A visit to Skomer Island is a bucket-list item for most visitors to Wales. Here, you'll find some iconic seabirds that can nest here due to the lack of any land predators.
This includes puffins, razorbills, and guillemots who breed here in the summer. It's also home to half of the global population of Manx shearwaters which reed in burrows under the ground on Skomer before migrating to South America.
You’ll also encounter, gulls, fulmars, and even the occasional chough. It's not just feathered friends that you can see here. From Skomer, there's a good chance you'll spot dolphins, porpoises and seals around the coast.
I recently visited for myself, and in this guide, I'll explain exactly how to get there.
How To Visit Skomer Island
Of course, Skomer is an island so you'll have to get there by boat. But most people don't realise that there are four different ways to reach Skomer Island:
- Landing day trip from Marloes
ㅤ - One-hour sightseeing cruise from Marloes
ㅤ - Two-hour sightseeing cruise from St David’s
ㅤ - Stay overnight on Skomer Island
The difference between a landing day trip and a sightseeing cruise is that a sightseeing cruise will circle around the island - you won't actually step foot on it.
Whereas a landing day trip will drop you off on the island in the morning and pick you up again later in the day.
When To Visit? The best time to visit Skomer Island for puffins is April to mid-July. For guillemots and razorbills, it's April to June. For ravens, it's August to September. For newly born seal pups, it's late September.
Here's some more information about each of the four options along with the prices.
1. Landing Day Trip From Marloes
The best way to visit Skomer Island is by taking a landing day trip. This is how I visited.
You'll be dropped off on Skomer Island in the morning and given 4-5 hours to explore the island by yourself before getting the return boat around 3pm.
When you're dropped off, the island warden will meet you and share a brief introduction to the island and an overview of the wildlife you can expect to see. He'll also share some of the rules you need to follow.
After this, you'll be left to explore by yourself on foot.
To limit the number of people doing this (for conservation reasons), only one tour provider has a licence to operate Skomer Island landing trips. This is Pembrokeshire Islands operated by Dale Sailing.
Landing trips run 6 days per week (except Sunday) during the season which is April to September.
The prices vary by month with the highest prices between May-June which is the best time to visit. Adult tickets cost between £30-£44 whereas child tickets cost between £24-£30.
The boat departs from the jetty at Martin’s Haven, Marloes and takes just 15 minutes to cross to the island. There are several departure times between 10am and midday. No matter what time you depart, return is around 3pm.
If you depart later, you'll have less time on the island. I took the 10.30am departure and found this was more than enough time to explore.
Parking is at the Martin’s Haven National Trust car park. It’s free for National Trust members, otherwise, you will need an all-day pass for £6.
Book Now: Skomer Island Landing Day Trip
Later in this guide, I'll share a little more about the facilities on the island.
2. Sightseeing Cruise From Marloes
An alternative option is to take a sightseeing cruise around the island. Although you won't step foot on the island, you'll still get a great view of the colonies of birds that call it home during the summer.
I've done a similar cruise at Ramsey Island and loved having the onboard guide who can point out the different birds and share some interesting information. This is something I really missed by doing a landing trip.
The same company that runs the landing tours from Marloes, Pembrokeshire Islands by Dale Sailing, also run the sightseeing tours from Marloes.
These last around 1 hour so it's better for people short on time. They are also cheaper, costing £20 for adults and £18 for children (as of 2024).
As with the landing trips, parking is at the Martin’s Haven National Trust car park. You will need a 3-hour pass for £3 or it’s free for National Trust members.
3. Sightseeing Cruise From St David’s
Sightseeing cruises can also be taken from near St David’s which is located across the other side of St Brides Bay. The cruises depart next to St Jutinians Lifeboat Stations on St David’s Peninsular.
The concept is the same as the sightseeing cruises from Marloes - you'll stay on the boat with a guide while you cruise around the island. You won't step foot on it.
As St David's is much further away, these sightseeing cruises typically take 2.5 hours which includes up to 45 minutes each way crossing time.
Due to the extra distance, this trip is also more expensive than visiting from Marloes, with prices starting from £60 per adult.
I'd only recommend this if you're staying near St David's and don't mind paying a bit extra for a scenic journey on a boat rather than a car.
Here are the tour companies currently offering sightseeing trips to Skomer Island from St David’s.
- Voyages of Discovery – Can have several departures per day during the summer season starting from 9am until dusk. The price is currently £62 for both adults and children (as of 2024).
ㅤ - Thousand Islands – Trips depart daily during the summer season costing £60 per adult and £40 for children (as of 2024).
The season runs roughly from May to Mid-July, but you should check their website for details.
Departures are from the old lifeboat station at St Jutinians. There is parking nearby, there are some free spots with others charged at a flat rate of £3.
4. Stay Overnight on Skomer Island
The Wildlife Trust that manage the island offer a very limited number of places for overnight stays on the island.
You’ll take a dedicated boat across to the island around 9am, before the landing day trip visitors, and you’ll get to stay on the island after they leave.
You'll stay at a hostel on the island which has a shared dorm room and five private rooms (hold between 2 and 5 people). After a day of exploring the island, you’ll gather with others staying on the island to discuss sightings for the day which will contribute to the island records.
Remember, facilities on the island are very basic and you’ll need to bring your own food. Some basic cooking equipment will be provided.
You can stay on the island between April and September. The price varies by month, with May-July being the most expensive time to stay.
Single beds in the dorm room cost between £50-£60 per night, whereas the private rooms cost anywhere between £55-£90 per person per night. You'll also have to pay £20 for the boat (round-trip).
Personally, I found the 5-hour landing trip to be more than enough time to do everything there is to do on the island. The overnight trip is aimed at birding enthusiasts or anyone keen to escape and switch off for a few nights.
There is no online booking system for overnight stays, but there's lots of additional information and a full PDF guide on the Welsh Wildlife website here.
What To Expect From A Skomer Island Day Trip
Skomer Island is a nature reserve owned by Natural Resources Wales and managed by the Wildlife Trust. Only the wardens live on the island along with huge numbers of seabirds.
When you first arrive, you'll receive an introduction from the warden who will explain what there is to do on the island, what you can expect to see that day, and what time you need to be back for the return boat (it was 3pm for me!).
You can walk on Skomer Island along a few dedicated paths, but you cannot roam off the paths and some areas are prohibited as they are for research only. There are no roads.
I recommend taking some binoculars if you have them. If not, when you first land on the island, you can hire them from the warden at £5 per day. You can pay in cash whilst there or pay by card when you return to the mainland.
There is a bird hide where you can sit and see birds up close including gulls, blackbirds and kittiwakes here.
What facilities are on the island?
The facilities on Skomer Island include a basic visitor centre which provides information about the island and its wildlife. There’s also an indoor picnic area which is ideal for sheltering if it rains during your visit.
Are there toilets on Skomer Island?
Yes, there are toilets on Skomer Island by the visitor centre, but keep in mind that these are compost toilets and there is no sink for hand washing so you will need to use hand gel which is provided. Despite being compost toilets, they were still very clean.
How long does it take to walk around the island?
The walk around Skomer Island is 3 miles. It took me around 2.5 hours at a leisurely pace with time to stop and see birds on the way around.
What should I wear?
Skomer Island can get cold due to the sea breeze, even on a sunny day. I recommend bringing a sweater or jacket to keep warm.
Although hiking boots might be more comfortable for walking around, the paths aren't too muddy so they are;t essential. Regular trainers are fine.
Is Skomer Island Worth Visiting?
Yes, Skomer Island is worth visiting if you are in Pembrokeshire at the right time of year, especially in early summer when there are lots of auks (including puffins) and towards the end of September when you’ll see seal pups.
You don’t have to do the full 5-hour landing tour, if you are not a big wildlife enthusiast, I’d still encourage you to take the 1-hour sightseeing tour around the island where a guide will tell you interesting facts and help you spot birds, seals, and maybe even dolphins.
See my full article on the best things to do in West Wales for more ideas and activities whilst you are in the region.
List of Wildlife on Skomer Island
Here's a full list of the birds you can expect to see on Skomer:
- Puffins
- Razorbill
- Guillemot
- Manx Shearwater
- Lesser Black-beaked Gull
- Herring Gull
- Great Black-Backed Gull
- Kittiwake
- Shag
- Cormorant
- Fulmar
- Chough
- Short-Eared Owl
- Raven
- Buzzard
- Oystercatcher
- Curlew
- Peregrine Falcon
Aside from birds, expect to see lots of rabbits, as well as lizards, greylings, butterflies, ladybirds, and bees. You might see seals around the coast and spot dolphins or porpoises offshore.
Related Questions
Are Dogs Allowed On Skomer Island?
No, dogs are not allowed on Skomer Island because it’s a nature reserve for birds including many that nest under the ground. However, dogs are welcome on cruises around the island by all of the operators.
Can You Take Drones On Skomer Island?
No, drones are not allowed on Skomer Island because it’s a nature reserve for birds.
Can You Visit Skomer Island When It’s Raining?
Yes, trips to Skomer Island still take place when it’s raining. However, conditions at sea such as tidal flows and wind direction may cause your trip to be cancelled. You can see if trips are running by checking the @skomer_boatinfo Twitter feed after 8am each day.
How To Get To Skomer Island From Tenby
The best way to reach Skomer Island from Tenby is by taking a boat trip from Marloes which is about 45 minutes away by car. You can take a 1-hour sightseeing tour or a 5-hour landing trip from Marloes.
Published: 12 August 2022 · Last updated: 6 March 2024