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It’s hard not to be charmed by puffins. Who can resist those wide melancholic eyes, those vibrant striped bills or that clumsy little waddle that has earned them the nickname ‘clowns of the sea’?
There are only a handful of places around the UK where you can see puffins for yourself – and only at certain times of the year. One of the prime puffin spots is the Orkney Islands in Scotland and now there’s a new opportunity to get up close to the adorable birds – known in that region by their old Scots name: tammie norries – alongside expert guides.
The ‘Ultimate Puffin Experience’ by Wild Orkney Walks launched on May 20 and will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until August 3. Dubbed an ‘unforgettable wildlife experience’, it’ll will take visitors to the tiny island of Westray, which is one of the best places in the archipelago to spot the little fellas. Puffins there particularly like to hang out at a sea stack known as the Castle of Burrian – up to 300 of them can be seen there during nesting season.
Lasting around nine hours, the excursion starts in Kirkwall then crosses over to Westray on the ferry. On Westray, guides will take guests on a six-mile hike along quiet island roads and a cliff-top path. Along the way, you might come across other seabirds like little terns, curlews, razorbills and oystercatchers. Guests are recommended to bring standard walking equipment plus binoculars and plenty of food and drink to last the full day.
The Ultimate Puffin Experience costs £125 for adults and £60 for kids (aged five to 16). You can book it here.
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