Kayaking With Puffins: Why Our Herm Puffin Patrols Are So Special
There are plenty of places in the world to go paddling, but there aren’t many where a gentle kayak trip takes you to one of the most southerly puffin colonies in Britain, with turquoise water, sweeping white sand and a tiny car-free island as your backdrop. That’s exactly what the Puffin Patrols on Herm offer.
Running from April to the end of July, these guided kayak tours have become a favourite for families, wildlife lovers and adventurous visitors looking for a fresh way to experience Herm and the wider Islands of Guernsey.
What is a Puffin Patrol?
A Puffin Patrol is a two-hour guided sea kayak trip from Shell Beach on Herm, timed carefully around the tides to give you the best chance of seeing puffins on the water and around their nesting burrows.
You travel in a small group with one of our experienced kayak guides who knows the coastline almost as well as the puffins do. They understand the behaviour of the birds, the shifting conditions around the island and the small details that bring the experience to life.
The intention is simple. To bring people close to the wildlife and the coastline, while keeping a respectful distance so the puffins can continue with their daily routines undisturbed.
Getting to Herm is part of the adventure
Whether you arrive from Guernsey, Jersey or France, the transition to Herm is easy and seamless.
Travellers from Guernsey board the Travel Trident ferry at the Inter-Island Quay.
Visitors from Jersey arrive with Islands Unlimited, step off the boat and walk only a few metres along the same pier to catch the Herm ferry.
Guests arriving on Condor from France make the same short transfer.
To simplify planning even further, you can book your Herm ferry directly through Outdoor Guernsey when you reserve your Puffin Patrol. It keeps everything in one place and makes the day flow smoothly.
The crossing takes around 20 minutes, skirting past Jethou on the right and then revealing Herm’s harbour village and the much-loved White House Hotel as you approach.
Walking to Shell Beach
The walk from Herm harbour to Shell Beach leads across the island’s sandy common, with the views opening up as you approach. Most people pause when they reach the top of the beach track. The white sand, clear water and the wide view towards Alderney and Sark make this one of Herm’s most memorable scenes. Many guests tell us this moment alone is worth the trip.
Out on the water
We launch from the white sand of Shell Beach and head south along a stretch of coastline that can only be fully appreciated from the water.
Belvoir Bay is the first landmark. Its sheltered shape and clear shallows often let you see right to the sea floor beneath the kayaks.
From there we continue towards Puffin Bay, although the puffins themselves nest a little further south these days. The reasons for that shift are part of the island’s recent wildlife story, and it’s something your guide will talk about during the trip. What matters for visitors is that this southern stretch gives us the best chance of seeing puffins safely and without disturbance.
This is where the heart of the patrol truly begins. We take time to look for puffins rafting on the water, birds returning with sand eels, and pairs coming and going from the cliff burrows. The exact activity varies by day, tide and weather, which is part of the experience. We never rush, and we approach the colony with care so the birds remain comfortable.
The coastline in this area is dramatic, with hidden coves, sculpted rocks and channels that you simply cannot see from the footpaths.
When Puffin Patrols run
Puffin Patrols operate when the puffins are on Herm and when the tides allow safe access to their part of the coast. This window runs from April to the end of July, and only on days where high water falls at the right time for a calm and predictable paddle.
For 2026, we have published a full list of dates and start times, along with recommended ferries from St Peter Port so both visitors and partners can plan easily.
Making a day of it
Because Herm is compact, car-free and beautiful from end to end, a Puffin Patrol can slot naturally into a half-day or a full-day plan.
Many guests paddle in the morning and stay for lunch at the Mermaid Tavern. Others spend the afternoon on Shell Beach or walk the clifftops. Some combine their session with kayak hire, archery or a longer island visit.
This makes Puffin Patrols extremely easy for accommodation providers, travel partners and cruise lines to include in visitor itineraries.
Who can join?
Puffin Patrols are suitable for adults, solo travellers, couples and families with children aged six and above. Children join an adult in a double kayak, and beginners are always welcome. We provide all the equipment and take time at the start to get everyone comfortable.
What your guide does
Your guide keeps you safe, supports anyone who is new to kayaking, and shares the stories and wildlife knowledge that elevate the trip from a paddle to an experience. They know when to pause, when to drift quietly, and where the puffins are most likely to be active.
A note from Ant, founder of Outdoor Guernsey
“I’ve been guiding Puffin Patrols for more than 18 years now, and I still look forward to every single one. These trips have grown and changed along with the colony itself, and there are a few stories we only ever share on the water. The best part for me is watching people see their first puffin up close — it’s a moment that never gets old. I hope you’ll join us and experience it for yourself.”
Want to join a Puffin Patrol?
All dates, times and live availability are shown on our website. Your Herm ferry can be booked at the same time for a smooth, simple day out.
If you are a tour operator, hotel, group organiser or cruise partner, we are happy to supply images, copy and scheduling support so you can include Puffin Patrols in your visitor offering.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.