Where to see puffins in Scotland

Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and pristine coastlines provide the ideal setting for one of the most charismatic seabirds: the puffin. With their colourful beaks and distinctive behaviours, puffins are a favourite among birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

This guide will lead you to the best places to see puffins in Scotland, highlight the optimal times for viewing, and share the colonies that are closest to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen.

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Top Places to See Puffins in Scotland

Hermaness (Unst, Shetland Islands)

Hermaness Nature Reserve is the most northerly point of the United Kingdom, with just a few rocks beyond the headland before the North Atlantic. The reserve has well-marked walking trails that lead to excellent puffin viewing spots. A boardwalk leads from the parking area across peat bogs and open grassland to the cliffs. The remote location provides a special place to see these seabirds in their natural habitat along with gannets and bonxies.

DISCOVER THE BIRDS AT HERMANESS NATURE RESERVE

Sumburgh Head (Shetland Islands)

Located on the southern tip of the Shetland Islands, Sumburgh Head offers dramatic cliff views and accessible puffin spotting. The cliffs here are dotted with puffin burrows and you can often see puffins nesting and flying close to the paths. From the viewing platforms, look over the edge and the puffins are just below on the cliffs. It’s a relatively easy location to reach with facilities and a visitors centre and you can stay in the lighthouse for sunset and sunrise with the puffins.

EXPLORE SUMBURGH HEAD

Fair Isle (Shetland Islands)

Fair Isle is a remote island between Shetland and Orkney. It is accessible by ferry or small aircraft and offers a unique experience with puffins and other seabirds. The island has large bird cliffs with large colonies that can be seen from the paths that cross the island.

Westray (Orkney Islands)

Westray is part of the Orkney Islands and its puffin hotspots are accessible along the cliffs. The cliff walks to the puffin colonies are quite exposed so care is needed especially when the Orkney weather is less than perfect. Westray is a great destination for exploring both the wildlife and Orkney’s cultural heritage. It’s reachable by a short flight from Mainland Orkney, making it a feasible option for a day trip from Orkney Mainland.

FIND OTHER ORKNEY PUFFIN SPOTS

Brough of Birsay (Orkney Islands)

The Brough of Birsay is a tidal island off the northwest coast of Orkney Mainland. The causeway is exposed for a few hours on either side of low tide and it is possible to walk across to the island. At the lighthouse, you will find the puffins nesting along the cliffs on the seaward side of the island. Like other Orkney puffin colonies you do need to watch the weather and the tides.

GET THE WALKING ROUTE FOR THE BROUGH OF BIRSAY

Hoy (Orkney Islands)

Hoy’s cliffs are home to a significant puffin population and provide excellent viewing opportunities. The island is accessible by ferry from Mainland Orkney and then it is a short drive to Rackwick Bay where the walk to the Old Man of Hoy starts. Hoy is home to other wildlife including white-tailed sea eagles and historical sites including the Lyness Museum.

Dunnett Head (Caithness)

Dunnett Head is located in Caithness on the northern tip of mainland Scotland. As the northernmost point on the British mainland, it offers spectacular coastal views and is home to a significant puffin colony. The area is less crowded compared to some of Scotland’s more famous puffin sites, making it an ideal spot for a quieter birdwatching experience.

St Kilda (Outer Hebrides)

St Kilda is a remote group of islands in the Outer Hebrides and is best known for its dramatic cliffs and large bird colonies. The islands, particularly Hirta, host thousands of puffins during the breeding season. Access to St Kilda is by boat, with trips available from the Isle of Harris and Lewis. These trips are weather dependent and you usually need a window of a few days to ensure that you get across.

Staffa Island (Inner Hebrides)

Staffa Island is famous for its striking basalt columns and the impressive Fingal’s Cave. You can take boat trips from Mull, which provides a unique vantage point from which to see puffins and explore the island’s geological features.

Lunga Island (Treshnish Isles, Inner Hebrides)

Lunga Island, part of the Treshnish Isles has a large puffin colony within stunning coastal landscapes. Boat trips from Mull take you to Lunga, where you can walk among puffin colonies and enjoy close-up views. The island’s relatively small size makes it easy to explore and the boat trips leave you to wander for a few hours before returning.

Skye (Inner Hebrides)

The Isle of Skye, particularly around the north coast, Rona and Raasay, offers suitable habitats for puffins. Puffin sightings are common along the cliffs, although it is much better to take a boat trip. Skye’s accessibility from mainland Scotland makes it a convenient option for puffin viewing.

Bullers of Buchan (Aberdeenshire)

The Bullers of Buchan is a sea cave and coastal cliff area near Peterhead in Aberdeenshire. The site’s rugged cliffs and scenic views provide a great vantage point for observing puffins. Although the colony is not as large as those on some of Scotland’s more remote islands, the Bullers of Buchan offers a more accessible option if you are based in or near Aberdeen.

North Berwick (East Lothian)

North Berwick is the gateway to Bass Rock, which hosts one of the largest puffin colonies in the UK. Boat trips from North Berwick provide close-up views of the puffins on the rock, and the nearby seabird centre offers additional educational resources. It’s a great option if you are looking for a relatively short trip from Edinburgh.

Isle of May (Firth of Forth)

The Isle of May is a protected nature reserve. Boat trips from Anstruther offer the chance to explore the island and observe the puffins nesting. The island’s well-preserved environment means that visits are limited and the boat needs to be booked in advance.

Colonies closest to Scottish cities

• Edinburgh: The Isle of May, located in the Firth of Forth, is the nearest major puffin colony to Edinburgh. Accessible by boat from Anstruther, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach.
• Glasgow: The Isle of Mull, with accessible puffin spots such as Lunga Island, is a great option. The island can be reached via train and ferry from Glasgow, with the journey taking approximately 3-4 hours.
• Aberdeen: Bullers of Buchan, Auchmithie and Fowlsheugh are all close to Aberdeen. Aberdeen is also the easiest point to reach Orkney and Shetland by ferry.

Boat Trips to See Puffins

Boat trips are an excellent way to reach many of Scotland’s puffin colonies. Several operators offer tours to popular sites like Staffa Island, Bass Rock, and the Isle of May.

These trips not only provide close-up views of puffins but also offer opportunities to see other seabirds and enjoy the coast from a different perspective.

These tours book early so always make sure you book before travelling to the coast. They are also weather dependent so don’t be disappointed if they are cancelled at the last minute.

You can also book a tour direct from Edinburgh to Mull to see the puffins.

Best time to see puffins in Scotland

Puffins are only on land during their breeding season from late April to early August. June and July are perfect months for puffin viewing, as they are most active and their colonies are the busiest. While the puffins are around all day, the morning and evening see the highest concentrations of puffins on the cliffs.

During this time puffins are busy nesting, feeding, and performing their distinctive behaviours. Just sitting in the colony and watching their antics will provide some memorable experiences. If you want to see the puffins with sand eels, then it is best to come in late June or July when their eggs have hatched and they are feeding their chicks.

Puffins in Scotland Map

This map provides some of the locations in Scotland and the UK where you can see puffins.

How to use this map – Click on the top left of the map to display the list of locations, then click on the locations to display further information. Click on the top right corner of the map to open a larger version in a new tab or the star to save to your Google Maps.