To get to Puffin Cove, you will need to follow a grassy moorland path towards the cliff and climb down a rocky path towards the small bay. If you are camping around the NC500, there is plenty of open moorland that may make a nice wild camping spot on the NC500.
How long is the walk to Puffin Cove?
Allow a good 20 minutes each way for the walk and however long you want to spend down there.
Where do you park at Puffin Cove?
You can park at a small parking lot at A836 around 14 miles west of Thurso (see the P on the map). After a short walk along a (sometimes unclear) path through moist moorland and small stream (Wellington boots advised), you’ll reach the cliffs, from where you have a decent view on the island.
Can you see puffins at Puffin Cove?
When can I see puffins at Puffin Cove? Between the months of April and August is the best time to visit Puffin Cove if you want to be sure to see puffins, as this is when they come to breed. We saw literally hundreds of them nestled in the cliff side when we visited in June, it was so amazing to see.
Where is the best place to see puffins Scotland?
Puffins can be seen at a number of locations around the Scottish coast, including the Isle of May, Fidra, Craigleith, St Kilda, Orkney and Shetland. In the breeding season they gather at nesting sites (puffinries), which are usually burrows located on grassy clifftops. Puffins spend the winter months at sea.
Are puffin tours worth it?
Fantastic experience with friendly informative crew. A fabulous trip out to Coquet Island and wonderful to see the puffins and thousands of other seabirds. An interesting commentary and really friendly crew. Highly recommended.
What time of day is best to see puffins?
Best time to spot puffins is in end of April until early September. Best time of the day to spot them is in the morning (07:00-10:00) and in the evening (18:00-22:00).
Can you walk to Puffin Island?
Puffin Island is not accessible to the public without the permission of the landowner, however there are boat trips around the island during the summer months from nearby Beaumaris.
Can you get close to puffins?
People who get too close may scare off parents from their duties of feeding their chick. As long as tourists stay on boats at a safe distance and do not disturb the puffins, they can easily enjoy watching a colony during the nesting season.
When can you see puffins on Puffin Island?
Puffins nest on Puffin Island between approximately the beginning of April and the end of July, you will not see them outside of the nesting season. Between April and July, we see Puffins on most Puffin Island trips.
What time of year is best for puffins?
When to See Puffins. You can see puffins at their colonies from late April to August, but June and July are the best months to see them as at this time they are busy feeding their single chick.
Are there rats on Puffin Island?
The Atlantic puffins from which the island gets its modern English name bred in considerable numbers at one time, with up to 2,000 pairs recorded. The brown rat was introduced accidentally to the island, probably in the late 19th century, and reduced this population to a very few pairs.
Where should I stay to see puffins?
Where are the best places to see puffins?
- Farne Islands, Northumberland.
- Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire.
- Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire.
- Sumburgh Head, Shetland Islands.
- Isles of Scilly.
What time of year are puffins at Staffa?
Puffins are unmistakable and are very popular with visitors to Staffa. They usually arrive during the first few days of April and stay through May, June and July during which time they form pairs, mate and rear young.
Can you see puffins near Edinburgh?
Where can I see puffins? Remarkably one of the best spots to spy the winged creatures is in the Firth of Forth to the north of Edinburgh. Nestled in the Treshnish Isles to the west of the Isle of Mull, Lunga is also a haven for the clowns of the sea.
When can you see puffins Shetland?
5. They can be easily seen in Shetland and Orkney during the summer. Puffins will arrive on the cliffs of Shetland and Orkney from April to August every year.
Can you touch a puffin?
They are friendly and curious animals, but they are still wild animals. Touching of the puffins feathers can remove the protectant oil they need to keep their feathers watertight while swimming. So even though they are adorable and cuddly keep from touching them and just enjoy the view.
Where is the best place to see puffins in the UK?
To see puffins, it is best to look for a breeding colony. Try the RSPB’s Bempton Cliffs (N Yorks) and South Stack (Anglesey) reserves, the Farne Islands and Coquet Island (Northumberland), the Isle of May (off the Fife coast) and the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
What time of year do puffins hatch?
May
Puffins lay only a single egg, in late April or early May. Both parents incubate it for 36-45 days, and they share the feeding duties until the chick is ready to fledge. The fledging period is very variable, ranging from 34 to 60 days, depending on the area and year.
Do puffins kiss?
A right pair of lovebirds: Puffins photographed tenderly ‘kissing’ during mating season. These stunning photos show a pair of lovebirds happily ‘Puffin-up’ for a kiss as part of their mating ritual. Wildlife photographer Craig Jones waited patiently to capture the close-up photos of the puffins’ annual breeding season.
Are puffins hard to find?
Puffins spend most of their lives out at sea where they spread widely across the ocean, making it hard for anyone to find them. They only come ashore to lay their eggs and spend the few months of the summer in Iceland, while the chicks grow strong enough to take care of themselves.