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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:
Loomy · 04/03/2025 22:41

Beaumaris, lots of boat trips to Puffin island

Crispynoodle · 04/03/2025 23:00

Rathlin island a small island off the northern Irish coast near Ballycastle!

bruffin · 04/03/2025 23:11

EdithGrantham · 04/03/2025 21:43

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!

Edited
Show quote history

We went to Skomer last 2 years.there were 41000 puffins, running around , even dive bombing as they came into land

ErrolTheDragon · 04/03/2025 23:16

Skomer is a good place for getting up close.

The very best place I've been for puffins, and wildlife in general (eagles, otters, whales, dolphins, so many birds....)was when we went to Mull in the late May half term and took a boat trip to Lungha. You can lie on the grass (luckily I had overtrousers with me!) just a few feet from the puffins' clifftop burrows. They don't mind people because humans keep the marauding blackback gulls at bay.
It almost certainly won't be what you want to do with a 3 yo and a baby, but if her love of nature grows then bear it in mind for the future - we took my dd when she was 13 and she asked to go again the following year.

unsync · 04/03/2025 23:19

I went to Skomer as part of my Biology A Level field trip way back when. The puffins were amazing. She might be a bit young though as the boat trip can be a bit rough and there's a lot of walking. I suppose it might have changed as it's been a while, but it is an enduring memory.

Standing on the cliff top watching the puffins trundle about was cool though. They make funny noises too when they are talking to each other.

angelinawasrobbed · 04/03/2025 23:25

Baby Puffins are called Pufflings.

I just needed to type that

Negroany · 04/03/2025 23:29

Loomy · 04/03/2025 22:41

Beaumaris, lots of boat trips to Puffin island

Took me three trips on different days to see any! Quite weather dependent. If it's rough overnight they head out to sea so you don't see them. The boat trip is still nice though and Beaumaris is lovely.

TizerorFizz · 05/03/2025 00:02

We have been to Bempton Cliffs and Lunga. Lunga takes some getting to but you are so close to the puffins. We went mid May.

Puffin Spotting Holiday
Bjorkdidit · 05/03/2025 04:28

angelinawasrobbed · 04/03/2025 23:25

Baby Puffins are called Pufflings.

I just needed to type that

I've taken to calling baby coots cootlings. I don't know if that's the real name but it is for me now - there's a nature reserve near where I am where they always build nests (which are a sight to behold, literally a pile of sticks and crisp packets in shallow water next to a dam) in really easy to see places and I always make a point of going to see them nesting and then get sad because there's fewer cootlings than there was the week before.

Hope you see some puffins OP, but I don't like the sound of wandering around on a cliff top with a 3 YO. But otherwise Yorkshire is great for a family holiday, so much to see and do.

TeamGeriatric · 05/03/2025 07:01

We went to the Farne Islands, the boat drops you on an island and then you can walk around a ropped off circuit very close to the puffins. Check how close you can get in each place before deciding. Puffins are super cute, we took a 2.5 and a 5 year old to the Farne islands, but they were fine but not riveted by the puffins. They are much older now, maybe we will go again this year!

Roystonv · 05/03/2025 07:18

I think for your circumstances the Yorkshire coast is best. Yes, there are better places but they require more travelling and are more isolated. You will have endless accommodation options, lots of other experiences, less travelling and more child friendly generally. It is an introduction to puffins not studying them, you will be watching for an hour maybe so don't pin the whole thing on the puffins wonderful as they are.

Yorkshiredolls · 05/03/2025 07:21

One flew right past my head at Bempton!
another vote for Yorkshire coast, plenty to see and do for kids apart from Puffin spotting too 👍

DanceToTheMusicInMyHead · 05/03/2025 07:26

For a 3 year old I think Farne Islands. You get the excitement of a boat trip, landing on an island, get quite close to the puffins and it is quite a spectacle with all the other birds too. You can see eggs and chicks in nests. As pp said, make sure you visit in the right window. And so much else to do in the area.

I've taken kids to Bempton in Yorkshire and while it is excellent, it is a bit harder work for a 3 year old. Puffins aren't as in your face- there are loads but at more of a distance and I can say from experience it is hard to get kids to look through telescopes for a good view. Your puffin experience would be minutes long.

Isle of May is the most amazing puffin experience, but think the whole trip and boat trip length would be a little long

TwoLeggedGrooveMachine · 05/03/2025 07:27

Another vote for Skomer boat trip in Pembrokeshire. You will see loads of puffins and other wildlife plus Pembrokeshire is an ideal place for a holiday. Folly Farm is one of our favourite days out. There are fabulous beaches that don’t get crowded. It’s a coastal national park.

TooTiredToType77 · 05/03/2025 07:29

I saw puffins in Iceland and they were hilarious! They are small and round and have to flap their little wings so hard! It was a joy to watch and my teenage kids were delighted to see them

Cyclistmumgrandma · 05/03/2025 07:40

I've seen puffins in Iceland and on Skomer. Skomer was the best for seeing them up close but as others have said, I'm not sure a toddler and a baby would be the ideal age for a visit...

ScoobyDoesnt · 05/03/2025 07:45

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.

Oakwood has just announced it’s closing for good!

ScoobyDoesnt · 05/03/2025 07:51

Totally agree with Skomer - the puffins are already back there on the water, earliest ever, they should go on to the island in around April.

You can either do a boat trip around the island and see them on the water, or the landing trip, which as PPs have said is a 5 hour landing time (boat is about 20 mins). There are toilets on the island, but no other facilities, so you need to take food and drink. They only let limited numbers on the island each day, and you have to book in advance.

The puffins literally run around your feet, they are so cute. They’re known as Pembrokeshire Parrots around here.

You’ll also see lots of other birds and likely seals too, and sometimes dolphins on your way there on the boat.

Pembrokeshire is also very beautiful, and perfect for a family holiday. Beaches are fabulous.

Twinstudy · 05/03/2025 07:51

I'd recommend seahouses and the farne islands for a 3 year old. There's a nice caravan site at seahouses with an indoor pool too and there's a lot of focus on the puffins in the town. It's a lovely part of the country too!

EssexCat · 05/03/2025 08:03

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.

. We’ve only ever been out of puffin season but it’s such a gorgeous island that it’s worth it for that alone.

plus loads round there to do as well. Giants causeway, carrick-a-rede, boats trips and lots of lovely beaches.

Cocolapew · 05/03/2025 08:12

Rathlin Island and Copeland Island in NI. The Copelands have a boat that goes out to the small island.
I love puffins too!

JumpingPumpkin · 05/03/2025 08:12

www.haven.com/parks/yorkshire/thornwick-bay

We camped at this holiday park. Short walk to the coast where you can see puffins amongst other birds. Not loads when we were there but enough to be exciting. Barely need a car once there which is nice too.

Paddleboardsandironingboards · 05/03/2025 08:20

We've stayed on Lundy a few times. Not sure it would fit the bill for what you want. There are no vehicles allowed other than island staff, so you'd be going everywhere on foot. It would be about a 4 mile walk, and that's from the tavern. You've got a steep climb up from the jetty to get to the tavern first. Also, there aren't that many puffins on Lundy so your chances world be limited.

CerealPosterHere · 05/03/2025 08:32

One thing to make sure of is if landings are going ahead due to bird flu. I think last year at farne islands they stopped the landing for a bit.

SquashedGrape1 · 05/03/2025 08:35

Skomer is wonderful, although personally I'd be terrified about a small child falling of the cliffs! (TBF I went every year as a child - and survived - but clearly I am now an overprotective parent!)