If you’re planning a nature-inspired getaway in 2025, the UK offers some incredible wildlife watching experiences. Whether it’s the comical charm of puffins, the soulful gaze of grey seals, or the graceful leap of dolphins, these coastal creatures steal the show — if you know where to find them. As someone who’s spent countless spring and summer mornings hiking remote cliffs and scanning the sea with binoculars, I can confidently say: the UK is a paradise for wildlife lovers. Below are the top 10 places to see puffins, seals, and dolphins — with tips on the best time to go, how to get there, and what to expect.
1. Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire (Wales)
Best for: Puffins, Seals, Dolphins (summer boat trips).
If you’re dreaming of a close-up encounter with puffins, Skomer Island should be at the top of your list. Just off the coast of southwest Wales, this rugged island is home to over 30,000 puffins during breeding season (April–July). The birds waddle right past your boots as you explore the island’s circular path.
Grey seals also haul up on surrounding rocks, and dolphin-spotting boat tours operate around the island and across nearby St. Brides Bay.
- Visit Wildlife Trust South & West Wales – Skomer Island
- Travel tip: Ferries to Skomer depart from Martin’s Haven. Book your tickets early — spots fill up fast in peak puffin season.
2. Farne Islands, Northumberland (England)
Best for: Puffins and Seals.
A short boat ride from Seahouses in Northumberland, the Farne Islands are a haven for seabirds and the largest colony of grey seals in England. Between May and July, over 40,000 puffins return to nest on the islands, and you’ll often see them with sand eels clamped in their colorful beaks.
Come autumn, the shores are lined with hundreds of fluffy seal pups — it’s one of the most heartwarming wildlife sights in the UK.
- Visit National Trust – Farne Islands
- Insider note: Some tours let you land on the islands (weather permitting) for up-close views. Bring waterproofs — puffins aren’t tidy roommates.
3. Chanonry Point, Moray Firth (Scotland)
Best for: Dolphins (especially bottlenose), occasional seals.
Located on the Black Isle near Inverness, Chanonry Point is one of the best land-based dolphin-watching spots in Europe. The Moray Firth is home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, which can often be seen leaping spectacularly just offshore, especially 1–2 hours after low tide.
You might also spot harbour seals bobbing in the water or basking on the rocks nearby.
- Pro tip: Go on a calm day and bring a zoom lens. The dolphins often come incredibly close to shore during summer.
4. Isle of May, Firth of Forth (Scotland)
Best for: Puffins and Seals.
Just an hour from Edinburgh by boat, the Isle of May is one of Scotland’s most accessible wildlife islands. Between April and August, over 40,000 puffins nest in burrows across the island, and the air is alive with their quirky calls.
The island is also home to breeding grey seals, and outside puffin season, you can still enjoy seal-spotting walks along the rocky shoreline.
- Visitor tip: Boats leave from Anstruther and North Berwick. Some trips include time ashore — highly recommended for photographers.
5. Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion Coast (Wales)
Best for: Dolphins and Seals, occasional puffin sightings.
Cardigan Bay is the only place in the UK with a resident bottlenose dolphin population, with over 300 individuals living in the waters year-round. Head to New Quay or Aberaeron between May and September for the best chances of seeing dolphins from shore or boat.
Harbour porpoises, Atlantic grey seals, and even puffins (further out at sea) are spotted on boat tours from this area.
- SeaMor Dolphin Watching – New Quay
- Expert insight: Early morning and evening tours tend to be quieter — and wildlife activity often peaks when the waters are calm.
6. Isles of Scilly, Cornwall (England)
Best for: Seals and Dolphins; puffins on nearby islets.
Just 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly feel like a subtropical paradise — but they’re also a magnet for wildlife. Around St. Martin’s and St. Mary’s, you can snorkel or kayak with Atlantic grey seals, often lounging on sandbanks or gliding beside you underwater. Puffins are harder to spot here than on northern islands, but boat trips from St. Agnes sometimes pass small colonies.
- Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
- Travel tip: Try a guided “snorkel with seals” tour — it’s one of the most intimate and unforgettable wildlife experiences in the UK.
7. South Stack Cliffs, Anglesey (Wales)
Best for: Puffins and Seabirds; seals spotted below.
This dramatic cliffside location on the Isle of Anglesey is a nesting ground for thousands of seabirds. From April to July, look out for puffins nesting in burrows alongside razorbills, guillemots, and kittiwakes. If you scan the waters below the cliffs, you may also see seals swimming among the rocks or sunbathing.
- RSPB – South Stack Cliffs
- Photography tip: Go early or late in the day for golden light and dramatic sea views. Bring a telephoto lens — puffins often perch on ledges.
8. Staffa Island, Inner Hebrides (Scotland)
Best for: Puffins, Seals, occasional Dolphins.
Famous for Fingal’s Cave, Staffa is also a seasonal hotspot for puffins, especially in late spring and early summer. These birds are remarkably bold, often waddling within feet of visitors. Grey seals are also common in surrounding waters, and on calmer days, you might catch a glimpse of dolphins during the ferry ride from Iona or Mull.
- Staffa Tours – Puffin Watching
- Note: Boat trips are weather-dependent and run mainly between April and August. Book ahead if visiting during peak puffin season.
9. Porthgwarra & Land’s End, Cornwall (England)
Best for: Dolphins, Seals, occasional Puffins.
The rugged cliffs of Cornwall’s far west are not just stunning — they’re also one of the best places in southern England to spot dolphins from land. Porthgwarra, just south of Land’s End, is a known dolphin-watching hotspot. You may also see seals hauled out below the cliffs or bobbing in the surf. Puffins are rare here but may be seen during migration offshore.
- Cornwall Wildlife Trust – Marine Sightings
- Expert tip: Bring binoculars and visit in the early morning or early evening when the sea is calmer and wildlife is more active.
10. Portree & Raasay Sound, Isle of Skye (Scotland)
Best for: Dolphins, Seals, occasional Puffins.
From the harbour town of Portree, wildlife boat tours take visitors into Raasay Sound, where you might see common and bottlenose dolphins, harbour seals, and if lucky, minke whales. While puffins are not common here, some boat trips head toward the Shiant Isles, where puffins nest seasonally.
- Bonus: Skye offers rugged scenery, dramatic sea cliffs, and some of the best wildlife photography settings in the UK.
Extra Tip – Best Times to Visit by Species:
| Wildlife | Best Months | Best Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Puffins | April – July | Skomer, Farne Islands, Isle of May |
| Seals (pups) | Oct – Dec (pupping) | Farne Islands, Isles of Scilly, Skye |
| Dolphins | May – Sept | Cardigan Bay, Moray Firth, Cornwall |
Final Tips for Wildlife Watching in the UK (2025)
Pack binoculars or a camera with a good zoom lens.
Check tide times (especially for dolphins at Chanonry Point).
Stay quiet and keep your distance — always respect wildlife and their habitat.
Many sites are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act and overseen by conservation groups.
FAQs – Puffins, Seals & Dolphins in the UK
Q: When is the best time to see puffins in the UK?
A: From April to early August, with peak activity in May–June.
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Q: Can you see dolphins in the UK year-round?
A: Yes — especially in Cardigan Bay and Moray Firth, where some pods are resident. But summer (May–September) offers the best viewing.
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Q: Do I need to book wildlife boat trips in advance?
A: Absolutely. Most tours, especially to islands like Skomer or the Farnes, sell out quickly in spring and summer.
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I am Sabiq Rasel is an Entrepreneur and broadcaster. I believe that every sip of coffee holds the potential for a moment of inspiration, creativity, and every cup tells a story.
