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TRAVEL

SKOMER ISLAND

TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ANTHONY CAVANAGH

komer Island supports over half of the
world’s breeding population of Manx
SShearwaters as well some 25 000
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We had booked a timeshare in Wales where
we planned to spend 5 days before meeting up
with family to celebrate a milestone birthday
and, while in Wales, visiting Skomer Island
was a must for us. Sailings to Skomer are
limited to the period 1 April to 30 September
and, as advance bookings cannot be made,
those wishing to sail to Skomer have to join the
queue to be among the 250 visitors allowed
daily on the island. Clear weather was forecast
for the following day but inclement weather
was expected for the rest of the week. Early
the next morning we set off on what was to be
a three hour drive to Martin’s Haven and we
hoped to be two of the 250 people allowed
daily on the island.
Martin’s Haven is not on the GPS and after
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road we continued along the extremely narrow
lanes for another few kms and arrived at the
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relief we purchased tickets and found that we
were on the third boat, which sailed at 11am.
Martin’s Haven can be described as no more
than a small cove in the coastline and a few
steps leading to the tiny jetty indicated where
one boarded the boat. At the designated hour
we duly embarked on the 50-seater boat and
during the 12-minute crossing of the choppy
d
te
waters we observed Gannets, Cormorants
and grey seals. After disembarking, members
and
he
of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
of
Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2019
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