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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Puffin Spotting Holiday

60 replies

EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 20:50

3yo DD is somewhat obsessed with puffins because of the TV show Puffin Rock so I thought it would be nice to arrange our usual caravan holiday somewhere where we might be able to go on a puffin watching trip. Lundy Island seemed a good choice because of the other family friendly attractions in that area but I'm open to other suggestions. I'd like some recommendations for caravan parks, with indoor/outdoor pools if possible. We also have an 8mo to consider and if anyone has any advice or tips for puffin watching please let me know!

OP posts:
DuchessofKirkcaldy79 · 04/03/2025 21:10

Isle of May near Fife is great for a trip.

CerealPosterHere · 04/03/2025 21:11

Skomer island for sure.

JaffavsCookie · 04/03/2025 21:12

Northumberland and the farne islands.

InSpainTheRain · 04/03/2025 21:13

https://www.visitjohnogroats.com/things-to-do/wildlife/

We stayed at a caravan park in John O Groats (no pools though) and went to Dunnets Head. We also took a trip out to sea to see guillemots.

Wildlife - Visit John O'Groats

Famous for viewing the Atlantic Puffin, there's also a wealth of other wildlife to see

https://www.visitjohnogroats.com/things-to-do/wildlife/

Treepot · 04/03/2025 21:13

Flamborough Head! With lots of other day trips to Filey, Whitby, Runswick Bay, Scarborough.

BeneathTheSea · 04/03/2025 21:14

Bempton Cliffs North Yorkshire.

FreshsatsumaforDd · 04/03/2025 21:16

Skomer Island as CerealPosterHere said.
it is fabulous. Book a time and you have 5 hours on the island.

MrsPeterHarris · 04/03/2025 21:24

Rathlin Island (off the coast of Northern Ireland) has fab puffins if you'd be up for that trip.

Original poster
EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 21:25

Thanks all, will have a look at some of these. I've been quite keen to visit Yorkshire as I've never been and it's the closest drive from us of the ones mentioned which is a bonus with the baby!

OP posts:
Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 04/03/2025 21:29

I went on a Puffins's watching trip in Iceland and was very disappointed. They are smaller than expected and fly very fast....

potatoes4all · 04/03/2025 21:34

I would definitely recommend Flamborough; we've stayed at North Moor Farm Cottages for the last 3 years and have seen puffins on the walk from North Landing to the lighthouse. There's also seals on the inaccessible beaches by the lighthouse and we have seen dolphins when we've been out on the boat trips that leave from North Landing beach. If you don't see them there, then there are colonies of puffins at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

Original poster
EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 21:43

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 04/03/2025 21:29

I went on a Puffins's watching trip in Iceland and was very disappointed. They are smaller than expected and fly very fast....

This is the kind of info I need! Whilst I love the idea of seeing puffins I don't want to plan the whole holiday around them if there's a chance of DD not appreciating them!

OP posts:
Bideshi · 04/03/2025 21:45

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 04/03/2025 21:29

I went on a Puffins's watching trip in Iceland and was very disappointed. They are smaller than expected and fly very fast....

Completely agree with this. Not that thrilling. Gannets, on the other hand....

AChangeIsAsGood · 04/03/2025 21:49

Skomer is brilliant. Just don't tread on the puffins... they will walk on you if you're in the way and they just don't care!

Original poster
EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 21:49

Bideshi · 04/03/2025 21:45

Completely agree with this. Not that thrilling. Gannets, on the other hand....

Show quote history

Unfortunately there isn't a kids TV show about gannets that I'm aware of 😂

OP posts:
Newyearsametroubles · 04/03/2025 21:49

Lundy is just lovely but puffin opps are pretty poor! The Farne islands tho are amazing for puffins and all sorts of other seabirds. I’d def go there

CerealPosterHere · 04/03/2025 21:50

EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 21:25

Thanks all, will have a look at some of these. I've been quite keen to visit Yorkshire as I've never been and it's the closest drive from us of the ones mentioned which is a bonus with the baby!

The problem with bempton, etc is that yes you can see them but mainly through binoculars. You can see them flying into the cliffs and away but remember you’re on top of the cliffs. So it’s only where there is a bit jutting out that you can see them actually on the ledges , but they were some distance away and even with binoculars hard to see well. I haven’t done a boat trip or anything there though.

at skomer they are waddling about in front of you more.

HenriettaMusgrove · 04/03/2025 22:20

We went to the Farne Islands and it was brilliant. From memory though, you need to consider the time of year - the puffins aren't there all year round. I think it's an April to July window to see them and after that they go out to sea.

Sleepinggreyhounds · 04/03/2025 22:25

Another vote for Skomer!

Surroundyourselfwiththerightpeople · 04/03/2025 22:27

Look up the RSPB boat rips to see the puffins out of Bridlington. We did their gannet trip last year - was amazing. Going back to do the puffin one in June.

TyneTeas · 04/03/2025 22:32

Puffins are great on the Farne Island boat trips from Seahouses.

They do not look like they should be able to fly though. They look as aerodynamic as colourful toasters or bricks with wings

minnienono · 04/03/2025 22:32

Timing is everything. Early June i recommend

minnienono · 04/03/2025 22:34

Shetland is an amazing place to see them, I was within a metre last year, just not sure a young child would get excited about a holiday there alas

Normandy144 · 04/03/2025 22:36

Farne islands were fabulous. We went early April last year and the islands were awash with them. We saw loads of seals too. Booked a boat tour from Seahouses with one of the many tour companies in that town. Book a tour that includes landing on Inner Farne island and you can really get up close to the puffins as they're all over the island. If you have national trust passes then you don't have to pay the landing fee for Inner Farne as the island is maintained by the NT. If you check out the Northumberland coastal Instagram it's very useful in telling you when puffin season is.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 04/03/2025 22:39

Skomer is fab, you have to take a boat there which will be fun for a toddler and you can get close to the puffins and see them properly but if you’re near Yorkshire it will be a long drive. There are plenty of other child friendly attractions in Pembrokeshire - Folly Farm, Manor Wildlife Park, Oakwood and of course lots of beaches. Bluestone is similar to Centre Parks if you would enjoy that kind of holiday but also lots if holiday cottages available.