The Pembrokeshire islands' importance to wildlife is enormous. They are home to tens of thousands of breeding sea birds and have become the home ground for the Atlantic grey seal.

Skomer Island

Skomer, lying just a mile or so off the Dale peninsular, has the single largest sea-bird colony in southern Britain, being home to almost half-a-million birds, including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, fulmars, the famous puffin and almost 40 per cent of the world's population of Manx shearwater.

The island in May and June shimmers with acre upon acre of scented wild flowers, bluebells, sea campion, red campion, thrift and heather.

The 'Dale Princess' takes visitors to Skomer daily (except Mondays) at 10 am, 11 am and noon from Martins Haven, returning from 3 pm. Round trips are also available and booking is not necessary.

Visitors can also enjoy Evening Seabird Spectaculars and guided walks on Skomer, organised by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

For further details please call 01646 603123.

Grassholm gannetry island

- nature's success story

Around 11 miles offshore from the Pembrokeshire coast, Grassholm is a reserve of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and has the only gannet colony in Wales.

Approximately 35,000 pairs of gannets, the largest single concentration of gannets in the North Atlantic, crowd onto the tiny 22-acre waterless island to nest and lay their single egg.

Grassholm trips on the 'Dale Princess' can be enjoyed at noon on Fridays. Bookings are made through the Dale Sailing Company, telephone 01646 603123. The Dale Sea Safari fast RIB goes from Dale, near Haverfordwest, every day at 2pm. Call 08000 0284090.

Ramsey Island and The Bitches

The wild and unspoilt Ramsey, owned by the RSPB, lies half-a-mile off the St David's Peninsular. The Bitches, a line of rocks extending into Ramsey Sound through which the tide surges, holds an increasing fascination for canoeists who play in the fast flowing currents and numerous tumbling waves.

Visitors can land on the island or take a boat trip around it and information is available at any Tourist Information Centre.

Skokholm Island

Made famous as Britain's first bird observatory by Ronald Lockley, Skokholm is a wildlife haven surrounded by numerous rocky outcrops and rugged old red sandstone cliffs. Probably the most colourful island, it comprises of old red sandstone with dark and pale bands of rock and patches of yellow lichen; truly something very special indeed.

There are no arrangements for day visitors to land on the island of Skokholm, but the Dale Sea Safari fast RIB from Dale, near Haverfordwest, does take trips around Skokholm several times a day. Call 0800 0284090 for further information.

Information about staying on the island is available from the Wildlife Trust 01239 621600.

The Smalls

Eighteen miles from the nearest point on the Pembrokeshire mainland are The Smalls, famous for the oak lighthouse built by a Liverpool violin maker that stood for 50 years until the present stone one was built in 1861!

For the more adventurous experience provided by heading out to The Smalls to view the seals, dolphins and porpoise, call the Dale Sea Safari on 0800 0284090.