The best time to see puffins in the UK is between late April and early August, when these charismatic seabirds return to coastal cliffs and islands to breed. During these months, puffins can be seen nesting, socialising, and flying back and forth with beaks full of fish — making it the perfect season for wildlife lovers and photographers alike.
Outside this period, puffins spend most of their lives at sea, far from land, making sightings extremely rare.
If seeing puffins is on your wildlife bucket list, timing your visit correctly makes all the difference. Give the following a read before planning your trip!
Summary:
- When to book your trip
- Where to see puffins
- How to improve your chances of seeing them
Some fun facts to know before you go!
1. Puffins are sometimes called “sea parrots.”
Their colourful beaks and comical expressions have earned them this nickname.
2. Puffins mate for life.
Many pairs reunite with the same partner and often return to the same burrow every year.
3. They spend most of their lives at sea.
Puffins only come to land for a few months each year to breed.
4. Puffins can carry multiple fish at once.
Special spines in their bill and tongue allow them to hold fish securely while catching more.
5. They flap their wings up to 400 times per minute when flying.
This rapid wingbeat helps them reach speeds of around 55 mph (88 km/h).
6. Puffins are excellent divers.
They use their wings underwater to “fly” and can dive up to 60 metres deep to catch fish.
7. Their colourful beaks fade in the winter.
After breeding season, the bright outer plates of their beak shed, leaving a duller winter appearance.
8. Puffin chicks are called “pufflings.”
One of the cutest bird names in the UK. They are grey in colour.
9. Both parents care for the chick.
Mother and father take turns bringing fish back to the burrow.
10. Puffins can carry multiple fish at once. Thanks to special spines on their tongue and bill that help them grip their catch while they hunt for more.
Puffin Season in the UK — Month by Month
Here’s what you can expect through the season:
Late April – May: Arrival & Nesting
Puffins begin returning to their nesting colonies in late April. Early visitors can see birds claiming burrows and forming breeding pairs.
- Good viewing with fewer crowds
- Fresh spring scenery
- Birds highly active establishing nests
June – Early July: Peak Puffin Season
This is the best overall time to visit. Puffin chicks hatch, and adults constantly fly in with small fish, often carrying several at once.
- Maximum puffin numbers
- Best photography opportunities
- Puffins visible all day
- Longer daylight hours
This period offers the most reliable sightings.
Late July – Early August: Departure Begins
Young puffins begin leaving nests, and colonies gradually empty.
- Still good sightings early in this period
- Fewer tourists than peak season
- Numbers drop quickly after mid-August
By late August, most puffins have returned to open sea.
Best Places to See Puffins in the UK
Several UK locations are famous for puffin colonies:
1. Skomer Island, Wales
One of the UK’s best puffin experiences, with thousands nesting and birds often walking close to visitors. To get to Skomer there is a boat direct from Martins Haven, Pembrokeshire. There are options of day trips or if you’re lucky you might even be able to get a spot staying on the island.
Skomer is a beautiful island where there are numerous opportunities to see puffins up close in the peak season. The paths around the island are surrounded by burrows. If you’re patient enough you will likely be lucky enough to see one poke its head out.
Tip* keep an eye on the time during a day visit – time flies by and you may miss the best parts of the island if you get caught up at one location.
2. Farne Islands, Northumberland
A cluster of 28 islands offshore, the Farne Islands are home to the likes of guillemots, razorbills, terns and kittiwakes, grey seals and 40,000 pairs of puffins. Boat trips run regularly and there are options to land.
Top tip* Wear a hat because there are breeding terns on the island that like to swoop dive to protect their nests- nothing to be afraid of!
3. Isle of May, Scotland
Accessible by boat from Anstruther or North Berwick, this island offers fantastic puffin viewing close to Edinburgh. This is a beautiful little island that is protected by NatureScot rangers. The island has 45,000 breeding pairs of puffins plus also large colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Shags.
I’d recommend using Anstruther Pleasure Cruises to book your trip:
4. Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire
Great option if you prefer cliff-top viewing without needing a boat trip. This is likely the most accessible location to see puffins. With easy parking and mostly flat paths it’s welcoming to most. You have to look down the shear cliff faces below to see the birds properly. If you have a fear of heights this probably isn’t the ideal location for you.
Bempton is also famously known for its gannet colony which is a sight to behold. The noise is also spectacular.
It is free to visit as an RSPB member but otherwise you can pay for entry through the visitor centre by the car park.
5. Staffa & the Treshnish Isles, Scotland
Remote but spectacular, combining puffins with dramatic volcanic scenery. The main puffin colony nestled in the the grassy hillside amongst the wildflowers. It really is idyllic. Plus the opportunity to see Whales, Dolphins, Basking Sharks, and Sea Eagles on the one hour boat ride over. You can get to Staffa from Oban, Mull, and Iona.
The Isle of Staffa is also home to unique geological formations, including basalt cliffs and sea stacks. These mesmerising natural structures can be found all across the island and will likely be part of your tour.
Staffa Tours are one of the recommended companies:
Improve your chances of seeing Puffins
Puffins are active throughout daylight hours, but:
• Morning and evening offer more activity (plus softer light for photography)
• Birds return frequently with fish during feeding periods – look out to sea and track single birds coming into land for a chance to see them with a bill full of sandeels
• Calm weather improves visibility and boat access
Midday visits still provide excellent sightings in peak season.
Tips for Booking your Trip
To maximise your chances:
- Book island boat trips early — they sell out quickly
- Visit between May and early July if possible
- Bring binoculars or a zoom lens
- Always check weather and sailing conditions beforehand
- Respect wildlife and keep distance from burrows
Please read our post on how to view wildlife ethically:
Many sites restrict visitor numbers to protect colonies.
Why Puffins Only Stay in Summer
Puffins spend about eight months of the year at sea, only returning to land to breed. They form lifelong pairs and often return to the same burrow every year.
Once chicks are ready, both adults and young birds head back out to sea, where they live entirely offshore until the next spring.
Final Thoughts
If you want the most reliable sightings, plan your visit between May and early July, when puffin colonies are at their liveliest. With the right timing and location, you can enjoy one of the UK’s most charming wildlife experiences.
Seeing puffins waddling across cliff tops or flying in with colourful beaks full of fish is something every nature lover should experience at least once.
Read our post on gear you can take that may help improve your experience: