Access to Skomer Island

Skomer Island map showing pathsSkomer Island map showing paths

Skomer Island lies just off the Pembrokeshire coast, south west Wales. A 50-seater passenger boat transports visitors to the Island from Martin’s Haven (OS Grid Ref: SM 760 091), a small cove two miles on from Marloes village, which is 12 miles south west of the county town of Haverfordwest.

Dale Princess landing at SkomerDale Princess landing at Skomer
The boat, the Dale Princess, runs between Good Friday or 1 April (whichever is the earlier) to 31 October each year. Sailings are weather dependent with the final decision resting with the Boatman; decisions on sailing are made each day by 9.00am and are dependent on both conditions and forecast. A strong northerly wind will prevent departure from Martin’s Haven and access to Skomer landing.

 

The boat runs to the Island six days a week (Tuesday to Sundays) and on Bank Holiday Mondays. On other Mondays the boat does not land on Skomer but offers round Island cruises, visits to Grassholm, and occasional day visits to Skokholm (see www.dale-sailing.co.uk or www.pembrokeshireislands.co.uk for further information). The boat departs for the Island at 10.00am, 11.00am and 12noon and returns from 3.00pm onward. The boat travel time is approximately 10 minutes, plus embarkation and disembarkation. No booking is required for the boat, which takes passengers on a first come first served basis. The boat fares for 2010 are £10 for adults, £7 for children, payable on the boat. Landing fees for Skomer are now paid on the mainland at Lockley Lodge or at a kiosk nearer the beach - there will be signs indicating where to go. Landing fees are £7 adults, free for under 16s, £3.50 students, £6 senior citizens. You will be given landing tickets which will allocate you to a particular timed boat and the landing ticket should be shown to the boatman so that he knows you are on the right boat! This is a new system brought in this year and you will not be able to board the boat without a landing ticket.

There is a limit of 250 people per day allowed on the Island in order to protect the wildlife. No dogs are allowed on the Island, but dogs are allowed on the non-landing Round Island Cruises; information about local kennels can be obtained from Wendy Barnes-Jones at the Welsh Wildlife Centre, 01239 621600.

Getting to Martin’s Haven

By Public Transport: a local bus service (the Puffin Shuttle) operates between Milford Haven and St Davids (for timetable click here or go to www.richardbros.co.uk click on side menu: Bus Services, then Coastal Bus Services from top menu) and drops and collects passengers from Martin’s Haven Car Park.

By Road: from Haverfordwest take the B4327 Dale road, then follow the signs for Marloes and then Martin’s Haven. From Milford Haven take the Herbrandston Road to Rickeston Bridge and past St Ishmaels to join the B4327 shortly before the Marloes turn off. Postcode for satellite navigation: SA62 3BJ.

At Martin’s Haven cars must be parked in the National Trust Car Park (2010 cost: £4 per vehicle, free for NT members).

Information panel in car parkInformation panel in car park

Facilities at Martin’s Haven


Information Panels: in the NT Car Park you will find information panels about the area and about the Deer Park (the area of land opposite the Car Park overlooking the Island). On the Deer Park wall, at the bottom of the hill, you will find information about what you might see on Skomer at the different times of year. Click here to see a Seasonal Timeline.


Lockley LodgeLockley Lodge
Lockley Lodge: Lockley Lodge is an information point and gift shop run by the Wildlife Trust, situated close to the NT Car Park, and open Tuesdays to Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays, 9.00am – 4.00pm (or return of last boat from Island); there are limited refreshments available (drinks and snacks) and visitors are advised that food required for a day on the Island should be purchased beforehand; there is a small shop, pub and café in Marloes. Lockley Lodge does not sell sandwiches or hot drinks at present. As well as gifts and the important Skomer Guide, there is a range of interactive interpretation in the Lodge, including an Induction Loop system on the audio interpretation. For those unable to visit the Island for whatever reason, the Island wildlife may be viewed (and heard) in Lockley Lodge via a viewing screen linked to remote cameras sited on the Island. Please click here for more information on Lockley Lodge.

There is a disabled toilet at Lockley Lodge available to those in the national Radar Key Scheme.

Marine Nature ReserveMarine Nature Reserve
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve: down the steep hill from Lockley Lodge and next to the Marine Nature Reserve office (closed to visitors) is the Marine Nature Reserve Visitor Centre. Here a taste of underwater life in the MNR is given via colourful picture panels and an interactive screen which includes underwater videos and graphics. Please click here for more pictures and information about the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve.

 


Public Toilets: just past the MNR office are public toilets open between Easter and Autumn. The swallows that nest there every year are quite a feature!

Coast Guard Lookout: At the bottom of the hill, before the MNR Visitor Centre, you can walk into the Deer Park, up a steep hill (with optional steps) to the old Coast Guard Lookout. Here there are great views of St Brides Bay, and Ramsey, Middleholm (or Midland Isle), Skomer and Skokholm Islands, with an orientation plaque to help you.

Embarkation from Martin's Haven for Skomer Island

Embarkation point Martin's Haven from the seaEmbarkation point Martin's Haven from the sea

Embarkation Point

Steps up to jettySteps up to jetty
The embarkation point for the trip to the Island on the Dale Princess is from a small jetty on the south side of Martin’s Haven cove. There are steps up from the beach area and a narrow path leading to more steps down and a sloping path to the jetty, which is quite narrow. Passengers board the Dale Princess by stepping from the jetty over the side of the boat, a member of the boat crew is on hand to assist all passengers.

On Skomer Island

Skomer Island landing point - various levels depending on tide and steep stepsSkomer Island landing point - various levels depending on tide and steep steps
On arrival at Skomer Island you will disembark from the Dale Princess from the front, or bow, of the boat, again assisted by a member of the boat crew and also a member of the Island team. Depending on the state of the tide there might be quite a step down from the boat. There is then a steep and quite long flight of steps to climb, however there is no rush, there are plenty of chances to rest, and lots to look at on the way up.

Island introductory talkIsland introductory talk
Information and Welcome Point: from the steps there is a short walk uphill to the Information and Welcome Point where the Warden or Assistant Warden will give an introductory talk on where to go and what to do and see on the Island. There is a large map of the Island on display to orientate yourself, and copies of the Skomer Guide and other leaflets and postcards available to purchase. Please take particular note of the Health and Safety information given, emergency contact numbers and times of return boats.

The Skomer Guide contains details of a number of self guided walks that you can take round the Island, with distances, suggested timings and descriptions of the terrain as well as features of interest described. There is a binocular hire service available at the Information and Welcome Point, and this is the only place on the Island to purchase bottled water.

From the Information and Welcome Point there is a 200m walk uphill to the plateau of the Island which is mainly flat. Please note the Island paths are uneven and many are narrow, good footwear should be worn. Visitors are requested to always stay on the clearly marked paths, the Island is honeycombed with burrows, homes to nesting birds – it is very easy to crush these fragile burrows and their occupants if you stray off the paths.

Facilities on Skomer Island

Staff and Voluntary Wardens: Island staff greet every visitor to Skomer Island. The staff are assisted by a team of Voluntary Wardens who will also be on duty on the Island, and any of the Island team (identified by Wildlife Trust badges) are always pleased to answer any visitor’s questions. During the main breeding bird season Voluntary Wardens will be available with telescopes at North Haven (the Information and Welcome Point) and The Wick.

Farmhouse complex housing assistant warden and field assistant, voluntary wardens, researchers, overnight paying guests, interpretation area and compost toilets for visitorsFarmhouse complex housing assistant warden and field assistant, voluntary wardens, researchers, overnight paying guests, interpretation area and compost toilets for visitors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Farm Complex: the main focus for facilities on the Island is the Old Farm Complex. This is approximately 1.2km/0.75miles from the Information and Welcome Point

Compost toiletsCompost toilets
Public Toilets: at the end of the Old Barn are public toilets. They are accessed by a short flight of steps, and are composting toilets, to help conserve water on the Island. There is a ground floor, disabled access toilet in the Old Barn building, accessed from the Courtyard.

 

 

Old farmhouse covered seatingOld farmhouse covered seating
Covered Areas and Seating: there are a number of benches and seating areas in and around the Courtyard and there are two covered rooms in the Old Farmhouse. One, at the back of the Farmhouse, has priority use given to school groups when they are on the Island; the other, in the front of the Farmhouse, has a number of picnic benches and also interpretation about the Island’s past and future on the walls. Apart from these covered areas, shelter is limited on the rest of the Island and the weather conditions can change rapidly. It is advisable to bring warm and waterproof clothing, whatever the weather when you set out.

Visitor Centre (please click here): in the corner of the Courtyard is the Visitor Centre, here you can see displays about the Island throughout the year and the range of habitats and species, and see if you can guess what’s in the Feely Box!  Information about the research carried out on the Island is on show, and there is a viewing screen linked to the remote cameras around the Island including in a Manx Shearwater burrow. This is the only opportunity that day visitors will get to see and hear these amazing nocturnal birds.

Bird Watching Hides: there are two public bird watching hides on the Island, one overlooking Moory Mere and the other overlooking North Pond. Please consider other visitors when using these hides, and take the opportunity to use the Skomer Bird Guide to help your identification skills.

Resting Places: there are a number of rocky outcrop resting places around the Island, these are marked as Resting or Viewing Points and can be found at The Garland Stone, Skomer Head, opposite The Mew Stone and at Captain Kites (all named on the Skomer Map and in the Guide).