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Puffin Island lies about half a mile off the Anglesey shore at Penmon Point. It was previously a site of a hermitage established by St Seiriol (hence its Welsh name, Ynys Seiriol) and was later the site of a 12th century church. Today the island is uninhabited and given over to wildlife, with a nationally important colony of cormorants, as well as many guillemot, shag, razorbill and kittiwake. The island’s English name relates to the large colony of puffins which used to reside there. However, these were almost wiped out by a plague of rats accidentally introduced to the island when a rat-infested ship was wrecked in the late 19th century. During recent years, the rat population has been eradicated and puffins are now making a return to the island which is designated as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and a special protection area (SPA).

The disused telegraph station, originally built in 1827, is located on the northeast end of the island. Originally built in 1827, it was part of a chain of eleven semaphore stations stretching from Holyhead to Liverpool used to relay information about ships arriving in Liverpool. It is now a Grade II listed building.