Keen wildlife photographers of all levels of experience are invited to join Robin for this five-night Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday on Fair Isle, the southernmost Shetland island which is located halfway between Orkney & the Shetland mainland, off the north coast of .


The five-night photography holiday has an itinerary designed to enable photography of Puffins on Fair Isle & other sea bird colonies.

Over the duration of this trip, the locations should provide opportunities for capturing images of the famous Atlantic Puffin & more besides.

, one of our photography guides, will be on hand to guide & lead you; will be providing assistance & advice as needed & helping you develop your skills. will help you capture images of Shetland's puffins & any other wildlife that presents itself with the stark landscapes provided by the island & the surrounding seascapes.

What time of year is best to see Atlantic Puffins on Fair Isle?


The best time to visit Fair Isle & see these amazing birds is from April to the end of July. During this time, you can witness the puffins arrive back on the island, build their nests & lay their eggs. This is also the best time to observe the puffins' mating rituals & watch them flying around the cliffs. As the summer months progress, the puffins become increasingly visible & easier to spot. Whatever time of year you decide to visit Fair Isle, it is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
A group of the Puffins of Fair Isle - this image was captured during the NaturesLens Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday

Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday Itinerary

The following is the proposed itinerary for this photography holiday, it should be considered provisional & subject to change.
  • Day 1 - Transfer to Fair Isle - afternoon & evening photography on Fair Isle - overnight on Fair Isle
  • Day 2 - Full-day photography on Fair Isle - overnight on Fair Isle
  • Day 3 - Full-day photography on Fair Isle - overnight on Fair Isle
  • Day 4 - Full-day photography on Fair Isle - overnight on Fair Isle
  • Day 5 - Full-day photography on Fair Isle - overnight on Fair Isle
  • Day 6 - transfer to to Shetland
One of the Puffins of Fair Isle returns to the nest with a beak full of sand eels - this image was captured during the NaturesLens Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday

Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday Highlights

We have taken care to refine the itinerary for this wildlife photography holiday; as such, we consider the following to be amongst the highlights of this tour.
  • Photography sessions at sunrise & sunset to make the most of the prime times of day for creative photography
  • Flexible itinerary to allow photography of other native wildlife as well as landscape shots
  • Remote island where the birdlife outnumber the inhabitants
  • Stay for five-nights on a full board, non-shared basis
  • Great guide to client ratio of no more than 1:6
  • Guided by Robin Lowry for NatureLens
One of the Puffins of Fair Isle poses with a beak full of nesting material - this image was captured during the NaturesLens Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance – it is a requirement when booking on any wildlife photography holiday scheduled by NaturesLens that you have adequate travel insurance, we suggest a policy from TrailFinders or Campbell Irvine.

Camera Insurance

Insuring your camera equipment before embarking on any wildlife photographic holiday is crucial. Our trips often involve venturing into remote, & sometimes unpredictable environments where accidents & unexpected incidents occur. Insuring your camera gear provides financial protection against theft, loss, or damage, ensuring your investment is safeguarded.

Wildlife photography involves capturing unique & irreplaceable moments, & without proper insurance, any unforeseen mishap could result in significant monetary losses. By insuring your equipment, you can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that you’re covered in case of any unfortunate events, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring world of wildlife & capture stunning photographs without worry.

We recommend PhotoGuard for amateur photographers or Glover Howe, who we use.

Birds in flight photography guidance from Robin

Robin will be on-hand throughout the duration of this trip to ensure that you make the most of the opportunities available, including guidance for capturing images of the Atlantic Puffins in flight.

A pair of the Puffins of Fair Isle flies at sunset - this image was captured during the NaturesLens Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday

Soft background photography guidance from Robin

Robin will be on-hand to offer you guidance for capturing images of the Atlantic Puffins at several locations on the island where butter-smooth backgrounds may be achieved.

All the photos shown on this page are chosen from those contributed by Robin; he has guided the trip a number of times over the years, & he sent in plenty of fabulous images from thousands he captured during his time on the island of Fair Isle.

You are invited to join us for our five-night itinerary to photograph the hours between dawn & dusk capturing images of the Atlantic puffin colonies that call Fair Isle home

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday is a five-night duration event, that costs £1999 & takes place in Fair Isle in Scotland, between the dates of 7th - 12th June 2025. It is ideal for photographing Shetland's Puffins & the inhabitants of other seabird colonies found on the island. This photography holiday is led by Robin Lowry for NaturesLens.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday is offered on a half board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 5 participants & a maximum of 7, plus Robin.

We consider this to be a photography holiday requiring easy effort or exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us before making a booking enquiry.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday starts at Sumburgh Head & ends at Lerwick. Transfers are included between Sumburgh Head & Fair Isle.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday requires a deposit of £300 to secure a place.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday is a five-night duration event, that costs £1999 & takes place in Fair Isle in Scotland, between the dates of 7th - 12th June 2025. It is ideal for photographing Shetland's Puffins & the inhabitants of other seabird colonies found on the island. This photography holiday is led by Robin Lowry for NaturesLens.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday is offered on a half board, single occupancy with no single supplement payable basis.

Group size for this photography holiday is a minimum of 5 participants & a maximum of 7, plus Robin.

We consider this to be a photography holiday requiring easy effort or exertion, if you have any questions about your suitability for this photography holiday, please contact us before making a booking enquiry.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday starts at Sumburgh Head & ends at Lerwick. Transfers are included between Sumburgh Head & Fair Isle.

The Atlantic Puffins of Fair Isle photography holiday requires a deposit of £300 to secure a place.

NaturesLens photography holidays do not include flights unless it is explicitly stated on the event page. When it is time to book your flights, we will send you the details in plenty of time to allow for bookings at the best available price.

The photography holiday itinerary is subject to change & is to be considered provisional.

NaturesLens photography holidays require a minimum number of participants in order to be viable. If this minimum number is not met, the photography holiday may not go ahead.

In the event that the minimum number for a photography holiday to go ahead is not reached, NaturesLens reserves the right to cancel any given photography holiday. In that event 100% of monies received will be returned. However, NaturesLens is not responsible for expenses incurred by its customers.

Not all mentioned wildlife can be observed & photographed at all times of the year, thus some activities may be considered seasonal & not available.

Please note the cuisine on many of the NaturesLens photography holidays is authentic & typical of the region in which you are travelling. International or western cuisine is often NOT available. If you have any concerns over the food arrangements or have any special dietary requirements, please contact us prior to making a booking.

All personal luggage are the responsibility of the owner & we request that photography holiday participants limit their luggage to the equivalent of one suitcase, one flight bag, one camera bag & tripod. We do not wish to appear dictatorial in this matter & the request is made to ensure space & comfort for everyone in our vehicles.

NaturesLens & its agents act only as agents for the passenger in all matters relating to travel arrangements, & as such, do not assume responsibility for injury, accident, damage, loss, delay or irregularity which may occur via defect of transportation or any other cause.

NaturesLens reserves the right to substitute hotels, & other previously outlined arrangements as necessary, to either improve or equal the travel experience.

NaturesLens reserves the right to pass on to photography holiday participants any additional & unplanned expenditure incurred during a photography holiday, via events beyond the control of NaturesLens. NaturesLens reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member of any photography holiday.

Payment of deposit by photography holiday participants or their representative constitutes their acceptance of all conditions contained herein.

All bookings are made subject to our terms & conditions.

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