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East Coast Scotland · Nature
Isle of May
Plan the Isle of May as a proper boat day. A landing trip gives families the sea crossing, puffins and other seabirds in season, seals, lighthouse stories and time to explore the island paths. Expect a long, weather-dependent outing with boat boarding, rough ground and unfenced drops. Buggies are awkward here, and this is not a quick stop.
- Best ages
- Primary-age and older · boat rules vary
- Cost
- Paid boat · book separately
- Weather
- Exposed island and crossing
- Allow
- About 4–6 hours
Our family take
A rewarding day for children who enjoy boats, birds and a long walk. Choose it when the crossing is part of the fun and you can keep the day flexible; it is a weaker choice for toddlers or families needing an easy buggy route.
- Closed for autumn and winter. The 2026 visitor season has finished. Check the operator and NatureScot for the next season before making travel plans.
- Choose a landing trip. Some cruises only circle the island. Make sure the trip description explicitly includes landing if walking on the Isle of May is the reason for going.
- Check the exact boat. Child ages, minimum heights, health advice, boarding steps, prams and mobility access vary by operator and vessel.
- Keep the day flexible. Wind, sea conditions and wildlife protection can change or cancel sailings and landings, even after you have booked.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Visitor season
- The 2026 visitor season has finished, and the island is closed to visitors in autumn and winter. The usual visitor season is April to September, but check the next season with NatureScot and your boat operator before planning a trip.
- Tickets and booking
- Book and pay for the boat separately. Fares and availability depend on the operator, vessel and date; use its current landing-trip page before paying.
- Choose a landing trip
- Some Isle of May wildlife cruises only circle the island. Check that the trip includes time ashore if you want to walk there.
- Departure points
- Licensed landing trips run from Anstruther, North Berwick and Dunbar. Each port has different vessels, crossing times, check-in rules and parking arrangements.
- Trip length
- Allow about 4-6 hours for the complete landing trip. Most operators give roughly 2.5-3 hours ashore, but the total day depends on the route and vessel.
- Children, prams and access
- Osprey nature trips do not take under-5s; North Berwick landing trips require a minimum height of 1.3m. May Princess lists an under-3 fare but cannot carry wheelchairs. Check the exact boat and health restrictions before booking.
- Food and toilets
- The island has toilets, an accessible toilet, shelter and a small visitor centre, but no food outlet. Bring enough food and water for the whole trip; onboard toilets and refreshments vary by vessel.
Accessible toiletsToiletsVisitor Centre
7 October 2026
Visit official websiteA little more detail
Make it work for your family
What children can actually do
The boat crossing gives children something to watch straight away. They can see the island grow closer, look for seals and seabirds, then follow the marked paths between the cliffs, lighthouse buildings and old harbour once they land. The noise and sheer number of birds are hard to miss in breeding season.
The small visitor centre and interpretation panels help explain the island’s wildlife and history. Children still need to be happy walking and watching; the buildings and shelters offer only brief breaks from a mostly outdoor day.
- Wildlife through the season
- Puffins and the busiest breeding-bird activity are mainly an April-to-July draw. August and September can be quieter for nesting birds and give more room to explore the island's history, but wildlife is never guaranteed.
Choose the boat and check child rules
Choose a trip that lands
Start with the words in the trip description. A landing trip gives you time ashore; a sightseeing or cruise-around trip may show you the cliffs and wildlife without letting you off the boat. Both can be worthwhile, but they are different family days.
Anstruther, North Berwick and Dunbar all have licensed landing trips, but the boats differ. Trip length, time ashore, open or covered seating, toilets and refreshments all depend on the vessel. Operators may set a minimum age or height and give different advice about back, mobility or pregnancy needs. Choose the port for the boat that fits your family, not just the shortest drive.
Who should choose the Isle of May?
Children need to manage a long outing, follow instructions around nesting birds and stay close beside unfenced cliff edges. It suits primary-age and older children who already enjoy boats, wildlife and walking.
Think twice if this would be a child’s first boat trip and they dislike spray, noise or being tied to a timetable. It is also a poor fit when you need an easy buggy route, a dependable wheelchair visit or plenty of indoor backup.
The rules depend on the boat. Osprey’s nature tours exclude children under 5. The Scottish Seabird Centre’s North Berwick landing trip requires passengers to be at least 1.3m tall. May Princess lists an under-3 fare, so younger children are not excluded from every boat, but acceptance does not make the long island day an easy toddler outing. BlueWild describes its longer tours as less suited to very young children.
Read the health advice for your chosen sailing before paying, especially for pregnancy, back problems or limited mobility. Open RIB crossings and boarding steps can make a trip unsuitable even when a child meets the age or height rule.
Weather, prams and access
The weather controls the day. Wind, sea conditions or wildlife-protection measures can cancel the sailing or prevent a landing, while sudden rain or haar can make the island cold and visibility poor. Some vessels have covered seating and others are open, so check what you have booked and pack warm waterproof layers either way.
An accessible toilet at the visitor centre does not make the boat journey or island paths accessible. May Princess says it cannot carry wheelchairs and will try to accommodate folding buggies; boarding involves steps and gangways. Paths ashore can be steep and rough, with unfenced drops. Ask the operator about your own equipment and the exact sailing before booking.
- Paths and safety
- Paths can be steep and rough, with unfenced drops nearby. Stay on the marked routes, keep children close and watch for nesting burrows underfoot.
Food, toilets and getting to the harbour
Bring lunch, snacks and water for everyone because there is no food outlet on the island. There are toilets, an accessible toilet, a small visitor centre and basic shelter ashore. Boat toilets and refreshments are vessel-specific, so check the operator if either will matter during the crossing.
Use the harbour on your booking confirmation, not the island map pin, as your driving destination. May Princess asks passengers to arrive 45 minutes before departure, Osprey 30 minutes, the North Berwick landing trip 20 minutes and BlueWild 20–30 minutes. Allow time for parking and follow your own confirmation if those instructions change.
Dogs, biosecurity and return time
- Pets and assistance dogs
- May Princess does not carry dogs, including assistance dogs. Check the other operators’ policies before booking if you travel with an assistance dog.
- Check NatureScot guidance
- Read NatureScot’s current reserve update before travelling. Its 2026 guidance requires mud-free footwear and disinfectant footbaths on arrival and departure for avian-influenza precautions; recheck the rules for your travel season.
- Footwear and return time
- Wear sturdy footwear and leave enough time to return to the boat when the crew asks.
If the boat day does not work
Do not book another timed attraction after a landing trip. It takes most of the day, and the sailing can still be cancelled when the weather on the mainland looks reasonable.
If a North Berwick trip is cancelled, the Scottish Seabird Centre gives you live cameras and indoor wildlife interpretation. From Anstruther, St Andrews Aquarium is a more sheltered animal-focused fallback, but it is a separate drive rather than a same-harbour replacement.
Plan the rest of your day
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