Skomer Island
Monk Haven Manor B&B is the perfect place to stay for those wishing to visit Skomer Island, as we are just a short drive away.
Why not make the most of our courtesy service (*see notice) during peak periods and let us pick up your tickets whilst you have breakfast! Or perhaps you would like an earlier breakfast and make your own way there. If you are on a walking holiday, and without a vehicle, then we will drop you off and pick you up from the embarkation point. We can provide a delicious packed lunch for you too!
It couldn’t be easier to visit Skomer Island whilst staying with us at Monk Haven Manor B&B. Please be aware that there are NO SKOMER LANDINGS ON MONDAYS.
Visitors to Skomer invariably come for the wildlife and the abundance and variety of seabirds. The main season for Puffins is from May to the end of July. The puffins actually arrive in April, however they are often out fishing until the afternoon. During Spring the island is a colourful affair with bluebells, mingled with pink campion and the White sea campion carpeting the ground on which the birds land. It becomes a fantastic vista, with swathes of colour as far as the eye can see.
During the Autumn Skomer is home to a large seal colony, as the breeding season begins and the seals have their pups.
Skomer is a world renowned seabird paradise, home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Puffins as well as the world’s largest colony of Manx Shearwaters. Skomer is an enchanting island of sheltered and exposed headlands, offshore rocks and shaded inlets just off the coast of Pembrokeshire.
Both Skomer and the nearby island of Skokholm are special areas of conservation, with the waters around Skomer being the only marine reserve in Wales. You can read more about these Islands on the Welsh Wildlife Website.
PLEASE NOTE:
Our ticket collection service is discretionary for GUESTS of Monk Haven Manor B&B ONLY – we collect ONE TICKET per guest on the morning of your stay with us whilst you have your Monk Haven Manor B&B breakfast.
We collect from May through to July at peak times only, when early queuing is necessary to secure a ticket. The landing fee must be paid for in cash when pre-requested with us the evening before. We can aim for your preferred time, however this is not guaranteed due to the first-come-first-serve nature of the ticket sales. Once again, our service is COMPLETELY complimentary and discretionary, we do not increase our accommodation prices over the Skomer period. You will not have paid for this service within the cost of your accommodation.
Getting to the Island
The island is within easy reach of the mainland. The ferry leaves the embarkation point at Martins Haven (a 5/10 minute drive from Monk Haven) from 10 am every day (except Mondays). The ticket office at Martins Haven opens at 8:30am. Tickets are sold daily on a first-come, first-served basis only. Day trip tickets are not sold in advance. It is recommended that you arrive at the ticket office (Lockley Lodge) for 8:30 at the latest to avoid large queues and secure your tickets. A maximum of only 250 people are allowed onto the island daily.
We also suggest making it your plan to visit on the earliest day of your holiday as the boats are subject to the vagaries of the weather, so it is not guaranteed that they will sail every day.
You buy your landing pass at the ticket office (at which point you will be advised what time your boat will leaving.)
You then pay your boat fee once on the boat – payment for this is CASH only.
The Boat trip to the island takes approximately 15 minutes and you will be told the time of your return trip. Usually you will have around 5 hours on the island to enjoy the spectacular experience of various nesting birds and wildlife.
(Please note that the island is very exposed. There is no shelter apart from the farmhouse, not even a tree. It is very easy to get wind and sun burn so ensure you take sunscreen with you and a hat.)
The only facilities on the island are toilets by the old farmhouse . There are no cafes etc. so you will need to bring a packed lunch and drinks, including water, with you. We would be more than happy to provide you with a lovely packed lunch from the Monk Haven kitchen.
As well as providing the boat for your trip over to Skomer, the Dale Sailing Company also offer round-the-island cruises each day, a wonderful way to see the wildlife of this special island. They also offer evening cruises on certain days of the week. For more information on this please look at their website.
Weddings
Accommodation
Our Location
Our Food
Simply Stunning
Pembrokeshire, well known for it’s sweeping sands and rustic award winning coastline has something for everyone.
Whether you are looking for a breath taking walk, an adventorous get-a-way with activities galore or a simple relaxing break we can help.