A puffin tour from Edinburgh with a small group, boat and castle tickets included. Search for puffins by boat, explore clifftop Tantallon Castle and spend time in North Berwick.
A puffin tour from Edinburgh with a small group, boat and castle tickets included. Search for puffins by boat, explore clifftop Tantallon Castle and spend time in North Berwick.
Keep your eyes on the water: those little wings might belong to a puffin. On this Puffin Boat Trip and Castle day tour from Edinburgh, head to Scotland’s east coast for an approximately two-hour wildlife cruise, with the chance to spot puffins, gannets, seals and other seabirds around the offshore islands.
Back on land, explore Tantallon Castle’s medieval ruins above the North Sea and enjoy time for lunch, the harbour and a wander in North Berwick. Your expert guide adds the coastal history and local stories, while the day’s order follows the tides and boat schedule. Boat and castle tickets are included. This seasonal tour welcomes travellers aged seven and over, with wildlife sightings depending on nature and conditions on the day.
At a glance
- Duration: 1 day (wildlife, castle & coast)
- Departs: Edinburgh (time varies with the tides)
- Group size: Max 16 (small scheduled group)
- Ages: 7+ (seasonal wildlife tour)
- Season: 1 May – 30 July (selected departures)
- Tickets: Boat & castle (both included in the price)
Itinerary
Tantallon Castle: Medieval fortress · North Sea cliffs · Bass Rock views
Explore this imposing medieval stronghold on the cliffs above the North Sea. Walk through its ruins, hear the stories of the powerful Douglas family and look out towards Bass Rock and the offshore islands.
North Berwick: Harbour · Beach · Local cafés
Enjoy time in North Berwick for lunch and a wander. Choose a local café or restaurant, browse the town or stretch your legs beside the harbour and sandy shoreline.
Puffin & wildlife boat tour: Puffins · Seals · Gannets · Offshore islands
Head onto the water towards the offshore islands for the chance to see puffins, seals, gannets and other seabirds while learning about the Firth of Forth’s marine ecosystem.
The crossing is exposed to real North Sea conditions. Bring warm waterproof outer layers and consider carefully whether the boat trip is suitable if you are prone to sea sickness. Puffins and other wildlife are wild animals, so individual sightings can never be guaranteed.
The three parts of the day can run in a different order: the wildlife boat schedule follows the tides, and weather, sea conditions or attraction access can require changes.
Included
- Wildlife and puffin boat-tour ticket (approx. two hours)
- Entry to Tantallon Castle
- Expert Scotland's Wild guide and storyteller for the day
- Transport in a comfortable, air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Coastal scenery, local history, myths and legends
- Small group, maximum 16 travellers
Not included
- Lunch and snacks (cafés in North Berwick)
- Waterproof clothing for the boat trip
Departure
Outside The Jolly Botanist, 256–260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8DT
Your exact departure time depends on your chosen date because the boat schedule follows the tides. Check the time shown when booking and on your confirmation, and arrive 15 minutes before it. Scheduled tours leave on time. Avoid tightly timed onward travel after the tour.
Check-in: 15 min early · Departs: Varies by date · Back: Varies by date
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