Skomer Island
Situated 15 minutes boat ride from the picturesque Pembrokeshire coast, this beautiful 750-acre island offers the visitor a wide choice of unique wildlife experiences.
Highlights: Skomer has the largest colony of breeding seabirds in Southern Britain. From early spring, thousands of colourful puffins watch the visitor from the entry to their burrows or vigorously pass overhead, when not socialising in huge rafts on the sea - all clearly visible. These birds are the "clowns of the sea" and expect them to come right up to you and walk between your feet, when you are on the island.
The more sedate razorbills and guillemots gaze across at you from the cliffs that encompass the island and you can look out for Gannets plunging into the sea. Keep an eye out inland for short-eared owls, which fly and hunt during the day on the island.
World's largest population of Manx Shearwaters
At night, Skomer, home to the largest population in the world of manx shearwaters (up to a quarter of a million birds), is alive with their calls as they return to their burrows, which can be seen all around the edges of the island.
There are many more species of bird to be seen here including: kittiwakes, oystercatchers, choughs, fulmars and gulls which hunt by day to feed their chicks, making your visit filled with a cacophony of sound.
Watch out for the porpoises and dolphins as you come across from the mainland and from Skomer Head, where they can be seen daily - if you are lucky, you may catch sight of a sunfish or a basking shark which also visit Skomer from time to time. The seals are, however, always around, either hauling out on the rocks or just popping their heads up to stare at you. In autumn, it is worth a second visit just to see the pups on the beaches - there are up to 165 pups born each autumn.
Back on the island, you can't fail to miss the wild rabbits that scamper freely amongst the acres of wildflowers. Keep a sharp eye out for our own, unique, mammal - the skomer vole - found only on this island.
Facilities
There is also a limited facility for visitors to stay, on a self-catering basis, in our chalets on the island. Please ring 01239 621212 for details - the Pembrokeshire Pearl!
For more details, click here.
These maps are intended as a guideline only; you must check the exact location of the reserve yourself. Wildlife Extra assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or usefulness of the information on this website.