How to See Puffins on Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales

If you’re planning a trip to Pembrokeshire, you must add a day trip to Skomer Island to your itinerary. Skomer is the largest island in Pembrokeshire and is home to over 40,000 Atlantic Puffins and the largest colony of Manx Shearwater in the world.

In this guide we’ll answer every question you might have before your visit, so you can come as prepared as possible.

About Skomer Island

Located about a mile off the Pembrokeshire coast is the stunning Skomer Island. It is the largest of the Pembrokeshire islands and offers access to some of the largest seabird colonies in southern Britain.

The island’s name derives from Skalmey which is of Viking origin. Skalmey is actually two words: ‘skalm’ meaning a short sword, or cut, and ‘ey’ meaning island.

Skomer used to be part of the mainland until the last Ice Age around 12,000 years ago. Evidence of huts and enclosures suggests that the island was occupied by humans in the Iron Age. For this reason, most of the island is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Apparently, rabbits were brought to the island by the Normans in the 13th Century. They were an important food source then but today they are still important as they’re the only grazing animals on the island.

The old farmhouse buildings you’ll see in the middle of the island were built in 1834. During this time the island operated as a farm with different owners. All agricultural activity was abandoned around the first World War. In 1959, Skomer was bought by the Nature Conservancy Council and became the first National Nature Reserve. Today it’s owned by Natural Resources Wales and managed by the Wildlife Trust.

Did you know? Skomer Island was featured in BBC’s recent Wild Isles series and Sir David Attenborough, 96 at the time, visited Skomer during filming.

How to Visit Skomer Island

You can visit Skomer Island in two ways. Either by taking a cruise around the island or by landing on it. Whilst there are multiple boat companies offering boat trips around the island, there’s only one company that can officially land on Skomer.

Please note that the trip can get cancelled due to bad weather. For this reason we suggest booking it at the start of your Pembrokeshire visit, so you would have the chance to rearrange it if necessary.

1. All You Need to Know About Taking a Cruise

You can opt to just take a cruise around Skomer Island which is a much shorter excursion than a landing trip. You can join Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips for an hour long guided tour departing from Martins Haven, Marloes. They offer other types of cruises on their website, so check them out if you fancy doing something extra like combining Skomer with Stokholm Island.

You can also take a cruise from St. Davids. These are slightly longer trips since the city is further away from Skomer, so the prices are also going to be higher. You can join either Thousand Islands or Voyages of Discovery.

2. All You Need to Know About the Skomer Landing

Pembrokeshire Islands Boat Trips is the only company that allows you to set foot on the island. You can book your ticket online here. The price per person varies depending on which month you’re visiting.

The boats only run from Tuesday to Sunday. They depart from Martins Haven, Marloes at 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, and 12pm. The first returning boat is at 3pm.

How Long Can You Stay on Skomer Island

You can only stay on the island for 5 hours which also includes your boat journey time. Although it’s a small island, 5 hours will go very quickly and you definitely won’t be bored.

In case you want to leave the island earlier they will let you on a departing boat if there’s any spaces left. It worked for a few families in early May, although we suspect that it might be a bit more difficult in the summer months.

Click here to learn more about landing on Skomer.

Note. If you have your own boat, you can actually land at certain times and days on the island. Click here to read more about private landings.

Where to Park?

You can park your car at Martin’s Haven National Trust Car Park (postcode: SA62 3BJ). Tickets cost £6 for all-day parking. If you’re a National Trust member, then you can park there for free.

You can pay with coins, or by card at the booth. Alternatively, you can also use the PayByPhone app or call them if you have sufficient signal.

Note that you should arrive in plenty of time to check-in for your boat.

3. Can You Sleep on Skomer Island?

Yes, you can. If you’d like to experience Skomer Island in a unique way, then you can consider spending two or three nights in their three-star hostel. Once the day-trippers leave with the last boat at 5pm, the island will only have a handful of people on it. So you can truly enjoy being away from all the hustle and bustle of the mainland. You can watch puffins returning home just before sunset, then watch thousands of Manx Shearwater fly back to the island once its dark and also wake up to a magical sunrise.

Now, we know that all sounds like a fantastic trip, but there are a lot of important things you need to bear in mind if you decide you want to stay overnight. There’s a comprehensive guide from how to book your stay to what and how to pack on the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ website.

Best Time to Visit Skomer Island

You can only land on Skomer Island between April and September. Puffins arrive on the island in April to start nesting and then leave in July. So, if the main reason for your visit is to see puffins, then plan your visit between April and July. For reference, we visited at the start of May and saw many puffins. However, if you want to see even more, then the best time to come is between mid-June and mid-July when the parents are busy feeding their hungry pufflings. From July you can see the little pufflings outside their burrows.

There’s a similar timeline for Manx Shearwater, razorbills and guillemots. Manx Shearwater will actually migrate all the way to South America in July. However, you can see choughs and grey seals all year round.

If you come between the end of April and June then you can also see the island covered in bluebells and red campions. The bluebells were on their last legs at the start of May, so we were very pleased we managed to see them. It was definitely one of the most dense bluebell fields we’ve ever seen!

What Wildlife Can You See on Skomer Island

We all know that the main reason for a visit to Skomer Island is to see puffins. If you’re visiting in 2023, then you can see the highest ever recorded number of puffins.

However, let’s not forget that the island is home to many other creatures. Right after puffins, Manx Shearwater are the reason many would stay on the island overnight. Apparently, with over 300,000 pairs, it is the largest colony in the world. Unfortunately, you won’t see them on your day-trip as they only come out at night.

However, you will see many other birds during the day such as Storm Petrels, Guillemots and Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars and Choughs just to mention a few. You can also see some mammals such as Skomer Voles, Common and Pygmy Shrews and a lot of rabbits.

During low tide you can enjoy the view of sunbathing Grey Seals on the rocks.

About Puffins

Since puffins are the main attraction of Skomer, let’s get to know them a bit more.

The puffins you’ll see on Skomer are Atlantic Puffins, the same you would see in places like Iceland and Norway. They mainly spend their time out at sea and they return to land to nest and then to feed their chicks. They nest in burrows in the ground just like Manx Shearwater.

Due to their adorable orange beaks they’ve earnt the nickname the ‘clown of the sea’ or ‘sea parrot’. Their bodies are perfectly built for the sea as they can easily fly through water to catch food and in their beak they can hold multiple fish at once.

They can live up to 18 years and they actually mate with the same bird and have one chick called a puffling every year. When their chick hatches the parents become crazy busy trying to feed it. Apparently, once the puffling is ready, they stay at sea for about two years before they come back to land.

Fun Fact. Puffin numbers are counted each year, and in March 2023 over 42,000 puffins were recorded by the wardens. It is the highest ever recorded on the island.

Facilities on Skomer Island

Cafes. There’s a gift shop that also sells some water, cold drinks, coffee and a few snacks at Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre. There’s a drinking water tap just outside the toilets, so you can fill up your bottle before you board the boat. On Skomer Island you can only buy some water but nothing else.

For this reason, we highly recommend preparing a packed lunch and snacks that’ll keep you going through the day.

Toilets. There are toilets at Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre and there’s also a toilet on Skomer Island at the ‘Farm’. That’s the only toilet facility on the island. It’s also worth noting that there’s no running water so make sure to have hand sanitiser with you.

What to Wear and Bring with You to Skomer Island

We highly recommend wearing weather appropriate clothing. Layers are always a good idea because it can be pretty hot in the summer months but the wind can make it feel colder. Weather conditions can also change quickly, so definitely check the forecast the day before. Although the path is in good condition, wearing supportive hiking boots, shoes or hiking sandals is a good idea.

Since there are no trees to provide you with shelter, make sure to bring waterproofs such as rain jackets and rain covers for your backpack and camera gear. No shade also means wearing adequate protection against the sun such as sun-cream, hat and sunglasses.

In terms of food, you need to bring your own lunch and snacks. Although you can buy some snacks at the mainland’s visitor centre, there won’t be anything substantial anywhere else. We also suggest bringing enough hot and cold beverages and water. Since there are no bins on the island, we recommend bringing a bin bag to collect all your waste and taking it back to the mainland with you. There are bins at Martin’s Haven National Trust Car Park where you can dispose of your rubbish. Since there’s no running water at the toilet facilities on Skomer, make sure to have hand sanitiser and wipes with you. Wipes also come in handy in case you get pooped on by a bird. (Trust us, it can happen!).

In terms of electronics, make sure to bring any equipment you want to use to take wildlife photos with. Having spare batteries and a portable charger can also come in handy.

Note that you cannot bring your dog onto the island.

What Camera Do You Need?

You can definitely use your phone to take photos and videos as puffins can pop out of their burrows right in front of you. So you’ll definitely be able to take some nice close up shots, especially if you visit between mid-June and July.

However, for more creative and close-up shots we suggest bringing at least a semi-professional camera with a zoom-lens. That way, you can take even better photos and videos. If you have a telephoto lens then don’t leave that at home. With a telephoto lens, you’ll be able to take some pretty incredible shots. What you should leave at home is your drone, as you can’t fly that for obvious reasons.

If you want to watch the birds up close then definitely pack your binoculars. If you don’t have some, you can rent them for £5 once you’re on the island.

Hiking on Skomer Island – All You Need to Know

Once you set foot on the island, you’ll have to walk up a steep set of steps to a small gathering area. There’s no other way to reach the start of the hiking trail. At the top of the steps, a warden will give you a briefing on all the important information you need to know about the island and about your visit.

There’s essentially only one hiking route around Skomer which is about a 4.8 km (3 mi) route that can take around 2.5 hours to complete. It’s not a difficult path or terrain, but it does have some uphill sections. In the middle of the island there’s a place called ‘the Old Farm’ where you can find the only toilet facilities. There are a few routes leading to it so its best to take a photo of the map before you set off.

The most important rule to follow during your visit is to stay on the designated path! Skomer is like a piece of Swiss Cheese, with every inch of the island filled with burrows. They can collapse easily and you can destroy birds’ eggs or their chicks depending on when you’re visiting. You’ll also see many small paths across the island which will have ‘do not enter’ signs next to them. These can only be used by the wardens. Don’t worry, there will be designated areas where you can enjoy your lunch with some incredible views.

Hiking Trail on Skomer Island

You start from North Haven bay and can go either clockwise or anticlockwise. Everyone recommends going anticlockwise, so you’ll get to the best part last. The anticlockwise trail will take you to the Old Farm first where you can use the facilities. From there you’ll just have to follow the North Valley up to Garland Stone, the first cool viewpoint. If you visit in bluebell season, then you’ll be treated with the densest bluebell field accompanied by the amazing smells of the flower.

From Garland Stone you’ll follow the path to Skomer Head passing Bull Hole and Pigstone Bay. From Skomer Head you’ll be walking through an area called the Wick, then going uphill along South Haven bay with incredible views of the Neck.

Best Places to See Puffins on Skomer Island

Okay, so the two best places to see puffins are The Wick and the South Stream.

The Wick is definitely the most popular spot for puffin watching. Burrows are found on both sides of the footpath and puffins can literally pop out of their burrows right in front of you or walk across the footpath. For this reason, it’s important to watch where you’re going as you don’t want to disturb their daily routine. Luckily, they aren’t shy birds and don’t care about you trying to take photos of them. They will just stand outside their burrows for a few minutes before flying off. So you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take photos of them. That said, you shouldn’t get too close to them.

The second best area to watch puffins is at the South Stream just after the Wick. Here, you can still see them up close, but the land drops away very quickly so many of the puffins will be further away from you. You’ll definitely need a better camera to take photos of them. The scenery here is actually stunning so make sure to spare a little time to just watch them flying in and out.

You can easily spend ages just watching puffins, so make sure you don’t miss your boat.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire

We absolutely loved our visit to Skomer Island. Puffins are incredible birds and we could’ve spent way longer just watching them going about their daily routines. We initially thought that 5 hours on the island would be plenty, but in the end we had to walk quickly to get to the boat on time. Whilst we had a feeling that we’d enjoy this trip, we didn’t think that it would quickly become our favourite wildlife experience right up there with our visit to the Amazon Jungle.

Have you been to Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire before? If so, which month did you visit in and what was your experience? If not, would you add Skomer Island to your bucket list? Let us know in the comments below.