Skomer Ferry, Pembrokeshire
FERRY 10 minutes WALK 4½ miles
The dinky 35-foot Dale Princess braves the choppy seas that assail the rocky section of Pembrokeshire coast between Martin’s Haven on the mainland and Skomer. The wind-swept island is in the care of the Wildlife Trust and is renowned as a haven for migrant birds. Half the world’s population of Manx shearwaters nest here and its sandy burrows shelter southern Britain’s largest colony of puffins. Aside from the stiff climb from the tiny quay up cliff-side steps and a steep path, the island is mostly flat. With so much birdlife around (and fragile burrows underfoot), visitors must keep to the wide grassy footpaths. Happily, these take in almost the whole island and, with 730 acres to explore, even a single loop with a visit to the little exhibition in the centre racks up over four miles of exhilarating walking.
87 steps lead up from the ferry landing on Skomer. Puffins – and guillemots, razorbills, shearwaters, kittiwakes and gulls nest on the isle.
April-September; welshwildlife.org/ visit/skomer-island