Skomer Island

Skomer Island lies about a mile off the south-western tip of Pembrokeshire. It is probably the most important seabird site in southern Britain and includes maritime grassland, lush inland vegetation, streams and man-made ponds.
Most of the island is 60 metres above sea level, with most of the coast made up of steep sea cliffs. At one point the island is nearly bisected except for a narrow isthmus.
It is also rich in historical remains. Early field systems, huts and enclosures provide considerable evidence of human occupation here in prehistoric times.

The reserve also includes Skomer Island and Middleholm SSSI and Pembrokeshire Marine SAC.

Grid Ref: SM728093 Area: 315.22 hectares

Map - Skomer Island

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Visiting

The current farm buildings date back to 1834 and the island was managed as a farm, passing through four different owners. In recent years the buildings have been renovated and were formally opened in July 2008.

The Nature Conservancy Council (now CCW), with help from the Wildlife Trust, bought the island in 1959.

Accessibility:

There are steps from the car park to the lane leading to the jetty, and also steep steps from the end of the lane to the jetty.
The jetty itself is a steep and narrow metal grid platform which can be very slippery. There is also a large step up and down to the boat, though the crew will assist passengers.
On arrival at Skomer Island there are 90 concrete steps from the landing stage to the start of the island footpath network.

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

Paths
Up on the island there is a network of paths taking in the variety of landscape and dramatic views on the island. Visitors are asked not to stray from the paths in order to avoid disturbing the wild birds and other wildlife, and particularly not to step off the path near the puffin colony at the Wick.

The natural formation of a long narrow, cliff-lined inlet means that visitors can easily enjoy the awe-inspiring sight of thousands of auks squeezed onto narrow cliff ledges. The part of the island east of the neck is not open to visitors. All the footpaths are of natural surfaces, mainly compacted soil and short turf but with some rocky sections, narrow and steep in places.

How to get there

Access is only possible via a scheduled boat service:

Embarkation point – Martin’s Haven.
The service runs between 1 April (or Good Friday, whichever earlier) and 31 October with no landings on Mondays except Bank Holidays.
The island is closed for four days in late May or early June for the annual bird count.
The service does not operate in rough weather or when there is a moderate wind from the north – check before travelling.

Private landings:

You can land in your own boat, but only during opening hours (open 10:00am, all off by 6:00pm) and days.
Please land only at North Haven, at the landing tyres or slip by white hut.
All private landings must see the warden before proceeding onto the island for an introductory talk and to pay a landing fee.

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

Mainland:
The main car park serving the island is the National Trust car park located near the end of the Marloes peninsula. To reach this car park:

Take the B4327 from Haverfordwest (signposted for Dale), following the signs for the village of Marloes.
Continue through Marloes for another mile. The car park is located at the end of this road on the left, about 150m from the jetty. It is not possible to park beyond this point. There are no reserved places. A parking fee is payable, except for NT members.

Bus
There is a bus service to Marloes village and a summer season bus to Martin's Haven car park.

For more information contact Traveline Cymru on 0871 2002233 or visit www.traveline-cymru.org.uk

Facilities

Island: There is a visitor centre and accessible toilet facilities, located 800 metres from the landing stage at the old farm.

Mainland: The WTSWW Information Centre at Lockley Lodge, 20m from the Martin’s Haven car park which has accessible toilets.
There is a CCW Visitor Centre 50m from Lockley Lodge, and further toilet facilities on the lane leading to the jetty.

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

Who looks after it?

CCW leases Skomer to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW), which manages the island. For more information visit the Trust’s website or contact them via e-mail, info@welshwildlife.org or telephone 01656 724100.

You can contact CCW’s Western Team via our enquiries helpline, 0845 1306229, e-mail enquiries@ccw.gov.uk or write to us under the ‘Contact the team’ section on this website.

Wildlife

The seabirds are the island’s biggest attraction. The colony of Manx shearwater is possibly the largest in the world, and the puffin, storm petrel, guillemot and razorbill colonies present a significant proportion of the total population of these species in Britain as a whole.

On the cliffs there are thousands of kittiwakes, and hundreds of fulmar, augmented by herring, lesser and great black-backed gulls. Apart from the seabirds, breeding species include short-eared owl, curlew, chough and peregrine. Other species include:

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

Oystercatchers
Mallard
Moorhen
Raven
Buzzard
Kestrel
Little owl
Meadow pipits
Skylark
Wheatear
Rock pipit
Whitethroat
Dunnock.

The land mammals include:

Skomer vole (a unique island race of bank vole)
Wood mouse
Rabbit
Common shrew
Pygmy shrew.

_{Photo ©CCW}

Skomer Island

The only reptiles on the island are slow worm and common lizard, and amphibians include common toads, common frogs and palmate newts.

Butterflies include meadow brown, grayling, small copper and migrants. Grey seals haul out onto the rocks at low tide and breed on the beaches and in the caves in autumn and early winter.

During May and June the island is carpeted with bluebells and red campion, with thrift and sea campion along the cliff edges later in the year.