Skokholm Island

rabbit

Chris Lawrence

Visit

Skokholm Island

A relaxing getaway with a difference

Lying in the Celtic Sea two miles off the southwest Pembrokeshire coast, Skokholm has its own charm and sense of remoteness with tall, sandstone cliffs and a wild landscape. The island is approximately half a mile across at its widest point and a mile in length which makes it perfect for exploring. There are never more than 26 people on the island, that’s 10 acres of space for every visitor!

wild pansies

Lizzie Wilberforce

In the warmer months Skokholm is colonised by tens of thousands of nesting seabirds. By day there is frenetic activity among the puffins, razorbills, guillemots and gulls - and by night there is more commotion from the Manx shearwaters and storm petrels! Wildflowers create a backcloth with the white haze of sea campion seen even from offshore in May. Porpoises and dolphins frequent the coast to reward the vigilant observer, while grey seals are hard to miss, often hauled out on the rocks in South Haven or Crab Bay.

Visiting the island

All bookings must be made by phoning the office on 01656 724100 (please select option 1 only). Please call between 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. You can email islands@welshwildlife.org to book if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

Bookings will open to The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales members on Monday 9th October 2023. Non-members can book from Monday 16th October 2023.

Booking a stay

Overnight stays of 3 days (from Fridays) and 4 days (from Mondays) cost £240 per person from April to July and £165 per person for August and September. However, please note that from the middle of May until the end of June, we only have one boat per week on a Monday, therefore stays are for a 7 night duration. A 7 night stay cost £375 per person during April to July and £240 during August and September. Please email the team with any queries.

Please note that when staying overnight on the island it is not possible to park overnight in the National Trust car park, cars should all be pre-booked in at West Hook Farm. Unfortunately, luggage drop-offs are no longer available.

All bookings must be made by phoning the office on 01656 724100. Please call between 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4:45pm, Monday to Friday. You can email islands@welshwildlife.org to book if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

Accommodation and facilities

Visitors can book a three, four or seven night stay on the island.

  • We have accommodation for up to 20 guests in the refurbished rooms. Each room has solar-powered hot water and electric lighting. There are four twin rooms and one double bedroom in the renovated farm buildings. In the cottage there are 4 single rooms and one twin room which can be converted into a double. There are further two twin rooms are in the Wheelhouse block.
  • There are modern compost toilets adjacent to each block. However, living off-grid means that there are no showers.
  • Electrical charging is available in the library but as all power is solar-generated it may be limited on dull days. The library has a range of reference books and the common room in the cottage is open to all.
  • The accommodation is self-catering. Visitors bring their own food but there is a shop on the island well stocked with basic foods and treats. The communal kitchen has two cookers powered by bottled gas together with plenty of cooking and eating utensils and each visitor is allocated both fridge and freezer space. Because of the limited power there is no microwave.

Skokholm Island is a wild and beautiful place to stay, quieter and smaller than its sister, Skomer, there is a romance and charm to the place. Over the last few years we have been renovating the accommodation on the island with the fantastic help of the Friends of the Islands.

Cottage

Skokholm Cottage

Skokholm Island Cow Shed bedroom

Skokholm Island Cow Shed bedroom

Boat times and costs

The boat out goes at 7.30 am on Friday and 9 am on a Monday and these are the only times the boat sails (unless there has to be a change due to the weather or the tides). Times will be confirmed upon booking.

Please be aware that you can be stranded on Skokholm by the weather. It is advisable not to make important dates in your calendar for the few days after what should be your embarkation date from the island.

The return boat fare of £30 is payable to the skipper on the boat. 

2024 Booking Information

Thrift or sea pink (Armeria maritima) in bloom, Pembrookshire Coast, Wales, UK

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Island wildlife

What to look for
Manx shearwater

Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

Skomer Island

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