Isle of May NNR map and guidelines

Need to know

  • Please keep to the paths shown on your map. You’d hate to step on a puffin’s burrow with a chick inside or on a tiny egg which would mean one less Arctic tern to follow the sun to Antarctica and back.
  • Do not cross to Rona to avoid disturbing our research area.
  • Take care at viewpoints. Look after children at all times as there are big, unfenced drops.
  • Allow plenty of time to return to the boat.
  • The weather can change quickly. You can shelter at the Visitor Centre, the Bath House and South Horn. Summer fogs, known locally as haars, can sweep in suddenly; another reason to keep to the path.
  • Take all litter home.
  • Look out for island staff and volunteers: they are happy to answer questions. Boat users and divers – please follow the following codes of practice:
  • The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code
  • Diving on the Isle of May
Scottish Outdoor Access Code Logo and text Enjoy Scotland's outdoors responsibly

Isle of May top ten

1. The Priory – imagine a monk’s daily life of prayer and work.
2. The Main Light – check out the view and think of storm-tossed sailing ships.
3. The South Horn – you’d have been deafened by the noise of the fog horn.
4. The Bath House – a long walk and a draughty place for a bath.
5. Kittiwakes – listen for the birds who call out their own name at the South Horn (April to July).
6. Shags – at Lady’s Bed look for the coloured and coded rings on their legs. That’s how our researchers tell the birds apart (April to August).
7. Guillemots – try counting the thousands of birds at Green Face and Greengates viewpoints (April to June).
8. Rabbits – can you find rabbits with oddly coloured coats? Their ancestors were domestic pets released to run wild here.
9. Seals – look for grey seals on the Maiden Rocks at the south end of the island.
10. Puffins – watch them wheel around in flocks or spot adult birds carrying a beak-full of fish to their burrow (April to August).

Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors responsibly

Everyone has the right to be on most land and inland water providing they act responsibly. Your access rights and responsibilities are explained fully in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Whether you’re in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the key things are to:

  • take responsibility for your own actions
  • respect the interests of other people
  • care for the environment.

Visit outdooraccess-scotland.scot or contact your local NatureScot office.

Support this NNR at www.nature.scot/donate-nnr

Find out more

Reserve map

Isle of May NNR map illustration

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