Isle of May Puffin Tour

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 from Edinburgh 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 in Edinburgh and head out through the Kingdom of Fife, with a scenic coastal route 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.

We begin in St Andrews, a town that manages to be historic, beautiful, and slightly smug about it, with good reason.

For golf lovers, this is pilgrimage territory: the Old Course, the Swilcan Bridge, and that instantly recognisable links landscape where the game’s history is still very much alive. Even if you’ve never held a club in your life, it’s hard not to feel the atmosphere here.

But St Andrews isn’t only about golf. You’ll have time to enjoy the town itself, from the elegant streets and university buildings to the dramatic ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once the largest church in Scotland. If you fancy a breath of sea air, we can also stop at West Sands Beach, famous for its wide-open views and windswept walks.

The East Neuk of Fife: Coastal Villages & Harbour Views

From the Fife coast, 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.

Tour Details

• Duration: Full-day (7-8 hours)

• Departure From: Glasgow and Edinburgh

• Group Size: Private tour for up to 7 guests

• Cost: £695

• Includes:

  • Private driver-guide

  • Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off

  • Bottled water and local snacks

• Not Included: Lunch and entry fees (to allow flexibility and choice)

Boat Trip to the Isle of May

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.

Time on the Island: Puffins, Clifftops & Island History

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

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