Skomer Island, just off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales, is one of the top bird watching spots in the UK. In the spring and summer, it’s filled with nesting puffins and loads of other wildlife. Here’s my guide to seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May
Where is Skomer Island?
Skomer Island is just off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales. It’s on the South West corner of Wales, just a short boat ride from mainland Wales. There are plenty of accommodation options in Pembrokeshire, as it’s a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer. Skomer Island makes a great addition to any trip to the Pembrokeshire coast. Seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May will make some really amazing memories of your holiday.
When is the best time of year to see puffins on Skomer Island?
Skomer Island is definitely best in the spring and summer. This is when there are the most sea birds nesting on the island. I visited in May, which was a great time to see nesting puffins and also loads of other nesting sea birds all around the island.
Skomer Island is also very exposed to the weather. There are no trees on the island, and very little shelter. This means that ideally you’ll want to visit on a day when the weather is good. Otherwise, you could risk having many hours outside in the wind and rain! The boats to Skomer Island also get cancelled in bad weather. Spring and Summer in the UK bring the highest chances of having good weather, which will help you enjoy your trip. Of course, good weather can never be guaranteed, especially in Wales! But spring and summer give you the highest chance of a sunny day for birdwatching.
How to get to Skomer Island
There are boats that run to Skomer Island. You can check out the website here for the choices of different boat trips, and also to book in advance. Make sure you book the boat several months in advance for peak times, to guarantee your spot. The boats leave from Lockley Lodge Visitor Centre, which is next to a large National Trust car park.
I’d definitely recommend taking the boat trip that gives you time landing on the island. This will give you the best chance to see puffins and lots of other wildlife. You’ll get 4.5 hours on the island in total, which I thought was a really good amount of time to see everything.
If you’d rather not spend the whole day on the island, there are other ways to see Skomer Island. You can take a shorter boat trip that just goes around the island, and you’ll be able to see puffins in the water and on the cliffs.
Top puffin spots on Skomer Island
When you arrive on Skomer Island, there’s a noticeboard with a map of the island, and the walking trails on the island. You can use this map to plan your trip. The island isn’t huge, so you can easily walk around the whole island in the 4.5 hours you’ve got before the boat leaves.
I decided to walk South first, as this had the best puffin watching spots. I wanted to spend the maximum time here, so headed South first.
As soon as you start walking on Skomer Island in May, you’ll immediately see puffins. I was nervous before going about whether I was going to see any puffins. But I needn’t have worried at all. The puffins are everywhere, and come really close.
The South and West of the island were my favourite spots for puffins. I loved seeing them interact with each other.
I was also lucky to see some puffins landing on the island with a mouthful of fish. They quickly scurried to their nest in the hole in the ground, so they could deliver the food to their babies. It was so cute.
Other wildlife on Skomer Island, Wales
As well as seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May, you can see lots of other wildlife too. I saw guillemots in the water and on the cliffs, which were lovely.
There were also some oystercatchers nesting on the island, and they were nice to see with their bright orange beak.
I saw some seals as well, which were lovely. It can be possible to see porpoises in the water around the island, but unfortunately I didn’t see any. But the seals were lovely, and they spent a while in a small cove so I was able to watch them for a while.
There are also lots of nesting sites for black backed gulls on Skomer. These impressive birds were great for photos. And in the centre of the island, it was also possible to see owls, even in the daytime. Skomer really is a bird-watcher’s paradise.
Wild flowers on Skomer Island in May
As well as seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May, you can also see some lovely colourful flowers. May is a great time to visit Skomer Island for wild flowers. There are parts of the island that are covered in pink flowers, which are just beautiful.
May is also a great time to see the bluebells that cover Skomer Island. By late May, the bluebells will be going over, but there will still be some areas where you can see the vibrant colours.
Top tips for making the most of your day seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May
Skomer Island is a great day out for people of all ages. Here are my top tips to enjoy your day with the puffins and other wildlife:
- Take binoculars so you can see wildlife up close.
- Take a camera with a good zoom lense. Your phone camera will be ok for photos of the scenery, but to get the best photos of the puffins and other wildlife, you’ll need a decent camera.
- Be prepared for all weather – Skomer Island is very exposed. If it’s sunny, you’ll need a sun hat and sun cream. If it’s windy or rainy, take some good waterproof clothes.
- Wear sturdy trainers or hiking boots – you’ll be doing lots of walking.
- Don’t walk off the paths on Skomer Island. The puffins nest in the ground, and if you walk off the path you could easily stand on one of their burrows and collapse it. Definitely stick to the paths at all times.
- Check in for your boat an hour before the departure time. This will give you time to queue to get your ticket, and also browse the souvenir shop.
- After getting back to mainland Wales, hang around into the evening to watch the sunset over Skomer Island. It’s a lovely ending to your day.
Enjoy your trip seeing puffins on Skomer Island, Wales in May! Wales has so many more beautiful places to discover, so make sure you check out my guides to the Brecon Beacons, Cardigan Bay coastline, the Gower Peninsula and the top photo spots in South Wales.
