Isle of May

National Nature Reserve the Isle of May

The Isle of May National Nature Reserve is located at the entrance to the Firth of Forth. Although under a mile long, it is home to a huge variety of wildlife. The reserve is renowned for its rich bird life, grey seal colony and reefs. It also has a fascinating religious and maritime history.

As well as a haven for wildlife the island is home to three lighthouses including the impressive Stevenson lighthouse and the 'low light' which is now Scotland's oldest bird observatory, founded in 1935.

Visitors to the Discovery Experience can use our interactive camera to zoom in on the seasonal wildlife. Between April and September we run daily boat trips to the island.

NatureScot's reserve manager, David Steel and his team welcome visitors on arrival and their brilliant blog details the seasonal highlights and news from the island.

Our Isle of May camera is offline at the moment (November 2023), and we hope to have it reinstated in early 2024 ready for the return of the breeding seabirds.

Visit the Isle of May
Experience this incredible seabird city for yourself with one of our half day landing trips, running April - September.
Book here

Puffins on the Isle of May
© David Steel

90,000 puffins breed on the island each year
Over 200,000 seabirds breed on the Isle of May every Spring including, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, terns and shags

Adopt a Puffin
Help protect the wildlife you love by gifting a wildlife adoption pack. Choose from a gannet, puffin or grey seal. Funds from our wildlife adoptions provide vital support for our marine conservation and education work.
Here

Adopt a puffin and help fund our vital conservation and education projects.