Come and spend some magical nights on a wild and special island off the coast of Pembrokeshire and experience the audio/visual spectacle of thousands of birds returning to their nests.
Owned by the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSSW) the island of Skokholm has been shut to all but a few people over the last couple of years, whilst the restoration work was planned and undertaken. Now, thanks to some truly incredible volunteers and some generous gifts, the island’s central block of accommodation is almost complete for visitors again, with bookings now being taken.
It is a wilder place than it’s sister Skomer, smaller and further out to sea there is the sense of complete solitude and peace on this spectacular sandstone island.
The island supports such a stunning array of wildlife, including a large colony of puffins and good numbers of cliff nesting auks. The colony of Manx shearwaters, containing some 15 percent of the world population is the third largest and most dense in the world. Storm petrels also breed on the island. This would account for up to 5 percent of the European population and is one of the most accessible and southerly colonies in the UK. These two birds spend most of their lives at sea, only coming ashore to breed, and then only at night. The only way, therefore, of seeing this spectacle is by staying on the island itself.
In the migration periods the island attracts large numbers of common birds and always a number of rarities each year and in the spring the wild flowers are stunning. Around the whole cliff line there are sheets of sea campion and thrift and in the central area swathes of bluebells – it’s a special place to stay.
This stunning island is very different to its sister island, Skomer, it is a wild place with a sense of solitude. We are excited at the prospect of having regular visitors back on the island this year, To stay on the island will cost £125 for three nights and also £125 for four nights (mid week). Sailings will be Monday and Friday. To find out more please contact Wendy at the Welsh Wildlife Centre on 01239 621600
