The Isle of May – Seals, Seabirds and Harbour Chips
A day.
The route
The Isle of May lies five miles out in the Firth of Forth, and the May Princess sails out from Anstruther harbour to land you on it for two and a half to three hours.
In spring and early summer its cliffs are crowded with puffins, guillemots and razorbills, seals live there all year, and there's Scotland's oldest lighthouse to find. Back on the harbour, Anstruther Fish Bar is a few steps from the pier.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book the May Princess to the Isle of May
Book the May Princess's May landing trip online with Anstruther Pleasure Cruises, weeks ahead in midsummer, for a sailing between April and September (bookings for 2027 open in early January): adults £40, concessions £35, children 3 to 15 £20 at the time of writing, the sailing time set by the tide, and the boat can be cancelled for weather, with another date or a refund offered.
The day
Anstruther
Most of the day at sea and on a seabird island, with fish and chips on the harbour when you're back on dry land.
About six hoursAbout 2 miles on foot
The May Princess to the Isle of May
Leave the car in one of Anstruther's public car parks, and check its signs allow a stay of about six hours; Stagecoach's 95 bus also stops at the harbour (check the times). Then walk down to the ticket kiosk on the Middle Pier on Shore Street, which opens an hour before each sailing. The May Princess sails almost every day from April to September, at times set by the tide, so book online and check your sailing. The whole trip takes four and a half to five hours, with two and a half to three hours ashore, and the crew give a commentary on the way. Rangers meet you on the island's pier. Puffins are there from April to the end of July, and so are guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and shags. Seals live there all year, and there are the ruins of a 12th-century monastery and Scotland's oldest lighthouse, dating from 1636. Bring warm, waterproof clothes and a packed lunch: the boat has a small snack bar and toilets, and there are toilets on the island.
Anstruther Fish Bar
Lunch
Back on the pier, the Anstruther Fish Bar is a minute's walk along Shore Street, open from 11.30am every day. There are no bookings: queue at the sign to be seated, or take your fish and chips onto the harbour. The restaurant serves until about 9pm, and the closing times change with the season. Dogs can't come in, apart from assistance dogs. Two of the three seating levels are step-free, so ask the staff for one of those.
If it rains
The boat sails in rain but not in a rough sea: if the weather is doubtful, ring Anstruther Pleasure Cruises on 07957 585200 before you set off, as the operator asks. Bring waterproofs either way; the Fish Bar has a sit-down restaurant for afterwards.
Anstruther Fish Bar, a restaurant in Anstruther.
Photograph by AnstrutherFishBar