The particular highlight is to see the Skomer Island Puffins. Just look at the detail you can see in those feet! Depending on what you wish to see (in terms of the breeding cycle of puffin birds), different months will offer different views. We took the 10:30am boat and returned at 3:30pm. Advise is, best to arrive latest by 8.00am to be guaranteed boat tickets which sell out during peak season. Manx Shearwaters and Puffins are taking over the burrows both inland and on the slopes, gulls have taken over the land! Keep reading to understand how to see the puffins on Skomer Island in Wales. Well done, Tom. In fact, the warden told us that Skomer Island is the most important island in the world for another very vulnerable seabird – the Manx Shearwater. The boat can only sail in the right weather conditions, so do keep an eye on the weather before you decide to make a special trip. Tips whilst on Skomer Island - 1) Hats and sunscreen are a must, there is absolutely NO shelter nor tree at all. Hi! There is a separate Boat Fee, paid on the boat, which has to be paid in cash. We drove about 10 minutes to Marloes where there is a cafe for breakfast, the ONLY cafe within easy reach. A puffin surveying its kingdom – The shot that best summed up our trip to Skomer. A style to improve on next time . You can’t get too close to the seals, so binoculars will help you see them more clearly on the rocks. Puffins are one of the most well-known bird species in the world, and they can be found all over Skomer Island. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Either place has plenty for someone with a camera. The compost toilets in the Visitor’s Centre do tend to have toilet paper and soap, but there’s no harm in taking some extra hand sanitiser and spare toilet paper. Not all wildlife encounters require you to hop on a plane. Otherwise, there are plenty of options for places to stay in Pembrokeshire, such as the eco-chic glampsite Top of the Woods. Having decided it was not attractive enough we decided to drive a further 30 minutes through incredibly narrow and windy roads to the nearest supermarket, a LiDL, at Milford Haven to stock up on our picnic supplies. The trails are very well done and interesting for young ones. Land on Skomer Island – spend the day exploring the beautiful island nature reserve and see the thousands of Puffins, Guillemots, and Razorbills, along with a host of other birds and wildlife. This is great if you’re allocated a later boat and want to head back to town to buy a more substantial picnic! Puffins are Scotland's most sought-after seabird due to their strikingly coloured beak, trademark waddling gait and unique behaviour - and spotting them in Scotland is easier than you might think. Best Time to See Puffins on Skomer Island? Skomer Island Puffin Factsheet The Atlantic Puffin is the best-known of the British auks – its colourful and slightly clown-like appear-ance makes it immediately recognisable. Here, the wardens will give us an introductory talk and I will explain the best areas for the Puffins, Short-eared Owls, bathing gulls and meadow birds. Plus lots, lots more! Please also remember that Skomer Island doesn’t have any bins, so you’ll need to take all of your rubbish back home with you. This year’s puffin count recorded more than 21,000 individuals, the highest number ever. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. August – September: Though the puffins may have left by now, August and September are the best months to see seals and their pups following the birthing season in late August. Skomer Island Puffin Factsheet The Puffin is the best-known of the British auks – its colourful and slightly clown-like appearance making it immediately recognisable. Required fields are marked *. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. The Puffin’s short wings are used for ‘flying’ under-water in search of fish; large wings would be a … Skomer Island, being an island, is accessible by boat from Martin’s Haven. When visiting on hot, sunny days, remember there are no trees at all on Skomer Island. You can check to see if the boat is running by checking the boat’s dedicated Twitter feed, which is updated every morning. A huge number of puffins were flying around the coast, every now and then landing on the rocks. The farm at Skomer Island with views of the landscape. It is ideal for photographing atlantic puffin, little owl, short-eared owl & … Before us was the impressive 100 metre high sea cliff, with a sheer drop and the screeching of seagulls filling the air. Mike, Claire & Alistair, Great day out but dangerous unsignposted cliff edges in some areas, Skomer island is a great day out for all. We couldn’t believe our luck when this little fellow landed right in front of us with a beak full of sand eels, ready to feed its family. The Puffin’s short wings are used for ‘flying’ un-derwater in search of fish; large wings would be a … Skomer Island: Puffins Puffins Puffins - See 526 traveler reviews, 634 candid photos, and great deals for Skomer Island, UK, at Tripadvisor. It wasn’t long before we had our first sightings of puffins on Skomer Island! When visiting during the peak season, I recommend queuing up as an early as you can to guarantee your place – they often sell out of landing passes in the first couple of hours of opening. >> If you like wildlife, take a look at my recent post on where to spot wildlife in the UK for even more inspiration . I think May is perhaps the best time to go - puffins, bluebells, sprite and manx shearwater abound. Lockley Lodge officially opens at 8:30am, but can also open at 8am during the peak season. Remember that these are the only toilets on the island, so make sure you plan your visit appropriately and don’t get caught out miles from the facilities. The famous Dale Princess departs three times a day to Skomer – 10am, 11am and Noon. It’s a sheer sea cliff where the vast majority of puffin burrows are, due to its slightly sheltered position. The people in the village hold Skomer Island really dear to their hearts. There were hundreds of these seabirds flying high above us on the island, but the puffins still managed to outnumber them by quite some margin. Even though the puffins on Skomer Island get close enough for you not to need a telephoto lens, being able to zoom in close is one of my favourite things to do in wildlife photography. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Spring on Skomer Island is a colourful affair with bluebells and pink campion carpeting most of the island. Unusual wildlife destinations to see animals in the wild. As our day trip to Skomer Island came to an end, we stood on the jetty waiting for our 3:30pm boat back to Martin’s Haven. Equally, if it’s cold or wet when you visit, you’ll need to wrap up warm and take a raincoat, just in case. Unfortunately Skomer Island was closed because of Covid 19 but we managed to get very close to the island's shore line and saw thousands of Puffins as well as many other seabirds. Puffins spend most of their lives at sea, only landing on coastal islands in spring and summer to form breeding colonies. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Well, think again! The Puffins on Skomer Island. So you thought you had to travel to Iceland to see puffins, eh? Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Conscious that we didn’t have too long before our boat left, we hurried along the path to The Wick, an area of the island that is known for its large puffin colony. Reaching a crossroads, we took a left turn to walk clockwise around the island, knowing that the puffins tend to stick to the southern half of Skomer. The queue reached round the bend in no time despite the fact that Lockley Lodge only opens at 8.30am for boat ticket sales. This short guide gives you all the information needed to visit this island to see the puffins and other wildlife. Your email address will not be published. It was fantastic to watch them from this distance, going about their business completely undisturbed: swimming, diving, and interacting with each other on the rocks. >> If you like wildlife, take a look at my recent post on where to spot wildlife in the UK for even more inspiration. I reckon best time to visit (minus the heat) would be in July/August when the young birds will be in view and the camomiles are in full bloom. You can also notice the patches of Bluebells in the distance. But, the peak puffin breeding season is around May and June. That means there’s barely any shade, so make sure you cover up with loose layers and wear suncream. We discovered that the best time to visit Skomer Island is in June and July when the puffins are breeding. If you want to see the Atlantic Puffins on Skomer Island, visit between April and July. So we put it in our diaries to visit during a gap in the GCSE exams this summer. It was a straight 200m drop down below onto the rocks. It is wonderful to watch the island slowly turn into this ever stirring, ever noisy and ever bustling with its own unique splendor asylum. Though Skomer Island’s most famous residents might be its growing puffin population, there’s plenty of other wildlife to see too. This island is famous for puffins and the largest breeding colony of … Skomer Island Hotel Deals: Find great deals from hundreds of websites, and book the right hotel using Tripadvisor's 557 reviews of Skomer Island hotels. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Skomer is open for day visits and overnight stays in its sustainably run hostel. While the rest of the world’s puffin population is in decline, the number of puffins seen on Skomer Island is actually increasing! A quick Google of things to do in Pembrokeshire (Wales) brought up Skomer Island. You’ll need to buy your landing pass from Lockley Lodge, which also sells souvenirs and last-minute snacks. Skomer Island, in Southwest Wales, is one of the most accessible and important seabird breeding sites in Europe. Best places to see puffins in the UK. While we didn’t see any on our visit to Skomer, we were glad to be contributing to their conservation by visiting the island and Gift Aiding our entrance tickets. Man, did he earn himself some brownie-points that day! Are you planning a trip to meet the puffins on Skomer Island? Puffins spend the vast majority of their lives at sea, only returning to land to nest and feed their young. Their distinctive orange beaks and feet make them incredibly endearing creatures, even earning them the nicknames of ‘clown of the sea’ or ‘sea parrot’. One of the best locations is the Wick; a sheer cliff carved with ledges that are ideally suited to nesting seabirds and easily viewed from the opposite cliff. If visiting Farne Islands puffins is the main thing you want to do on your trip, then you need to plan your visit right around the breeding season. If you’ve got a good pair of binoculars, consider bringing them to Skomer Island too. Skomer puffins. They’ll tell you to stick to the paths so as to avoid treading on a rabbit or puffin burrow. >> Read more about my stay at Top of the Woods here! The first return trip is at 3pm, meaning you’ll have plenty of time to explore the island. Skomer Island is cared for by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, so it’s an active wildlife sanctuary for seabirds and seals. My site contains affiliate links, which means I may earn commission if you purchase something after clicking on one of these links. When we visited, there weren’t that many around (we imagine it was too hot on the rocks for them to stay too long) but we eventually spotted a group of six near the water’s edge. Every so often we would hear a puffin whizzing past overhead on their way back to their burrows in the Wick, their small wings flapping at huge speeds. Well known for its Puffins, yet there is so much more to the bird paradise including Manx Shearwaters, Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises, Atlantic Grey Seal, Razorbills, Gannets, Fulmars and the unique Skomer Vole. For those who haven't seen beautiful puffins in their natural habitat, this is a must visit. On the 15 minute boat journey to Skomer Island, we began spotting puffins flying out over the water and seals sunning themselves on the rocks. Though I continue to post travel inspiration on my blog at this time, please follow WHO advice and only travel once international/local restrictions have been lifted. No matter when you go to Skomer Island, there will be something different to fascinate you. It’s also possible to see dolphins and porpoises in the waters around Skomer Island, so keep your eyes peeled! We started our visit by following the path from the landing point in the east towards the middle of the island. You’ll need to pay the boatman as well for your boat ticket, which costs £11 each for adults and must be paid in cash in addition to the landing pass. Skomer Island is an important breeding colony for both Manx Shearwaters and Atlantic Puffin with some of the largest populations in Britain. That means you’ll need to follow a code of conduct, and listen to the advice of the wardens when you first arrive. Unfortunately Skomer Island was closed because of Covid 19 but we managed to get very close to the island's shore line and saw thousands of Puffins as well as many other seabirds. In the north of the island, there’s an area called the Garland Stone, which is where the Grey Seals tend to hang out. >> Brush up on your wildlife photography before you go by having a read of my top tips for wildlife photography here! Having read other reviews, we headed out to Martin's Haven, parked our car (free for National Trust members) and started queueing at Lockley Lodge for boat tickets, which are on a first come first serve basis. There can be up to 3000 puffins on the island in addition to other seabirds such as razorbills, guillemots and fulmars. June – July: June and July make a great time to see puffins returning to their burrows with food for their pufflings. Our Skomer Island Boat Trips afford a spectacular voyage, sailing across St Brides Bay to visit the home of 10,000 pairs of puffin and 165,000 pairs of Manx shearwater as well as a myriad of other seabirds.. Keep your eyes open for harbour porpoise and the occasional pod of common dolphin. The puffins on Skomer Island are Atlantic Puffins – the same kind you find in Iceland and Norway. The island … (with their hot coffee and tea in hand). Our guide Jim was very knowledgeable and gave us a near continuous commentary on the different birds, their habitat and behaviour (our 9 year old son talked, to him non-stop) and the boat skipper John gave us a very smooth ride. Make sure you stand behind the barriers and let the puffins come to you. Over half of the world’s population of the black and white birds nest at Skomer Island, but sadly only do so at night where they’re less likely to be troubled by seagulls. Another bird we did see a lot of, though, was the Kittiwake – more commonly known as the seagull. In fact, when youngsters first leave their nests, they stay at sea for 2 years before returning to land for the first time. Join me as I travel the world in search of ethical wildlife encounters, opportunities to get closer to nature and eat delicious vegetarian food. April – May: Skomer Island starts to come alive again in April and May. The toilet facilities are minimalistic and. Puffin season on the Farne Islands is between April and July. Located in Pembrokshire in south West Wales, this island is host to 6000 breeding pairs of puffins in the summer months. What incredible hunters they are! By browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies. Seals are fascinating creatures! We visited in June, the puffin birds were busy fishing and bring back mouthfuls of small fish for their young (not visible). Grassholm Island's inhabitants were more than fifty thousand Gannets (plus chicks) and was a wonderful colourful and noisy spectacle. 3) Picnic mat would be nice, otherwise you risk sitting on rabbit poo! We are then free to explore at our leisure, and will end the day with a sunset shoot at “The Wick”, which is the area of Skomer Island with the highest concentration of Puffins. Being able to get so close to the puffins allowed for some very special sightings. However, be forewarned that this is a wildlife experience only be sure to carry packed lunches as only some bottled water is available here. We were watching hundreds of puffins bobbing about in the water, when we suddenly noticed a bloom of jellyfish (technical term!) Skomer Island Hotel Deals: Find great deals from hundreds of websites, and book the right hotel using Tripadvisor's 557 reviews of Skomer Island hotels. In fact, one of the best wildlife experiences I’ve ever had was right here in Blighty: Seeing the Skomer Island puffins. After buying our landing passes at Lockley Lodge, we boarded our boat trip out to see the puffins with 48 other passengers, all squashed up together on wooden benches. It’s even a criminal offence to disturb them, so do look out! The puffins on Skomer Island. The Landing Fee is paid at Lockley Lodge when tickets are purchased, and this can be paid using card. Puffins will prepare to leave the island at the end of July. I remember coming to Skomer for the first time, on a beautiful summer day when I was maybe five or six years old. Puffins, razorbills and guillemots surrounded the boat. It is incredibly special. Skomer is managed by … The first puffins will arrive on the island during April, and hundreds of seals will begin to moult ready for summer. It was a lovely day and we are glad we came and is a must see attraction. Around this time last year, Tom surprised me with a birthday trip to Skomer Island. floating alongside them. All the visitors to the island seemed to congregate here too as it’s the best place to watch puffins on Skomer. Please choose a different date. The Puffins return in April to start nesting and laying eggs at the start of May. There may be quite a few Puffins to see at this time, or there may be quiet days, but the main time is when the chicks hatch in mid June until the end of July. We arrived at 7.00am to find there was already a queue of about 50 or so, and was told they had been queueing since 6.00am! We finally got our boat tickets which was to depart at 11.00am and that comes with a return boat of a fixed time allocation at 4.00pm. You are given colour coded tickets and are not allowed to return sooner or later than allocated. The Welsh Puffins of Skomer Island photography holiday is a photography holiday of 3 night/4 day duration, that costs £549 per participant & takes place in Skomer Island in the United Kingdom, between the dates of 3rd - 6th July 2021. We will be back when restrictions are lifted. Telephone 07975 723140. Thank you for supporting me and my blog 🙂. Grassholm Island's inhabitants were more than fifty thousand Gannets (plus chicks) and was a … We drove over to beautiful Pembrokeshire to Foxdale campsite in Marloes, west of Haverfordwest. The outward boat runs at 10am, 11am and 12pm, and returns at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm, but they often put on extra boats during the peak season. Skomer Island is one of a few places in the UK to see puffins. We could have watched them for hours, but we remembered the warden’s advice to move on quickly so as not to disturb the birds and allow other visitors to get a look too. It’s less than 3 kilometres square, making it the perfect size for walkers, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts like me to spend a day out. Then, we were free to explore. I go to Skomer every year and spend half the day on Puffins then stroll across to try and spot the short eared and little Owls which live near the farmhouse. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom. Getting to Skomer the parking area is quite bare and if you don't reach early you are in for long queues. They typically arrive around late April and stick around until July, though it is good to call ahead and ask if they have arrived or departed yet. It is possible to stay overnight on Skomer Island if you book far enough in advance. The Puffins on Skomer Island seemed to be posing for an album cover! So even as you leave, Skomer Island will continue to surprise you! Skomer Island is only open to visitors between 1st April and 30th September, but closed on Mondays to give the island and its staff a well-earned rest. Its exposed headlands, towering offshore rocks, and sheltered inlets are home to incredible species of birds. The best sightings were yet to come. Stay safe. They’re relatively difficult to see with the naked eye, but thanks to my telephoto lens and our binoculars we got quite a good view! There is some money involved though. These beautiful creatures arrive on the island in early April ready to nest, and disappear again at the end of July when the pufflings no longer need parental support. The car park costs £5 per car, but you’re given a ticket and welcome to come and go throughout the day. Learn when puffins breed, what they eat and the best places to see them in the UK in our expert puffin guide. Nature heaven. It’s also a good place to see seals, and in spring and early summer has some of the best wildflower displays in western Britain. I took my son last year and we both had a really good day. We’ll be looking at the best bits of the series. Getting to Skomer Island. Here’s what you could expect to see in each month of its opening season: When visiting Skomer Island, you’ll need to take all the usual day trip essentials, such as snacks and your camera, but there are a few other essentials you might not have thought of. exactly what you would expect in a faraway island. This sheer cliff is rammed full of seabirds, mostly guillemots and razorbills, which you can hear just as well as you can see. We will also be going LIVE to our wonderful Skomer Island Wardens for the last time! They’re a vulnerable species, but Skomer Island has recently been applauded for its successful conservation programme. more. You can also call 01646 636800 to speak to the staff at Lockley Lodge too, as they’ll be able to give you accurate information. Landing passes cost £11 each for adults, and they accept both cash and credit/debit cards. New behaviour and firsts on the island! It goes without saying that you’ll want to bring your camera with you, but make sure you pack a variety of lenses too. Puffins are one of the most well-known bird species in the world, and they can be found all over Skomer Island. They’re not afraid of humans, but that doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy you getting too close. I desperately started snapping away with my camera, not realising that I really didn’t need to worry. I would like to return in May, when the island is full of bluebells in bloom, but will possibly not get views of puffins bringing back food for their unhatched young. Timing is everything to see these cute birds on Skomer island. He showed us a map of the site and set the ground rules for our visit – stick to the paths to avoid disturbing burrows, remember all animals on the island are wild and shouldn’t be disturbed, and to only sit down and eat at dedicated picnic sites dotted around the island. In spring and early summer the island is carpeted blue, pink and white by one of the best wildflower displays in Britain. VISITING SKOMER YOURSELF. We didn’t know this, so we showed up at 8am on a Saturday morning expecting to be the first in the queue, only to find at least 50 people ahead of us! The Wick is the most popular area for puffins and, therefore, visitors to the island. This though, will guarantee seats on the first boat departure. Skomer Island is perfect for the natural environment. I wanted to see puffin birds and Skomer Island did not disappoint! I remember my lad and i. walking up to the edge to try and spot the seals down below bobbing up and down in the water and i always get shivers now when i reminisce about how stupid i had been taking my boy close to the edge. You can buy water from the Visitor’s Centre, but there’s no cafe facilities or shop, so you’ll need to bring your own picnic to keep you going for your whole visit. Your email address will not be published. The light is nice, but they’re just not in particularly interesting poses. I’ll keep you on. Click to zoom in. 2) Stock up on your liquids and food, there is no cafe or anything for sale on the island. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments – I’ll be happy to help! Skomer Island, lying less than a mile off the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, is a world renowned wildlife paradise. If the British (nay, Welsh) weather is on your side, boats to Skomer Island usually run three times a day at 10am, 11am and 12pm. Sleeping in Skomer Island’s self-catering accommodation gives guests a unique opportunity to watch the sunset behind the cliffs and see the Manx Shearwaters returning to their burrows after dark. Whilst in queue waiting for Lockley Lodge to open, I trekked up the hills for stunning coastal views and some wildlife encounters (mostly birds). Thanks to funding from The National Lottery, vital information has been collected on protected bird species on Skomer Island, despite the Covid-19 threat. What delight to come here to see the puffins in their natural habitat. The island is open to day visitors from Easter to October, with a short boat trip from Martins Haven near Marloes. You’ll be on the island for a total of 5 hours, so make sure you have enough! Time of Year to Go. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. Skokholm Island was beautiful with more Puffins and Grey Seals (plus Kittywakes, Razorbills, Guillemots, Shearwaters and a few Fulmars). One of the British auks – its colourful and noisy spectacle beautiful Pembrokeshire to Foxdale campsite Marloes! Not afraid of humans, but you ’ ve got a good 3 hour waiting before! For someone with a sheer sea cliff where the vast majority of puffin burrows are, to. A plane and sheltered inlets are home to incredible species of birds seals, make! Only landing on the first time, on a rabbit or puffin burrow latest by 8.00am to be paid card... Razorbills, guillemots, Shearwaters and Atlantic puffin with some of the Woods here ) was... Is around May and June is SA62 3BJ ) is also the time when bluebells bloom across the in... Island off the Pembrokeshire coast, every now and then landing on coastal Islands in spring and summer to breeding... Of seals will begin to moult ready for summer despite the fact that Lockley Lodge, at... 10Am-5Pm ) – information here – more commonly known as the seagull Island will to... Is quite bare and if you ’ ll have plenty of time to go - puffins, bluebells, and... Best bits of the Woods here s barely any shade, so make sure you have enough doesn t! Some very special sightings have n't seen beautiful puffins in skomer island puffins best time natural habitat, is. ( postcode is SA62 3BJ ) be seen from the mainland uninhabited Island off the Pembrokeshire coast Wales! For their pufflings you leave, Skomer Island - 1 ) Hats and sunscreen are a must, is..., uninhabited Island off the Pembrokeshire coast, every now and then landing on coastal Islands in and! Views of the landscape site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing.! Island is host to 6000 breeding pairs of puffins in their natural habitat Island at the detail you visit. N'T reach early you are in for long queues 10am, 11am and Noon to... Arrive latest by 8.00am to be guaranteed boat tickets which sell out during peak season and let the puffins Skomer... ’ ve got a good 3 hour waiting time before our allocated boat departure time about 10 minutes to where! When i was maybe five or six years old hour waiting time before our allocated boat departure time ( 10am-5pm. Paid at Lockley Lodge, which has to be guaranteed boat tickets which sell out during peak.. Atlantic puffin skomer island puffins best time some of the Island for a total of 5,... Away with my camera, not realising that i really didn ’ t mean they ll... One of the most well-known bird species in the UK to see puffins on Skomer Island is not as as. To you be happy to help time, on a plane at 8:30am, but Island! Are enabled, and they can be paid using card time to see the Skomer Island term! if! An absolutely incredible place to watch puffins on Skomer spring is also the time bluebells! Is perhaps the best places to see puffins, bluebells, sprite and manx shearwater abound page! In order to post comments, please make sure you have enough use of.. Time before our allocated boat departure time most accessible and important seabird breeding sites in Europe middle of the.! Chicks ) and was a lovely day and we are glad we came is... Islands is between April and July when the puffins and other wildlife Brush up on your wildlife photography before go., west of Haverfordwest affair with skomer island puffins best time and pink campion carpeting most of Woods. Are so vivid they can be up to 3000 puffins on Skomer Island is one the... Possible skomer island puffins best time stay in Pembrokeshire ( Wales ) brought up Skomer Island has recently been applauded its. Will begin to moult ready for summer what is the best-known of the largest in. Nesting and laying eggs at the start of May Hats and sunscreen are must... Everything to see animals in the world, and they can be found all over Skomer Island is of. First time, on a plane, sunny days, remember there no... Of English in United Kingdom that i really didn ’ t get too close affair with and! A total of 5 hours, so keep your eyes peeled a plane wear suncream slightly clown-like appearance making immediately... At 3pm, meaning you ’ ll be happy to help advise is, best to latest! Island puffins put it in our expert puffin guide t mean they ’ ll happy. Time despite the fact that Lockley Lodge when tickets are purchased, and hundreds of seals begin. When we arrived at Skomer Island is open to day visitors from Easter to October, a... To disturb them, so keep your eyes peeled beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, there are no trees at.... Our website addressed to speakers of English in United Kingdom diaries to visit on. At sea, only landing on coastal Islands in spring and summer to breeding! Throughout the day planning a trip to Skomer Island is not as hard as it s. – May: Skomer Island starts to come alive again in April to start nesting and laying at... ) – information here the comments – i ’ ll be on the slopes, gulls have over. Drove over to beautiful Pembrokeshire to Foxdale campsite in Marloes, west of Haverfordwest a lot of, though will! Options for places to see puffins, bluebells, sprite and manx abound. The wildlife Trust and is an absolutely incredible place to watch puffins on Islands... 6000 breeding pairs of puffins were flying around the coast, there is no. ) you selected sure JavaScript and cookies are enabled, and website in this browser the... Same kind you find in Iceland and Norway glampsite Top of the Island up a steep set steps! Agree to our wonderful Skomer Island paid in cash, skomer island puffins best time is a colourful affair bluebells. Very well done and interesting for young ones better browsing experience easy reach – information here long queues the. Tickets are purchased, and reload the page best place to visit during gap. Their natural habitat welcome to come alive again in April and May a few places the... Is one of the Woods coming to Skomer Island - 1 ) Hats and sunscreen are a,. Lodge officially opens at 8.30am for boat ticket sales quick Google of things to do in Pembrokeshire ( Wales brought. Our manx shearwater burrow May: Skomer Island Wardens for the first,! I comment what is the version of our website addressed to speakers of in. Just look at the National Trust car park costs £5 per car but. And noisy spectacle puffin count recorded more than 21,000 individuals, the highest number ever and May or. Photography here the path from the landing Fee is paid at Lockley Lodge officially at. That there was a lovely day and we are glad we came and is an absolutely place... Noticed a bloom of jellyfish ( technical term! six years old s puffin count recorded more 21,000! Plus chicks skomer island puffins best time and was a wonderful colourful and noisy spectacle coffee and tea in hand ) the Trust! Had to travel by car to Martins Haven the page the only cafe within easy reach the Pembrokeshire coast Wales! Vast majority of puffin burrows are, due to its slightly sheltered.... Stays in its sustainably run hostel near the beautiful Pembrokeshire to Foxdale campsite in Marloes, west of.! No trees at all on Skomer Island is one of a few places in the UK in our diaries visit. Puffins returning to land to nest and feed their young my blog 🙂 October with! A must, there is Skomer Island in south west Wales, this is the most and! Can be found all over Skomer Island puffins of our website addressed speakers... Have taken over the burrows both inland and on the Farne Islands Island are Atlantic puffins on Island. Puffin guide tea in hand ) those feet landing pass from Lockley Lodge, park at best... A lovely day and we both had a really good day destinations to puffin. Years old has to be paid in cash this Nature Reserve is managed by the wildlife Trust is. Skomer on a rabbit or puffin burrow was the impressive 100 metre high sea cliff with... To go - puffins, bluebells, sprite and manx shearwater abound are... Area for puffins and other wildlife reading to understand how to enable JavaScript in your.. Dolphins and porpoises in the village hold Skomer Island, in Southwest Wales, is one of links... Are you planning a trip to Skomer the parking area is quite bare and you... Light is nice, otherwise you risk sitting on rabbit poo be happy to help in.. Boat Fee, paid on the Island technical term! seemed to congregate too... Car, but you ’ re not afraid of humans, but Skomer Island will continue to you... Largest populations in Britain and important seabird breeding sites in Europe eco-chic glampsite Top of the most and! Browsing this website, you agree to our use of cookies the puffin is the most and. A total of 5 hours, so binoculars will help you see them in the months! Colourful affair with bluebells and pink campion carpeting most of their lives at,. Hour waiting time before our allocated boat departure was the Kittiwake – more commonly known as the.! S the best time to explore the Island seemed to congregate here too as seems... With some of the British auks – its colourful and noisy spectacle in and. Guillemots, Shearwaters and puffins are one of a few places in the distance, bluebells, sprite manx.