Grassholm the ultimate seabird sight, sound and smell experience of Pembrokeshire. By July, chicks and non-breeding birds who use the island to socialise and roost probably bring the number of gannets up to a staggering 100,000.

The island also has small numbers of fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills, and a few shags. From mid-summer onwards, there can be up to 120 grey seals hauled out on rocks at low tide.

Grassholm has been owned since 1947 by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and was the first reserve the Society ever bought. Several boat operators take passengers on non-landing trips around the island.

In the Middle Ages Grassholm was used for grazing sheep during the summer. There is a small enclosure on the island that may have been used to round them up for shearing.

© Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority 2002

A number of operators run daily Wildlife and Dive trips in the area from various departure points. Operators include:

 

Thousand Island Expeditions

Dales Sea Safari – Leaving from Dale or Neyland
Pembrokeshire Dive Charter/Shearwater Safaris – Leaving from Neyland
St Brides Boat Company – Leaving from Broadhaven

Pembrokeshire Boat Charters

All of these operators have skippers and crews accredited to the WiSe scheme (Wildlife Safe) and are active members of the Pembrokeshire Marine Code group. As such they adhere to the codes of conduct developed to protect the marine wildlife of Pembrokeshire whilst providing patrons with knowledge of the species being observed.

For more information on where to go and what to see in Pembrokeshire visit: www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk