The Best Places To See Puffins In The UK
Puffins are one of the most sought-after wildlife experiences in the UK. For a few months each year, these small seabirds return to coastal cliffs and offshore islands, gathering in large colonies that are surprisingly accessible.
What makes puffins special is not just how they look but how easy they are to watch. In the right places, you can sit quietly and watch them land, interact and move between burrows at close range. For photographers, they offer one of the most reliable and rewarding seabird subjects in Britain.
In this guide, I will share some of the easy locations as well as some of the more difficult to reach, with tips for making sure you visit the right place at the right time.
Why are puffins found around the UK?
The UK sits on the southern edge of the Atlantic puffin breeding range. That means colonies are concentrated in specific locations, mostly on islands and remote headlands.
What works in your favour is access. Many of the best colonies can be reached by short boat trips or, in a few cases, on foot. Compared to more remote destinations like Iceland or Norway, the UK offers a much easier way to see puffins without compromising on the experience.
Best places to see puffins in the UK
While there is a list of all the places to see puffins in the UK, there are a number of places where puffins can be seen that either have large colonies or are easy to reach.
However, for many people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. I think that seeing puffins up close and personal, not through binoculars from a lumpy boat ride or walking miles of cliffs to visit the small colony, is the best way.
Puffins in England
Farne Islands, Northumberland
The Farne Islands are the best place to see puffins in England. Located off the Northumberland coast, this group of islands supports a large breeding colony and is one of the most accessible seabird experiences in the country.
Puffins are usually seen on Inner Farne, where boardwalks take you directly through the colony. Birds land close to the paths, often carrying sand eels back to burrows, and the density of wildlife makes this one of the most immersive puffin encounters in England.
How to visit: Boat trips run from Seahouses between April and July. Landings depend on the weather. Book ahead in peak season.
Yorkshire Puffin Festival, Flamborough Head
Flamborough Head is probably best known for its chalk cliffs and lighthouse, but in the summer months, the puffins are the stars of the show.
In May each year, there is the Yorkshire Puffin Festival. This is a weekend of everything puffin with talks and guided walks along the cliffs. All through the puffin season, these cliffs make puffin hunting easy.
How to visit: Flamborough Head is close to Bridlington on the Yorkshire coast and is easily combined with a visit to Bempton Cliffs.
Puffins in Wales
Skomer Island
This has to be my favourite place to spend time with puffins in the UK. Skomer Island is located off the coast of Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales and is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in the UK.
Puffins are spread across the island but are especially easy to see along the coastal paths near the landing point. The short grass and open terrain mean clear views, and the birds are often active throughout the day, making it a strong location for both watching and photography.
How to visit: Skomer Island is reached by boat from Martin’s Haven, a small cove on the coast near Haverfordwest. Day trips run during puffin season, and you can stay on the island for even more encounters with the puffins and other birds that make this island their home.
Puffins in Scotland
Scotland holds the majority of the UK’s puffin population. Colonies are spread across the mainland coast and islands, with several standout locations.
Puffins on the Shetland Islands
Hermaness Nature Reserve
Hermaness Nature Reserve is on Unst, the most northerly of the islands and the nature reserve is on the north coast just 600m from the most northerly point of the UK and Muckle Flugga Lighthouse.
Hermaness is home to a large and exposed puffin colony. A walk to the puffin colony will take about an hour along boardwalks, but it is a great location for sunset watching.
How to visit: Take the two ferries to Unst from Shetland Mainland via Yell. Follow the road to Burrafirth and the parking area is located by the large white lighthouse ground station on the shoreline.
Sumburgh Head
In the south, there is a smaller colony around Sumburgh Head Lighthouse. This is the easiest of the Shetland colonies to reach and has the added luxury of a visitor’s centre with lovely cakes.
Sumburgh Head has a seasonal ‘puffincam’ so you can watch the puffins from home if you can’t make the journey.
How to visit: Drive to Sumburgh Head at the southern tip of Shetland Mainland. Free access.
Orkney puffins
Orkney has some accessible puffin colonies, which are smaller than others on this list but are a lovely addition to a summer trip to Orkney.
Westray (Castle O’Burrian)
Westray is one of the best places to see puffins in Orkney. At Castle O’Burrian, cliffs support a mix of seabirds, including a reliable puffin colony.
Puffins are often seen on grassy cliff edges as well as the sea stacks just offshore. The location is quieter than more famous sites, making it a good choice for a more relaxed visit.
How to visit: Ferry or flight to Westray. Short walk to the cliffs from the parking area between the ferry terminal and Pierowall.
Brough of Birsay
The Brough of Birsay is a small tidal island on the north coast of Orkney Mainland. 2 hours either side of low tide, it is possible to walk out to the island.
Here you will find the remains of a Pictish settlement and a small lighthouse at the top of the island. Beyond the lighthouse is where you will find the puffins on the cliffs.
How to visit: Take the main road to Birsay, pass the palace ruins on the left and follow the road to the parking area by the causeway. Make sure you check the tide times before crossing.
Puffins on the Scottish Islands
With its wild and rugged coastline, the Scottish islands are home to a number of puffin colonies. Some are easier to reach than others. Visiting these colonies is not just about the birds, but the experience of being somewhere truly wild.
Isle of Mull (Treshnish Isles) – Lunga Island Puffins
Lunga Island is a short boat trip from the Isle of Mull and is a great day if you are on a wildlife safari on Mull during the summer months.
Lunga Island is usually combined with a trip to Staffa Island and the well-known basalt columns in Fingal’s Cave. Boat tours usually allow two hours on the island, so take time to walk away from the jetty and find a quiet spot to have your own puffin time.
How to visit: Boat trips from Mull or Iona. Landings are weather-dependent.
Outer Hebrides – St Kilda
St Kilda is the most remote puffin location in the UK. This UNESCO-listed archipelago supports huge seabird colonies, including puffins, in a setting that feels completely wild.
Puffins are present in large numbers, but access is limited, and conditions can be challenging. This is less about close photography and more about the scale and atmosphere of the colony.
How to visit: Boat trips from Harris or Skye. Long day trips with limited landing opportunities.
Puffins in Ireland and Northern Ireland
While the island of Ireland is two separate countries, they share the presence of puffins. The distances and driving times are longer than expected, so it is not possible to see all of them in a weekend.
Rathlin Island
Rathlin Island is the main puffin location in Northern Ireland. The seabird centre at the western end of the island overlooks cliffs where puffins nest alongside other seabirds.
While puffins can be slightly more distant here than in other locations, the setting is dramatic and the viewing platforms give a clear, elevated perspective across the colony. It’s a good choice if you want a quieter experience.
How to visit: Ferry from Ballycastle. Shuttle bus or cycle to the seabird centre.
Skellig Michael
Skellig Michael offers one of the most distinctive puffin experiences in the British Isles. This steep, rocky island off the Kerry coast combines a large seabird colony with a historic monastic site.
Puffins are often seen around the landing area and along the steps leading up to the island. The combination of close wildlife encounters and the setting makes this one of the most memorable places to see puffins, though access is more limited than elsewhere.
How to visit: Boat trips from Portmagee between May and early autumn. Landings are weather-dependent and require a reasonable level of fitness.
Best places to see puffins from a boat
There are four places in the UK where a boat trip is the only way to see puffins. These are the Farne Islands in Northumberland, Puffin Island on Anglesey and Burhou Island off Alderney in the Channel Islands. It is also possible to take a boat trip around Skomer Island to see the puffins rather than land on the island, and this is a great way to spend an evening.
Other Places where puffins live in the UK
Puffins have particular requirements for their nests and prefer sea cliffs with soft or sandy soil that they can easily burrow into. They will quite often use old rabbit burrows.
They will return to the same colony with burrows being reused each year. This makes puffin sightings predictable and one of the more guaranteed wildlife encounters.
Best time to see puffins in the UK
Puffins are present on land during the breeding season, typically from April to July.
- May to June is usually the best time for activity
- June and July offer the best chance to see puffins carrying fish
- Outside this period, puffins are at sea and are rarely seen
Choosing the right location
If you want the easiest access, the Farne Islands, Skomer and Sumburgh Head are the strongest options.
If you are planning a wider trip, Scotland offers the greatest variety of locations and the largest colonies. More remote destinations like St Kilda or Skellig Michael offer a very different experience but require more planning.
Photography
Puffins are one of the most accessible wildlife photography subjects in the UK. The best locations allow you to work at close range without disturbing the birds, especially where paths pass through colonies.
Look for locations where puffins land close to eye level, and plan for overcast or soft light conditions, which help with detail and colour. Wind direction also affects where birds land, which can change the best viewpoints during the day.
Beyond the UK
While the UK offers excellent puffin experiences, larger colonies can be found elsewhere in the North Atlantic.
Iceland is one of the best-known destinations, with huge colonies and extended viewing opportunities.
Norway and the Faroe Islands also offer strong alternatives, often with fewer visitors.
Your Puffin Questions Answered
When is the best time to see puffins in the UK?
The best time to see puffins in the UK is between April and July. They arrive on land in the UK in April to nest and start to return to the sea once their pufflings are independent in late July.
What time of day is best to see puffins?
Puffins remain around their nests throughout the day but come and go. They will return to their burrows throughout the day with beaks full of fish. However, in the evening just before sunset, they return to their nests. The colony is busiest in the evening.
Can you see puffins in Scotland?
Scotland is one of the best places to see puffins in the UK. You can see them at Sumburgh Head and Hermaness on the Shetland Islands, Westray and Orkney Mainland, Lunga Island, Handa Island and Fowlsheugh RSPB Reserve.
Can you see puffins in Wales?
There are two main places to see puffins in Wales – Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire and Puffin Island and South Stack Cliffs on Anglesey
Where are the best places to see puffins in England?
England has some easily accessible locations to see puffins. The best are Bempton Cliffs in Yorkshire, the Farne Islands in Northumberland and Lundy Island in Devon.
Are there puffins in Northern Ireland?
Yes! There are puffins on Rathlin Island, which is a short boat trip from Ballycastle, Gobbins Cliff Path in County Antrim and Copeland Bird Observatory in County Down. While not in the UK or Northern Ireland, the Saltee Islands and Skellig Islands in the Republic of Ireland are large puffin colonies that you can visit.
Want to know more about puffins around the world?
Complete Guide to Puffins
This ebook includes information about the puffin colonies, where to find them and how to visit responsibly. With 120 pages of information, maps and beautiful photographs, it will help you see the puffins on your next summer adventure in the UK, Ireland, Iceland and other Atlantic coast regions.
