Private Isle of May Puffin Tour from Glasgow & Edinburgh

If seeing puffins in the wild is on your Scotland wish list, this is the day for it. Our private Isle of May puffin tour takes you across the Firth of Forth and into one of Scotland's best seabird breeding sites, a place of cliffs, burrows, salty air, and that unmistakable wee orange beak bobbing about like it owns the place.

We'll collect you and head out through the Kingdom of Fife, with a scenic coastal drive that feels like a proper escape from the city. Along the way, your guide will share local stories and point out the places that most visitors whizz past without ever realising they're missing something good.

Our route takes us through the East Neuk of Fife, a string of charming fishing villages and dramatic coastline on the way to Anstruther, the harbour village where our boat departs. It's a beautiful drive in its own right, so keep your camera handy even before we reach the water.

Ready to spot puffins in the wild? Check availability for your private tour.

From Anstruther, we board the boat to the Isle of May, and the journey is part of the experience. Keep your eyes on the water and skies: it's not unusual to spot seals, and you may even see dolphins depending on the day. As we approach the island, the seabird activity ramps up fast, wings everywhere, noise everywhere, and very little concern for personal space (the birds were here first, to be fair).

The Isle of May is a protected nature reserve and, in season, it becomes a full-on seabird city. Puffins are typically present from around April to early August, alongside guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, plus plenty of other coastal wildlife. It's a dream for wildlife lovers and photographers, bring a lens if you have one, but even a phone camera will do the job when puffins are waddling about a few metres away.

Boat capacity to the island is limited, and with only a short puffin season and high demand throughout the summer, sailings from Anstruther sell out quickly. We'd recommend booking your tour well in advance to avoid disappointment, especially if your visit falls in peak puffin season (May to July).

Once on the island, you'll have time to explore on foot along the designated paths. You'll see puffins coming and going from their burrows, watch seabirds launching off the cliffs like they're late for a meeting, and take in the views across the sea.

After our time on the island, we'll take the boat back to the mainland and return via a scenic route through Fife, relaxed, windblown, and with a camera roll full of puffins ready to star in your next Instagram reel.

If you're looking for the best Isle of May puffin tour in Scotland, one that's relaxed, well-informed, and tailored to you, this is a brilliant way to see one of the country's most spectacular seabird colonies, with time to properly enjoy it rather than rushing back to a crowded boat.

Ready to book your private Isle of May puffin tour? Get in touch to check availability and arrange your dates.

This private Isle of May puffin tour is available with pick-up from Glasgow or Edinburgh, making it ideal whether you're staying in the city, arriving by train, or building it into a wider Scotland itinerary. Because it's private, the pace is flexible. We'll keep the day smooth and well-timed, with comfort stops as needed and plenty of time to enjoy the island once we arrive.

Please note: boat crossings are weather-dependent. Tickets sell out fast, so booking is essential.