and English Riviera are unrivaled in terms of history, beauty and wildlife and cannot wait to share them with you.

If you are interested in taking this cruise as part of a group, please contact us. We look forward to welcoming you.