A Guide to Skomer Island
WELSH WILDLIFE, COASTLINES & CLASSIC COTTAGES
Skomer Island, sitting just off the Pembrokeshire coast, is a Welsh island inundated with wildlife. Known for having the largest breeding colony of puffins in Southern Britain, it’s a renowned wildlife paradise. Surrounded by high cliffs and dramatic headlands, the island is a National Nature Reserve and a photographer’s dream!
Recently seen on TV on BBC’s Wild Isles, which featured Sir David Attenborough, we wanted to walk in his footsteps and experience the island for ourselves.
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We stayed in a wonderful Classic Cottages accommodation right on the edge of the headland, surrounded by the Pembrokeshire coastline with limitless sea views! (More info about where we stayed below.)
So this article has all you need to know about how and why you should visit Skomer Island, where to stay and other places to visit nearby.
SKOMER ISLAND
What wildlife can you see on Skomer Island?
Skomer Island is a wildlife haven. Primarily known for the Atlantic Puffins with their striking colours and unmistakable orange bills. They can be seen with a bill full of sand eels, bobbing along the water or flying to and fro the land.
What makes puffins different from others and this experience so special is that they’re so friendly and have such an inquisitive manner. You can simply sit along the path and wait for the puffins to fly over to you or watch them pop in and out of their burrows.
We love this short clip from David Attenborough’s last visit to Skomer, about how the puffins are “naturally fearless” and maybe a little “dotty!”.
This year the first annual puffin count was record-breaking with 42,513 birds recorded on and around Skomer Island! Whilst many other puffin populations around the world are in decline, it’s encouraging to hear that the Skomer population is only increasing.
Along with the brightly-coloured puffins, Skomer has a variety of seabirds including the Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. (Take a look at the photo below for a longer list.)
As well as these birds, Skomer Island is believed to be home to the largest colony of Manx Shearwaters in the world, with over 100,000 pairs. This is around half the world's population!
Skomer also has its own unique mammal, the Skomer vole with the population reaching around 20,000 during the summer months.
Don’t just focus on land, keep your eyes peeled on the waters below as you might see Atlantic Grey Seals, Dolphins and Porpoises swimming below you!
HOW TO VISIT SKOMER ISLAND
You can experience Skomer in various ways. By setting foot on the island or touring around the waters by boat. There is only 1 boat trip that lands on Skomer Island, but there are a variety of different companies that do cruises from various points along the coast.
SKOMER LANDING
The Pembrokeshire Islands Boat trip is the 1 boat trip from which you can set foot on the island. The journey to and from the island takes only 15 minutes, and the tour gives you 4.5 hours to explore Skomer. This sounds like a long time, but don’t underestimate the size of the island (around 730 acres). It takes roughly 3 hours to walk around the whole island, but you’ll stop multiple times to admire the wildlife. So 4.5 hours is a great amount of time.
Once on the island, you’re greeted by staff and volunteers, who give you a few tips on how best to visit the island before being left to explore Skomer at your own pace.
Prices for adults and children (2-11 years):
April: Adults £40, Children £30
May/June: Adults £44, Children £30
July: Adults £40, Children £30
August/September: Adults £30, Children £24
Duration: 5 hours
When: April the 1st - September the 30th
Departure Point: Martins Haven, Marloes
Here is an example of 2 boat trips you can take to admire Skomer Island from the water.
You can browse more boat trips here.
Skomer Cruise
Cruise around the Marine Nature Reserve, and explore Skomer by water. From the boat, you can see the vast colonies of seabirds, while experiencing an expert commentary from the crew on board. Along with the thousands of birds, you can watch the seals basking on the rocks and the porpoise gliding through the waters.
Prices: Adults £20, Children £18
Duration: 1 hour
When: April the 1st - September the 30th
Departure Point: Martins Haven, Marloes
Seabird Spectacular
Take a boat trip as the sun starts to set to the islands of Skokholm and Skomer. At this special time of day, just after dark, the Manx Shearwaters return to their nest and come back home to these 2 Welsh islands. The darker the sky becomes, the more noisy the birds become.
An expert guide will teach you all about the seabirds and their habitat from the boat.
Prices: Adults £28, Children £24
Duration: 1.5 hours
When: April - July
Time: 7pm
Departure Point: Martins Haven, Marloes
WHEN TO VISIT SKOMER ISLAND ISLAND
The Skomer boat trip that lands on the island operates from the beginning of April to the 30th of September.
Known as the ‘clowns of the sea’, the puffins arrive in April ready to nest and they leave at the end of July. The best time to see the puffins is between mid-June and mid-July as this is when the chicks have hatched and the parents are busy providing food.
During May and June, Skomer Island is covered in a blanket of purple with bluebells and red campions. The wildflowers really make the landscape pop with colour and make photos even more idyllic.
FACILITIES
Skomer Island is a wild habitat so there are limited facilities on the Island.
There is a small farmhouse/visitors centre, a toilet block and a place to buy water and rent binoculars.
It’s advised to bring your own food and drink for a picnic as there is nowhere to buy food on the island.
The closest facility to buy food is in the village of Marloes or you can purchase snacks and drinks at Lockley Lodge Visitors Centre. The closest big supermarket is a 20-minute drive away, which is Tesco in Milford Haven.
RULES & TIPS FOR SKOMER
Skomer has been likened to a giant Swiss cheese, full of borrows that can easily collapse if trodden on. So be careful to stick to the paths to avoid disturbing burrows
Don’t be fooled by the size of the island. Give yourself enough time to get back to the boat. We ended up being a 45-minute walk away from the boat and had to run to get back in time!
Remember all animals are wild and shouldn’t be disturbed. You are on their home
Only sit down and eat at designated picnic sites which are dotted around the island
Skomer Island has no bins so take your rubbish home with you
Wear suitable clothing and footwear and prepare for unpredictable weather conditions
The island is very exposed, so on sunny days be prepared for very little shade and shelter
Remember to bring a camera for the countless photography opportunities
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING SKOMER ISLAND
We stayed in a Classic Cottages accommodation right on the edge of St Annes Head.
The cottage was next door to St. Ann’s Lighthouse. And you know you’re staying close to the sea when you’re literally next door to a lighthouse!
The cottage is named “To the Lighthouse” which is fitting for the location. You can wake up to the sound of the sea, the birds and the ships passing by, all while wrapped in a duvet. The rooms at the back of the cottage have views of the rolling Welsh countryside and the rooms at the front have endless views of the Celtic sea.
Remote, unspoilt and tranquil was the nature of our trip, including accommodation. We felt privileged to stay in this secluded corner of Wales, feeling we had the whole area to ourselves. Our experience was simply joyful.
We’d highly recommend staying here if you’re visiting Skomer Island and/or Pembrokeshire. Whether you want your trip to be filled with those 'do nothing' days’ or you’re after a jam-packed trip of beaches, coastal walks and adventures, this cottage is perfect.
Regardless of the weather, “To the Lighthouse” gives you a unique experience. If it’s cold and rainy, snuggle next to the fire and embrace the peacefulness. If it’s sunny, hop onto the Pembrokeshire Coast Path right on your doorstep or have a BBQ in the garden overlooking the sea.
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Everything mentioned in this article is within a 20-minute drive from the cottage.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT NEARBY
If you want to extend your trip to Skomer Island here are a few places we’d suggest. These recommendations are perfect for a walk at sunset, a bite to eat for lunch or a place for relaxation.
These suggestions are within 15-20 minutes from Skomer Island and our recommended accommodation. Many are also connected via the coastal path so you can combine multiple by walking while taking in the fresh air and the sea views.
BEACHES & coastline
Deer Park
For the best view of Skomer Island from the mainland, head to Deer Park. This wild headland sits at the end of the Marloes Peninsula and is next to the tiny port where the boats depart from for the island.
Known as one of the highlights of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Deer Park sits right opposite Skomer. If you visit at the end of the day you can watch the sunset right behind the island, which creates a gold glow around the bird-infested rocky land.
Although there are actually no deer in Deer Park there is wildlife to be seen. When walking along the headland, keep an eye out for seals, playing in the coves below. If you visit in late summer or autumn, this is pup season so you might even see some fluffy white babies. Around 50 Atlantic grey seal pups are born every year on the beaches around the peninsula!
With the dramatic cliffs, magnificent waves and wildflowers, Deer Park is one of our favourite places in Pembrokeshire.
Marloes Sands
A 5-minute drive or a 50-minute coastal walk (from Deer Park) is Marloes Sands. A beautiful and remote beach that stretches over a mile long at low tide.
Marloes Sands is backed by wildflower-covered cliffs and unique rock formations. You can walk on the beach at low tide or walk along the headland above, where you can admire the white sand and glittering waves below. At low tide the sea uncovers numerous little bays and rock pools which divide the coastline up. The beach is dotted with locals surfing, children crabbing and hikers walking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
Walk west to the small tidal island called Gateholm Island, where you can discover the secluded bay of Albion Sands.
When visiting the beach, a visit to the Runwayskiln Cafe is a must! This coastal cafe is one of the only cafes for miles and overlooks the blue sea. They offer seasonal, locally sourced food, and of course Welsh Ales! Perfect for a summer's day.
dale
15 minutes from the port to Skomer is the tiny seaside village of Dale. This colourful village sits on the edge of the Celtic Sea and is officially known as the sunniest place in the whole of Wales.
With village charm, the sheltered bay is filled with boats bobbing along the sparkling water. You can try a range of different watersports like paddle boarding and kayaking or book a boat trip with the Celtic Sea Watersports.
Dale has 3 places to eat, all looking out to the water, and all offering amazing seafood.
The Boathouse Dale is the most budget-friendly with a relaxed atmosphere and classic breakfast and lunch options. You can sit outside on the benches right by the kayaks drying in the sun.
COCO’s Brasserie is known for its sharing boards and tapas. Head to the roof terrace for a cocktail in the sun, overlooking the beach.
The Griffin, having nationwide recognition for its seafood, is a 300-year-old pub and restaurant. Serving locally caught fish with a sea-view terrace. It’s on the pricey side but if you’re looking for a special meal, we would really recommend it.
If you want to soak up the sun, bring a picnic or buy ice cream and relax on the mile-long pebbled Dale Beach.
We hope this article can be helpful for your visit to Skomer Island!
This trip was in partnership with Classic Cottages. Head to Classic Cottages Website for more cottages in Wales and the rest of the UK.
