Skomer Island is the place for you if you’ve ever wanted to visit Puffins in the wild. Visiting the Puffins on Skomer Island is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these magical birds up close and in their natural environment.
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Getting to the Island
Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre is the place to start your adventure.
Before you head off, check the weather. The boats don’t cross in very nasty weather. Also, check out their Twitter feed to see if the boats ran the day before. If they didn’t, there’d be more people on the day you go. They post around 7.30 am if they are running or not.
At the time I went in 2019, you bought the tickets for landing on Skomer Island here at Lockley Visitor Centre. At the same time, you can also pick up a guidebook which has a map, bird identification and other information on the island.
You can now ring ahead or book online. You can find more information here.
Get in early.
This was my experience when you had to book on the day. It’s a first-in first-served system here as there are limited numbers each day. I arrived at the car park at 6.40 am, and there were already about 50 people ahead of me. It’s £6 to park all day, and it’s then a short walk down to the centre.
You start to queue at the centre, and then it winds down the hill toward the ferry. Tickets don’t go on sale until 8.00 am, so be prepared for a wait.
Once the office opened, it took another half an hour to get the ticket. They ask your preference for the time to catch the ferry, and then you’re on your way.
The Ferry
About 15 minutes before your ferry departs, it’s time to go down to the landing.
A small, 50-person boat takes you across to Skomer Island, and it’s only a short 15-minute boat ride.
It does get a bit rough even with good weather, but that adds to the excitement.
Landing on Skomer is similar to leaving the mainland, except it is up 87 steps, which are steep. At the top, you have the ranger talk telling you where you can and can’t go and what to expect to see.
Rule number 1 keep to the paths. The burrows that the birds and other animals make are prone to collapse, so be careful.
Skomer Island
Climbing the steps, you will see puffins straight away, but the talk comes first, and there are plenty more puffins to see.
After the talk, you’re free to wander the island. There is a walk around the island, which is 6.5 km (4 miles). You also have paths which lead to the Old Farm, which is in the centre of the island. It is here where the toilets and the visitor centre are.
There are many points of interest along the way other than Puffins, including hides over ponds to watch wading birds and remnants of Iron Age houses.
We were told that it takes three hours to walk around the outside of the island, but I don’t think that accounted for spending so much time with Puffins as it took me 4 hours, and I was the third one back to the ferry.
The Puffins
Up the path to the top of the island was next. Puffins are off the slopes of this pathway.
The Puffins are everywhere, and everyone has a camera ready. Something else I’ve never seen before is so many LARGE lenses, and I mean large and long to capture the wildlife here.
Once at the top, you could decide where to walk or which way around the island.
I took the clockwise route around the island, stopping off at more points of interest along the way.
The first turn-off I did was to the Harold Stone.
Back on the main path along the coastline, you see rock formations on land and the changing cliff faces from erosion from the sea and wind.
There were three main Puffin sites, not including the stairs at the Landing, all with different outlooks and Puffins getting closer to you each time.
The Wick
My favourite place on the island is The Wick.
Not only is it dramatic in its coastline, but it has the most Puffins along the shoreline and the closest.
Volunteers are posted here and around the island to answer any questions you may have. They will also show you where some of the animals are.
It was also here at this time that many were bringing the Sand Eels in for feeding.
It was amazing watching them circle around a couple of times, making sure no gulls were there to steal their lunch and then fly in and head straight for their burrow.
It was also here that I saw my first of about 7 Rabbits for the day.
Other Animals
Heading around, that is the last of the Puffins until you get back to the ferry.
A lot of rugged coastlines are on the western and northwestern sides of the island.
As you walk further along, there is another place to spot Grey Seals, and that is Garland Stone, the northern point of the island.
The Old Farm
From this point, you turn inland. This area on land reminds me of the moors, with wildflowers of bluebells and red campion bringing colour.
At the Old Farm, you can use the toilets or browse the visitor centre. It is here that you can also enjoy self-catering accommodation if you’re lucky to get in. If you would like to stay overnight, you have to book early. Bookings open around October each year and book out fast, so you need to be quick.
As I was on the 9.30 am ferry going over, I was on the 3.00 pm ferry going back. Once again, arrive 15 minutes before the ferry departs.
There is always more time to see more Puffins before you leave and remember the stairs you came up have to be negotiated back down.
Skomer Island is a great day out. It’s quick to get to, inexpensive and the wildlife is fantastic. All you have to do is get up early and make sure you’re at the Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre early enough to secure your spot to see the Puffins.
Boat Times
Trip time 5 hours – This includes approx 15 mins travel each way. Your return boat is allocated upon booking and cannot be amended.
10:00 – 15:00
10:30 – 15:30
11:00 – 16:00
11:30 – 16:30
12:00 – 17:00
Please Note:
Passengers are required to check in at Lockley Lodge on Skomer Island a minimum of 1 HOUR before their departure time.
- Boats depart Tuesday to Sunday at 10 am, 10.30 am, 11 am, 11.30 am and 12 noon.
- From September there will be one visitor boat at 11 am only. Return boats will be from 3 pm.
- There are no sailings on Mondays with the exception of the Whitsun Bank Holiday at the end of May.
- Return trips run from 3 pm and are allocated according to your outward journey.
- Boat times are subject to change.
- To find out if the boats are going, check the Twitter feed or call 01646 636800 in the afternoon.
- Day trips to Skomer are often oversubscribed during the peak season from May to mid-July, so on the busiest days, extra guided island cruises are operated, and visitors have the option to see the island and the wildlife from a boat instead. You can book a cruise here.
Prices
| April | May-June | July | Aug-Sep | |
| Adult (12+) | £40 | £44 | £40 | £30 |
| Child (2 – 11) | £30 | £30 | £30 | £24 |
| Infant (Under 2) Infants must ride on the lap of an adult. | Free | Free | Free | Free |
Bookings are open for 29th March – 30th September 2024 tours and book out quickly. Click here to go to online bookings or phone 01646 603123 between 8 am and 4.30 pm – Monday to Friday.
Car Park Prices
For the car park at Martins Haven, please bring coins, the car park staff do not have cash, and the machine does not accept cards. £6 all day. £3 for 3 hours. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales does not own or manage the car park.
Where I Stayed
I stayed in Manorbier YHA, just under an hour’s drive to the Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre.
This is a great place if you want to explore the coves, caves and cliffs of the South Wales coast and it has tracks you can take from the front door.
Facilities
- Free Parking
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Bar
- Laundry and Drying Room
- Close to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
- Sea Views
- Walking Tracks
How to Get Here
Manorbier YHA is on the southern Welsh coast in Manorbier, just up the cliff from Church Door Cove. It is a handy stay if you are travelling on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path as it passes right by it.
How To Book
If you would like to stay at the Manorbier YHA, click on the link and get ready to start your adventure in southern Wales.
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What beautiful birds I’ve never heard of them it seems a beautiful place to visit not sure about all those steps but the scenery is a natural wonder and your photos captured it all
Thanks Kathy. I can’t believe you’ve never heard of them, I thought everyone had.
Beautiful Puffins! What a great day trip. Would you think it would be worth a two day trek? Are there places to stay there?
Hi Kathryn. There is one place to stay at The Farm but it’s a first in system when bookings open in the beginning of the year and it books out fast. You can easily do everything in a day trip though.
Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip to Skomer – one of my favourite places. But there is so much more wildlife than just puffins and rabbits. There is a post on my website too (search for Skomer) – and photos from my Nikon!!
Thanks Annie, I’ll check it out.
My boys were obsessed with puffins when they were small and we made several puffin pilgrimages but not this. One to add to the list!
It’s a great place to visit Catherine and you get so close to the Puffins.
Your photos are so beautiful I feel like I am there. We saw puffins in Iceland but not as close as I would have liked. I did not know about this beautiful place so now I will add it to my list for a UK itinerary.
I’m glad you liked it, Laureen. Skomer is a great place to see the Puffins up close, as the closest I got was about half a metre, and seeing them fly in with their catch is fantastic. Book as soon as you can, though, as it’s all online now, and I noticed July is booking out fast.