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It’s Puffin season! Here’s where to spot them in Scotland

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
Scotland’s windswept coast is puffin-packed once more.

Between April and August each year, hundreds of thousands of Atlantic puffins return to Scotland’s shores to breed. Known for their distinctive bright beaks and feathers, these seabirds have kindled affection in the hearts of Scots and visitors alike. The Scottish coast’s remote, rugged islands and steep cliffs inacessible to predators offer ideal conditions for puffins to nest and raise their chicks – which very well may be the most adorable thing you’ll ever lay eyes on.

Locally known as ‘Tammy Norries’, puffins spend the majority of their lives out at sea, returning to their life-long land base only to breed. They are exceptionally loyal creatures, mating for life and often even returning to the same burrow each year.

With the warmer months upon us, it’s the perfect time to set out on a Scottish adventure in search of these endearing and charismatic birds. Read on to discover the best places to see puffins in Scotland.

Orkney

puffins scotland
Spring and summer are the best times to see puffins in Scotland. (Credit: Unsplash/Phil Robson)

The archipelago of Orkney offers several spectacular vantage points for viewing puffins, with the most famous and accessible being the Castle o’ Burrian on the island of Westray. Here, hundreds of puffins dot the grassy ledges of the sea stack, making it an unforgettable place to watch them dive and dart back to their burrows.

If you’re keen to maximise your puffin sightings, the new Ultimate Puffin Experience with Wild Orkney Walks, which takes small groups from Kirkwall to Westray along a clifftop path, is a stellar way to deepen your knowledge of these fascinating birds. 

Isle of May

where to see puffins in scotland
Puffins are creatures of habit, often returning to the same burrow every year. (Credit: Unsplash/Jonny Gios)

The Isle of May is squarely one of the best places to see puffins in Scotland, thanks to its 100,000-strong colony of breeding puffins – the largest on the country’s east coast. Hop on a boat trip from the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick or the fishing village of Anstruther in Fife to catch the action. 

Shetland

puffin in Shetland scotland
Shetland’s grassy cliffs make the perfect breeding grounds for puffins. (Credit: Pexels/Adam Stuart Clark)

The Shetland Islands’ rugged cliffs, weathered with nooks and crevices, make the ideal home for puffins to gather in numbers. Sumburgh Head offers easy access, while the dramatic cliffs of Hermaness National Nature Reserve are a haven for large colonies of puffins and other breeding birds such as fulmars.

Can’t get enough of Scotland’s adorable animals? The Puffins & Ponies tours with Shetland Explorer Tours combine two of Shetland’s most loved native creatures into a single four-hour experience, with highlights including Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and the Mousa viewpoint. 

Dunnet Head

puffins in scotland
Dunnet Head is one of the only places on mainland Scotland where you can regularly see puffins. (Credit: Pexels/Teyi)

Teetering on what feels like the edge of the world at the northermost point of mainland Scotland, Dunnet Head is a veritable dreamland for birdwatchers. Although it’s located high up in the Scottish Highlands, it is one of the few places in the country where visitors can reliably spot puffins on the mainland. The DIY Puffin Tour by Seawolf Tours is a self-guided experience that includes viewing guidance such as the best times to see the puffins and maps to their burrows.  

Inner Hebrides

puffins Island of Mull.
Admire the adorable birds on the Island of Mull. (Credit: Unsplash/M Zonderling)

Comprising more than 35 islands, the Inner Hebrides along the west coast of Scotland delivers fantastic puffin viewing – especially on the uninhabited Isle of Lunga. The archipelago offers the opportunity both for island-hopping and puffin spotting. Take a wildlife trip with operators such as Staffa Tours, who take guest from Tobermory to the Island of Mull, and Turas Mara, running trips from Oban or Ulva Ferry to the Island of Mull. These blend landings on Lunga for up-close puffin encounters with visits to the jaw-dropping island of Staffa and mystical Fingal’s Cave.

Handa Island

Each spring, tens of thousands of seabirds migrate to the beguiling sandstone cliffs of Handa Island. Managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the reserve is one of the best places to see puffins in Scotland and is accessible by a quick, 10-minute ferry from Tarbet. Hike the loop trail around the island and look out for puffins as well as razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes, plus otters, dolphins and minke whales.

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

    The best places to see puffins in Scotland - International Traveller