Runde island is a protected area with a big variety of bird species. The most known species on that island are the puffins, which remind of a mixture of a penguin and a parrot..
The Puffin hike is a very decent hike, since it combines nice views, an easy trail and a big variety of bird species that can be seen. The highlight are the Puffins, that breed in the end of the trail by the cliffs. If you're lucky, you will see some very close by.
The trail is a very well maintained an easy path. Along the trail you see all age groups. The hike is very popular and hence it gets quite crowded, especially at the top.
April through mid‑August is the prime season to observe puffins on Runde: they arrive in mid‑April for breeding and stick around until about mid‑July, with sightings reported as late as early August.
Puffins spend their days hunting at sea and come ashore mostly in the evening, returning to their nests in the evening around 19:00 to 21:00 (7–9 pm). We started our hike at 7 pm in june and we saw plenty of the, going in their nests with fish in their mouth. Also, at this time there is a very nice sunset setting, giving the cliffs a golden touch and making the place even more special.
To increase your odds of getting good views of the puffins, i recommend bringing some extra time and to try out several spots. It can take some time until a puffin shows up to it's nest, hence it needs some patience. We got the best and closest views by the end of the trailhead, in the fenced area, on the side that is facing the ocean. After some time of observation, we even saw some puffins that had there nest above the platform, flying over the heads of all the visitors. Bring a binocular to get the best views and see the puffins in detail!
In addition to puffins, Runde Island is home to a remarkable variety of seabirds. Northern Gannets (Havsule) are one of the highlights, with Norway’s only mainland breeding colony found on the island—watch for their spectacular vertical dives into the sea. White-tailed Eagles (Havørn), with their impressive wingspans, often soar high above the cliffs, especially near Rundebranden. European Shags (Toppskarv) nest on rocky ledges and are easy to identify by their dark plumage and small crest. Kittiwakes (Krykkje) form noisy cliffside colonies and can be seen gliding along the coastal winds. Common Guillemots (Lomvi) resemble upright-standing penguins and nest tightly together on narrow ledges. Other bird species are: Razorbill, Fulmar, Black Guillemot, Arctic Skua, Storm Petrel, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit, and Wheatear.
The puffin is a small seabird known for its colorful beak, upright posture, and comical, almost cartoon-like appearance. It belongs to the auk family and spends most of its life at sea, returning to land only during the breeding season. Puffins are excellent swimmers and use their wings to dive and “fly” underwater in search of small fish. On Runde Island, you’ll find the Atlantic Puffin, easily recognized by its black and white plumage and bright orange feet. In Norwegian, puffins are called “lunde”, which is where the cliff area Lundeura gets its name. Fun fact: In German, puffins are called “Papageientaucher”, which literally translates to “diving parrot” – a fitting name for a bird with both vibrant colors and underwater agility.
There are two parking options:
For camping on Runde island, some extra roules have to be considered: There are several different bird conservation areas around the island, where camping is prohibited. I would recommend to simply choose one of the many other nice campspots in the region instead.