Isle of May Puffin Tour

Tour Details

• Duration: Full-day (7-8 hours)

• Departure From: Edinburgh or Glasgow

• 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 boat trip tickets (to allow flexibility and choice)

Discover Scotland’s Puffin Paradise on a Private Isle of May Tour.

Leave the city behind and enjoy a full day of sea air, coastal beauty, and unforgettable wildlife encounters on this private tour to the Isle of May. This tour is only available from early April to the end of July, when the Isle of May bursts into life for the annual puffin nesting season. During these months, tens of thousands of puffins return from the open ocean to breed, turning this tiny island into one of Scotland’s most extraordinary wildlife spectacles.

Anstruther: Gateway to the Isle of May

Your guide collects you from your hotel in Glasgow or Edinburgh, and your coastal adventure begins. We travel north into the Kingdom of Fife, a region famous for its farmland, fishing heritage, and rugged coastline. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the changing scenery as we head to the East Neuk.

Our first stop is the picturesque harbour village of Anstruther. With its boats, old stone buildings, and brightly coloured shopfronts, it feels like stepping into a postcard. You’ll have time to wander the pier, grab a coffee, and soak up the salty sea air before your boat departure.

Your guide will drop you at the pier for your pre-booked boat trip.

Sailing to the Isle of May

Your journey across the Firth of Forth is an experience in itself. Keep a lookout for:

• Grey seals resting on the rocky outcrops

• Harbour porpoises that occasionally surface nearby

• Diving gannets, whose high-speed plunge dives are incredible to watch

• A variety of coastal seabirds circling overhead

Return to Anstruther & East Neuk Coastal Villages

After exploring the island, your boat returns to Anstruther, where your guide will be waiting to meet you. Then it's time for lunch at the world-famous Anstruther Fish & Chip Bar.

From here, we continue along the East Neuk coastline, passing through some of the prettiest villages in Scotland. Depending on time, we may stop in:

• Crail – Known for its picturesque stone harbour and seafood huts

• Pittenweem – A traditional fishing village with narrow lanes and creels stacked along the pier

• St Monans – With its historic church, photogenic coastline and old windmill

These villages offer stunning sea views, charming architecture and plenty of photo stops.

A Day to Remember

After a relaxed coastal drive through Fife, you will be dropped off back at your accommodation.

Expect tired legs, windswept hair, and a memory card full of puffin photos, the perfect end to a refreshing and unforgettable Scottish wildlife experience.

Book Your Isle of May Puffin Tour Today

Whether you’re travelling from Edinburgh or Glasgow, this private one-day tour with The Scottish Tour Guide gives you the opportunity to see some of Scotland's most beautiful scenery and beloved wildlife.

Click below to get in touch and book your private Isle of May Puffin Tour today, and let us take you on this marvellous adventure.

Exploring the Isle of May: Home of the Puffins

Stepping onto the Isle of May feels like arriving in a different world. A protected National Nature Reserve, the island becomes a bustling wildlife haven from early April, when the puffins return from spending the winter at sea.

Here’s how the puffin nesting season unfolds:

• Early April – Puffins arrive back on the island after months living far offshore. They quickly reclaim their burrows and begin courtship displays (including the famous “billing,” where puffins rub their colourful beaks together).

• Late April to May – Puffins begin laying their single egg inside the burrow. Activity on the surface increases as adults take turns incubating.

• May to July – Prime viewing time. Puffins regularly fly back and forth from the sea, returning with sand eels to feed their chicks (known as pufflings). This is also when they’re most visible above ground and easiest to spot.

• Late July – The chicks fledge and head out to sea, and the puffins gradually begin to leave the island.

During this peak season, the Isle of May hosts over 40,000 pairs of puffins, making it one of the most significant colonies in the UK.

Beyond puffins, you may also spot:

• Razorbills & guillemots perched on ledges

• Kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs

• Shags drying their wings along the rocks

• Arctic terns, fiercely protective during nesting season

The island also boasts an old lighthouse, atmospheric ruins, walking trails and dramatic cliff views — all of which offer outstanding photographic opportunities. Whether you’re carrying a DSLR or just your phone, the combination of wildlife, seascapes and natural light makes the Isle of May a dream location for photography enthusiasts.