We’re in Pembrokeshire for the week and that means we have to go to Skomer. We booked the boat trip with a landing ages ago and have been checking the weather forecast daily. It didn’t look good, with 27mph winds and heavy showers forecast meaning the crossing could be cancelled. Come the morning, we had received no notification of cancellation, so we loaded up the car with the kids, snacks, water, waterproofs and camera.
We arrived at Martins Haven, checked in and got dressed in our waterproofs, preparing for the worst. The crossing was fine, but getting on and off the boat and up the steep steps once on Skomer with the kids was quite tricky!
After our briefing from the staff and volunteers we started on our route round the island. We decided on just doing a loop of the farm, The Wick and High Cliff as there was no way we were going to make it round the whole island with the little ones.
Once we left the farm (now home to some house sparrows as the volunteers excitedly told us), the wind picked up and the promised 27mph winds arrived, meaning carrying our 2 year old for the rest of the walk, which makes getting the shots you really want a little difficult to say the least!
Still just seeing the puffins, razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes and being able to show them to your kids makes it worth it. The wind was also a little bit too much for the birds it seems, as there were far fewer puffins braving the weather than in previous visits to Skomer. However, we still saw plenty at The Wick (walking across the path in front of us too) and at High Cliff, as well as just by the briefing area after you get off the boat.
The crossing back offered plenty more puffins, some seals and a gannet. While once back on shore, we also saw a stonechat posing for us as we walked past.
See Wildlife 