What time do I need to line up to be guaranteed of a Skomer Island visit during peak season?

What time do I need to line up to be guaranteed of a Skomer Island visit during peak season? - High voltage power lines against mountains in sunset

The official website for Skomer Island visits suggests arriving two hours before the boat departure to purchase tickets because only 250 people are allowed to visit the island per day. This would seem to be 8 am, but I can't find any indication that the visitors centre is actually open at that hour, nor how long we'd be expecting to line up or other information.

Can anyone with experience at buying Skomer Island tickets, especially in peak season, fill in the gaps?

  • What time does the visitor centre open?
  • Do we really need to be there by 8 am?
  • How long can we expect to wait in line?

Notes from the official website:

Boat Times

Boats depart from Martin’s Haven: 10am 11am and 12pm.

...

Skomer is an extremely popular place to visit and so we recommend you arrive two hours before the boats depart to purchase your tickets in the peak season or during holidays, this is not a problem during off peak times (weekdays out of holiday season etc).

Notes from Wikivoyage:

Advance booking is not permitted and reservations are strictly on a first come, first served basis at the local shop at Martin's Haven and long queues can develop early each morning.






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When can you see puffins on Skomer Island?

If you want to see the Atlantic Puffins on Skomer Island, visit between April and July. These beautiful creatures arrive on the island in early April ready to nest, and disappear again at the end of July when the pufflings no longer need parental support.

How long do you get on Skomer?

In five hours you can walk around the majority of it. On your average walk you can expect to see puffins, Manx Shearwaters, gannets, peregrine falcons, Atlantic grey seals, kittiwakes, choughs and a pod of porpoises! There isn't a cafe on Skomer so you have to bring a picnic but that is part of the fun!

Are there toilets on Skomer Island?

There are toilets at the farm in the centre of the island along with water but no cafe facilities are available on the island. Stock up in Marloes or snacks at Lockley Lodge. Island Summary: Skomer Island is famed for its extraordinary wildlife and is one of the best places to see puffins in the UK.

How long are the puffins on Skomer Island?

late-July to early August: adults leave (The timing of the puffin breeding colonies is highly synchronised, so the departure of all adults takes place within a few days). Puffins live on land for only four months, and then they are off, back to the ocean.



The BEST time to see Puffins on Skomer Island | Wales




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