Are you interested in a Brighton wind farm tour?
We recently took a boat trip out to the offshore wind farm and loved seeing the huge turbines up close.
Here’s our review of the trip and some top tips if you’re thinking of making the excursion.
If you’re in Brighton, it’s hard to miss the Rampion wind farm.
Comprising of 116 wind turbines over 70 square kilometres, Brighton’s offshore wind farm is quite the spectacle. It produces enough electricity to power half of the homes in Sussex.
But not many people know you can take a boat trip from the Sussex coast to the wind farm.
Having been based in Brighton for several years, seeing the wind farm up close had always been on our Brighton bucket list. During the summer we decided to take the plunge and book a trip.
Despite a little bit of rain, we had a great time.
If you’re thinking of doing the same, here’s how our Brighton wind farm tour went and everything you need to know before setting sail!
Brighton Wind Farm Tour Review
We booked a trip to the Rampion Wind Farm via Ross Boats, who run various boat trips from Brighton Marina, including mackerel fishing trips and pleasure trips along the coast.
We booked online a few weeks before we wanted to go, so when we woke up and saw it was forecast to rain (classic British weather in July), we were slightly concerned.
Fortunately our trip was booked for 10am and the rain wasn’t due until around midday, so the trip was still running. If it is too windy or stormy, they unfortunately have to cancel excursions for safety reasons.
We arrived at the marina about 15 minutes before the trip was due to start and Ross was waiting outside the boat. We showed him our tickets and boarded the catamaran, which was one of the biggest in the marina.
Despite this, there was only a small group on the boat of about 12 people. Ross came on board and explained that there are actually limits to how many people boats are allowed to take out to the wind farm.
So, unless the regulations change, you never have to worry about being on a crowded boat.
Ross gave us a safety briefing and told us a little bit about the Rampion wind farm and the trip we were about to take.
He also showed us the back of the boat, which had a small covered area in case of rain. But because the boat was quiet, we had front row seats for the trip.
Then we set off on our Brighton wind farm tour! It was exciting being on the boat as it navigated out of Brighton marina, which has huge concrete breakwaters.
We kept an eye out for dolphins, which are regularly spotted off Brighton’s coast but unfortunately didn’t see any.
The journey to the wind farm took about 45 minutes, as the wind farm is eight miles away from the shore.
We enjoyed seeing Brighton’s coastline from the sea.
The sea was quite rocky but not too bad. I would definitely recommend taking sea sickness tablets if you’re prone to feeling queasy on the water.
The boat arrived at the centre of the wind farm and then sailed around the turbines.
It was crazy to see how big the turbines were up close and we enjoyed seeing Sussex’s chalky cliffs from a distance.
We had a chance to take some pictures as we were surrounded by the turbines.
Then after about 20 minutes of sailing around the wind farm, we turned back. It was at this point it began to rain but, fortunately, it wasn’t too heavy.
This meant we could still enjoy the views and relax as we sailed back to the marina. The trip took around two hours in total.
Overall, we loved our Brighton wind farm tour and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in seeing the turbines up close!
How to book a tour of Brighton’s Rampion Wind Farm
There are a number of operators running trips to the wind farm.
We booked our Brighton wind farm tour through Ross Boats, but other companies include Sussex Boat Trips and the Sussex Dolphin Project (this one departs from Newhaven marina).
All tour companies allow you to book in advance. You can select from multiple dates and times, but be aware, these may change in case of bad weather.
Brighton Wind Farm Tour Price
Prices vary by provider. For our trip with Ross Boats, the prices were £42.50 per person.
Ross Boats also offers private hire for £475 for up to 12 people.
What to wear for a Brighton Wind Farm Tour
It gets pretty chilly out at sea so you should definitely bring layers, even in the summer.
It is also worth bringing a waterproof in case of rain and to protect from ocean spray.
Some tour operators have restrictions on footwear and generally advise against wearing flip-flops or heels on board the boats. Check with your operator when you book.
That’s all for our Brighton Wind Farm Tour Review – we hope you enjoy your trip!
