Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
An uninhabited island nature reserve where puffins walk up to your feet, half the world's Manx Shearwaters nest underground, and Atlantic seals lounge on the rocks below ancient clifftops.
An uninhabited island nature reserve where puffins walk up to your feet, half the world's Manx Shearwaters nest underground, and Atlantic seals lounge on the rocks below ancient clifftops.
Skomer has no pier — all access is by Zodiac or passenger ferry to a concrete slipway at North Haven, followed by 87 steep steps.
💡 Pro move: Visitor numbers are strictly capped at ~250 per day. Advance booking is required. No landings on Mondays (except Whitsun Bank Holiday). Visits are weather-dependent.
Skomer has no conventional pier — expedition ships Zodiac in; larger cruise ship passengers transfer via passenger ferry from Martin's Haven on the mainland.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Expedition ships (Hurtigruten, Ponant, Silversea, etc.) | North Haven, Skomer Island📍 | Tendered |
| Most larger cruise ships | Milford Haven / Pembroke Dock (mainland), then ferry transfer📍 | Docked |
Skomer is pure wildlife immersion — book your shore excursion early as the daily 250-person cap fills fast in peak season.
Hike across the island plateau to The Wick, a dramatic south-facing cliff where 40,000+ puffins nest in burrows right beside the footpath. They have no fear of humans and will walk over your feet in peak season.
Find Skomer Island tours →Follow the northern trail to the Garland Stone, the best vantage point on the island for watching Atlantic grey seals lounging on rocks below and harbour porpoises threading through the kelp beds.
Find Skomer wildlife tours →The full 4-mile perimeter trail loops the entire island, passing bluebell carpets in May, Bronze Age Harold Stone, Manx Shearwater burrow fields, and sweeping views of the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Find guided island walks →For those who can't manage the 87-step climb, Dale Sailing and similar operators run cruise trips around the island perimeter — close-up views of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, and seals from the water without landing.
Find Skomer boat cruises →The restored central farmstead houses a small interactive exhibition on the island's conservation history, its Bronze Age past, and the Skomer Vole — a unique, predator-free island subspecies larger and more docile than mainland voles.
Find Skomer nature tours →All walking is on the island itself — paths are uneven and hilly, but rewards are extraordinary; no roads or vehicles exist on Skomer.
From the North Haven landing, follow the signed path southwest across the plateau, past the Farm visitor centre, to The Wick cliff — the best puffin viewing spot in southern Britain.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →A circular trail around Skomer's coast and interior, taking in The Wick puffin cliff, Garland Stone seal viewpoint, Harold Stone Bronze Age standing stone, and sweeping coastal views over St Bride's Bay.
Climate normals for Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F / 9°C | 41°F / 5°C | 17 | 8:21 AM | 4:40 PM |
| Feb | 48°F / 9°C | 41°F / 5°C | 16 | 7:35 AM | 5:35 PM |
| Mar | 49°F / 9°C | 41°F / 5°C | 16 | 6:35 AM | 6:25 PM |
| Apr | 54°F / 12°C | 43°F / 6°C | 11 | 6:24 AM | 8:18 PM |
| May | 58°F / 14°C | 48°F / 9°C | 13 | 5:28 AM | 9:07 PM |
| Jun | 63°F / 17°C | 53°F / 12°C | 14 | 5:02 AM | 9:41 PM |
| Jul | 65°F / 18°C | 56°F / 13°C | 14 | 5:21 AM | 9:32 PM |
| Aug | 65°F / 18°C | 57°F / 14°C | 16 | 6:06 AM | 8:43 PM |
| Sep | 63°F / 17°C | 54°F / 12°C | 15 | 6:56 AM | 7:35 PM |
| Oct | 58°F / 14°C | 51°F / 11°C | 17 | 7:46 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Nov | 52°F / 11°C | 46°F / 8°C | 19 | 7:40 AM | 4:30 PM |
| Dec | 50°F / 10°C | 44°F / 7°C | 20 | 8:22 AM | 4:10 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.