Runde is a small island at the outer edge of Herøy municipality, connected to the neighbouring islands by a road that runs across a dam in the middle of the sea. It is best known for its bird cliffs, home to between 500,000 and 700,000 seabirds.
The star attraction is the Atlantic puffin. These medium-sized birds with their distinctive orange and red beaks arrive on Runde between April and July to breed. They dig burrows into the cliff sides and raise their young in colonies, so where there is one puffin, there are many. The rest of the year they spend on the open ocean. Other places in Norway have puffins too, like Bleik in Vesterålen, but Runde is the most accessible.
To see them, park after the last tunnel and follow the path up the hill to the cliff edge. Eventually there is an improvised ladder that leads to a spot right in the middle of a colony. Stay quiet and they will come out of their burrows, sometimes flying right over your head. The walk takes about 45 minutes each way.
Unfortunately, Runde is struggling with its own popularity. Until the mid-2010s, most visitors were dedicated birdwatchers with long lenses and genuine interest in the wildlife. But social media changed that. In 2024 things got particularly bad. The number of tourists per square kilometre and season is now higher than on Lofoten. There have been people partying on the cliff edge, and one family was caught collecting baby birds in a bucket. The island's permanent population has been shrinking since the bridge was built, and the pressure on the fragile nature is not sustainable.
Halfway to the bird cliffs, the Runde Miljøsenter has a small exhibition about the island and its wildlife. Nearby is the harbour where the sightseeing boat departs, if you prefer to see the cliffs from the water.
Please respect the birds and their habitat. Stay on the marked paths and keep noise down.
The star attraction is the Atlantic puffin. These medium-sized birds with their distinctive orange and red beaks arrive on Runde between April and July to breed. They dig burrows into the cliff sides and raise their young in colonies, so where there is one puffin, there are many. The rest of the year they spend on the open ocean. Other places in Norway have puffins too, like Bleik in Vesterålen, but Runde is the most accessible.
To see them, park after the last tunnel and follow the path up the hill to the cliff edge. Eventually there is an improvised ladder that leads to a spot right in the middle of a colony. Stay quiet and they will come out of their burrows, sometimes flying right over your head. The walk takes about 45 minutes each way.
Unfortunately, Runde is struggling with its own popularity. Until the mid-2010s, most visitors were dedicated birdwatchers with long lenses and genuine interest in the wildlife. But social media changed that. In 2024 things got particularly bad. The number of tourists per square kilometre and season is now higher than on Lofoten. There have been people partying on the cliff edge, and one family was caught collecting baby birds in a bucket. The island's permanent population has been shrinking since the bridge was built, and the pressure on the fragile nature is not sustainable.
Halfway to the bird cliffs, the Runde Miljøsenter has a small exhibition about the island and its wildlife. Nearby is the harbour where the sightseeing boat departs, if you prefer to see the cliffs from the water.
Please respect the birds and their habitat. Stay on the marked paths and keep noise down.