Skomer Island

There is evidence of human occupation—field boundaries and settlement remains—dating back to the Iron Age. The Skomer Island Project, run jointly by the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (RCAHMW) with archaeologists from the University of Sheffield and Cardiff University, started in 2011, investigates the island's prehistoric communities. Airborne laser scanning together with ground excavations continued in 2016 and established that human settlement dates back 5,000 years. Rabbits were introduced in the 14th century and their burrows and grazing have had a profound effect on the island landscape. The farm buildings in the centre of the island, now housing…

The island has an area of . Its highest point is above sea level at Gorse Hill, while the majority of the island sits at around above sea level. Skomer is intersected by a series of slopes and ridges giving it a rich and varied topography. It is approximately from north–south and east–west. The island is almost cut in two near its eastern side by two bays. It is one of several islands lying within 1000 yards (a kilometre) of the Pembrokeshire coast. A number of islets surround Skomer, the largest of which are: Midland Isle (height 50 m) separated from Skomer by Little Sound, Mew Stone (height 60 m) and Garland Stone (height 32 m).

The Dale Princess sails to Skomer from Martin's Haven on the mainland, a sheltered 15-minute trip every day (weather dependent) except Monday (Whitsun Bank Holiday Monday excepted) from April to September between 10am and noon (actual times may vary). There are limits on the number of people allowed to visit the island (250 per day). Advance booking is recommended after the introduction of a new visitor management system in 2020. A self-catering hostel with 16 beds is situated at the farm in the centre of the island. Booking opens in October and can only be done by phoning the Tondu office. Overnight guests are brought over on a separate boat trip on the morning of their stay and the hostel…