Puffin Island is a nickname given to Ynys Seiriol to boost tourism, and let’s be honest, it’s worked because you’re here trying to find out how to visit.
Well, you’ve come to the right place because I took a trip to the island myself and in this guide, I’ll share everything I learnt while visiting Puffin Island and some of the things I wish I’d have known before going.
When is the Best Time to Visit Puffin Island?
The best time of year to visit Puffin Island is between April and July, this is when you’ll find seabirds such as puffins, guillemots, and razorbills on the island for the breeding season. You’ll see puffins right until the end of July, however, guillemots and razorbills leave earlier.
Puffin Island From the Coast of Anglesey
Seals and other species of birds such as cormorants, shags, and gulls reside on the island year-round. The best time of day to visit Puffin Island is during the morning because the seals will likely be hauled out on the rocks. You can see birds on the island all day.
Is Puffin Island Worth It? Absolutely, Puffin Island is one of the top things to do in Anglesey if you're visiting during the summer. It's one of the few places in Wales where you're guaranteed to see a variety of auks, including puffins.
However, if you visit between August and March which is outside of breeding season, then I would not recommend going as you will miss out on seeing puffins, guillemots, and razorbills.
How to Visit Puffin Island
1. Visit With a Puffin Island Cruise (Best Option)
The best way to visit Puffin Island is by taking one of the Puffin Island tours. There are two companies offering these tours, both of which depart from Beaumaris pier (shown below).
The companies offering Puffin Island tours are:
There are ticket offices for both companies near the entrance to Beaumaris Pier as shown below, or you can book online using the links above.
Top Tip: Take some binoculars or a monocular with you to get the most out of this trip. If you don’t have one, I recommend these ones.
Seacoast Safaris Review
I chose to visit Puffin Island with Seacoast Safaris as they had the best online reviews. The basic trip takes around 80 minutes in total, this includes around 25 minutes getting to the island and back again, plus around half an hour driving around the island spotting some of the wildlife.
I can highly recommend Seacoast Safaris. The guide was very knowledgeable and provided a good commentary with helpful facts for identifying different animals on the island and some of their features.
The company has been running since 2014 and I was very impressed by their green credentials. The boat had been fitted with second generation biofuel, which they claim makes them one of the greenest boat tours in North Wales.
Dogs were welcome onboard provided they were well behaved.
What I Wish I’d Known Before the Trip:
- They advise to arrive half hour early, but there really is no need for this as you'll just be waiting around. Arrive 10 minutes early and you’ll be fine.
- When boarding, it doesn’t matter which side you sit as the captain kept spinning the boat around but try to get a ‘window seat’ if you can so that your view is not obscured by fellow passengers.
- There is a small toilet onboard, although we were advised that it was for number ones only!
Where to Park?
The nearest parking for Seacoast Safaris is Beaumaris Green Car Park which is right next to the pier. The parking charge is £5 for a whole day.
Cost and Bookings
The basic Puffin Island cruise departs several times per day, prices are as follows:
| Adults | £18 |
| Children Aged 4-16 | £12 |
| Children Aged 0-3 | Free |
You can buy tickets in advance online (recommended) or buy them at the ticket office in Beaumaris near the pier.
2. Visit by Kayak
An alternative way to visit Puffin Island is by kayak. THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Puffin Island is just 0.5km from Penmon Point on Anglesey, so it’s possible to reach the island by sea kayak.
However, be aware that there is a strong tidal flow between Puffin Island and Penmon Point. The waves are generally very strong, and it’s been rated a difficulty 5 out of 5 by British Canoeing
So, what I’m saying is, only attempt this if you’re a pro. You’ll also need your own kayak as there is nowhere nearby to rent one. The closest place would be Hiraeth Hire which is 18km (11miles) away.
What Can You See on Puffin Island?
Here are some of the wildlife you can spot on Puffin Island:
Puffins
Yes, there are puffins on Puffin Island. Although not as many as there once were (more on this below). Puffins are Auks, notable for their bright orange beak. They are the smaller of the three types of Auks on the island.
Guillemots
Guillemots are the most populous type of Auk on Puffin Island. They are much larger than puffins and have a browner appearance than Razorbills. They leave the island earlier than puffins and razorbills as they continue to rear young out on the water.
Cormorants
Although the island is known for Puffins, it’s actually home to one of the largest populations of Cormorant in Britain, accounting for more than 10%. The Cormorant population is the reason why Puffin Island is a Special Protection Area
Shags
Shags are closely related to Cormorants, only smaller in size. You’ll spot them further down the cliffs compared to Cormorants. They can only be found at around 10 locations in the UK, with Puffin Island being one of them. They are on the UK’s Red List for Birds which means they are in urgent need of help to avoid extinction
Gulls
Several types of gulls can be found on Puffin Island, including herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, and great black-backed gulls. The latter is a predator on the island and may prey upon unguarded eggs or chicks of other seabirds
Seals
There’s a resident population of Atlantic grey seals that live on Puffin Island. You’ll see them hanging out on the rocks or in the water around the island.
How Many Puffins Are on Puffin Island?
Today, there are estimated to be anywhere between 150-300 puffins on Puffin Island during breeding season.
Back in Victorian times, there were likely thousands of puffins on the island which is why it was renamed Puffin Island.
However, a shipwreck in 1816 or 1817 allowed rats to get on the island which reduced the puffin population. By 1947, there were estimated to be just 30 birds on the island
According to the tour guide on Seacoast Safaris, the rats were eradicated in 1998 and since then the population has begun to grow again.
What is the Real Name of Puffin Island?
Puffin Island has had several names. It used to be known as Ynys Lannog in Welsh or Priestholm in English.
It was then changed to Ynys Seiriol, named after St Seiriol who once created a settlement on the island. However, the island was given the nickname ‘Puffin Island’ by the Victorians in order to boost tourism and it has kept this name ever since.
Related Questions
Where is Puffin Island?
Puffin Island is located 0.5km off the eastern coast of Anglesey in North Wales. You can easily see it from Penmon Point which is the closest point to the island on Anglesey.
Do People Live on Puffin Island?
No, Puffin Island is a small uninhabited island. However, there was once a small settlement on the island which is said to have been established by Saint Seiriol back in the 5th century.
Can You Go on Puffin Island?
No, you are not allowed to go on Puffin Island without permission because it’s privately owned by the Bulkley family.
None of the Puffin Island tours allow you to step foot on the island itself, you will stay in the boat and explore the island from the sea. If visiting by kayak, you shouldn’t really go on the island without permission.
Who Owns Puffin Island?
Puffin Island is owned by the Bulkeley family as part of their Baron Hill estate.
How Big is Puffing Island?
It has an area of 280,000m2 (69 acres), this is equivalent to football fields (soccer fields) at regulation size.
Published: 19 July 2022 · Last updated: 25 August 2023